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[CNJRoss]

NY MTA News Release

 

ICYMI: Governor Hochul Announces One Billionth New York City Subway Rider of 2022

 

New York City Transit

Updated December 27, 2022 7:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

First Time Since 2019 That New York City Subway Ridership Has Surpassed One Billion Riders  

 

Ridership Has Grown by 240 Million From 2021   

 

All MTA Agencies Saw Significant Ridership Growth in 2022  

 

More Than 425 Million OMNY Taps on the Subway in 2022   

 

View Video of News Conference Announcing Billionth Subway Rider  

 

View Photos from News Conference Announcing Billionth Subway Rider

 

 

Capping a year of robust recovering ridership, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Subway has provided one billion trips in 2022. The billionth customer was identified as Sasha Salazar from the Bronx who entered the 161 St-Yankee Stadium 4 station turnstiles this morning.

 

"We have been working hard to bring customers back by providing safer, cleaner, and faster service, and hitting one billion riders in 2022 is evidence that our work is paying off," Governor Hochul said. "New Yorkers and tourists alike continue to flock to the subway, proving there is no better way to get around New York City than mass transit."  

 

The milestone marks the first time the New York City Subway has carried one billion customers in a calendar year since 2019. The subway carried 760 million customers in 2021 and 640 million in 2020. Average daily subway ridership is currently hovering at nearly 60 percent of 2019's pre-pandemic levels, when the system carried 1.698 billion riders.   

 

The MTA's OMNY fare-payment system also experienced usage growth in 2022 with more than 425 million taps. This increase in subway rider market share for OMNY follows the introduction of the "Lucky 13" fare-capping program, the rollout of OMNY for the MTA's Reduced-Fare customers, and the continued expansion of OMNY cards in retail locations.  

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, "In 2022, customers have voted with their MetroCard swipes and OMNY taps, and hundreds of millions have returned to the subway. Hitting this milestone, one billion subway riders in 2022, demonstrates again how essential mass transit is to New York City's economy and continued recovery from the pandemic."  

 

NYC Transit President Richard Davey said, "Just in time for the holiday season, serving one billion subways riders in 2022 is a milestone worth celebrating. As we continue to follow our north star goal of giving customers the best possible experience and welcoming them back to transit, I commend the women and men of New York City Transit, who show up every single day to carry millions of New Yorkers and propel the city."  

 

MTA Acting Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara said, "2022 was a year full of milestones for MTA customers, especially those who have made the switch to tap and go with OMNY. From welcoming Reduced-Fare customers to OMNY, to the "Lucky 13" fare-capping promotion, to record ridership market share, in 2022, more customers have tapped their way into the transit system with OMNY than ever before."  

 

Sasha Salazar, the one billionth subway rider of 2022 said, "Every New Yorker uses the subway every day and I know that we appreciate the MTA, all the workers that work for the MTA especially." 

 

The MTA has recorded strong ridership growth in all agencies in 2022. Through October 31, the latest date for which comparable all-agency non-preliminary data is available, subway ridership is up 38.6 percent over similar year-to-date data for 2021, New York City Buses are up 13.4 percent, Metro-North Railroad is up 65.9 percent, the Long Island Rail Road is up 56.9 percent, the Staten Island Railway is up 47.0 percent, Access-A-Ride is up 11.3 percent, and traffic on MTA Bridges and Tunnels is up 7.0 percent.  

 

 

[CNJRoss]

NYMTA news release

 

Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad Detail Major Ridership Gains in 2022

 

April 24, 2023

 

 

Metro-North Ridership Increases 59%; LIRR Up 50%  

 

Compared with 1990, Metro-North Non-Manhattan Ridership Up 52%  

 

LIRR Reaches 57.6% of Pre-Pandemic Ridership and Metro-North Reaches 56.4%

 

In the first detailed analysis of Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad ridership in 2022, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials today highlighted longstanding and recent trends that contributed to the most significant year-over-year ridership gains since Metro-North was founded in 1983 and LIRR modern record-keeping began in 1979.

 

Among the topline findings:

• Metro-North 2022 ridership of 48.9 million was up 59% from 2021’s 30.8 million, bringing total ridership to 56.4% of 2019 prepandemic ridership.
• LIRR 2022 ridership of 52.5 million was up 50% from 2021’s 35.0 million, bringing total ridership to 57.6% of 2019 prepandemic ridership.
• Despite the pandemic, Metro-North’s customer trips between pairs of stations outside Manhattan – known by the railroad as intermediate travel – are up 52% compared with 1990 levels.

 

“These numbers paint a picture of a healthy ridership recovery that is in part being fueled by strengthening of off-peak, discretionary, leisure, and non-commutation travel as riders increasingly opt for the railroads for their convenience, reliability and environmental benefits,” said Catherine Rinaldi, President of Metro-North Railroad and Interim President of the Long Island Rail Road. “With the continued post-pandemic strengthening of in-office work and the opening of Grand Central Madison in early 2023, allowing direct cross-railroad travel for the first time, I predict even stronger numbers in 2023.”

 

Other factors fueling the ridership growth are increasing ease of access to service information and ticketing, and fare discounts. The MTA introduced a pilot program offering updated fare structures starting on Feb. 25, 2022, including a 10% discount on monthly tickets, the creation of discounted 20-trip tickets, and an expansion of the discounted $5 City Ticket for travel within the borders of New York City, from weekends-only to all weekend/weekday off-peak trains. Six months later, the MTA introduced a merged TrainTime app for both railroads which combines ticketing with a vast amount of granular, real-time, easily accessible information on train locations, estimated arrival times, track assignments and seating availability per car.

 

This ease of access to information was not available to the public in 1990, which calls to mind a long-term perspective on current ridership trends. Even despite the impact of the pandemic, Metro-North intermediate ridership was 31.3% more than 2021 and 52.4% more than 1990, underscoring the public’s long-term trend of growing use of Metro-North for local travel within the Hudson Valley, the Bronx and Connecticut.

 

In 2022, the LIRR recorded double-digit growth in reverse-peak travel even in advance of major reverse-peak schedule increases that took effect in late February 2023. In 2022, reverse-peak ridership increased +35.9% in the morning period and +33.2% in the afternoon/evening peak period. This growth outpaced general non-commutation ridership, which increased 24.2% over 2021.

 

While LIRR ridership grew by double digits on every branch, the top five strongest branches were the Oyster Bay Branch (66.1% increase), West Hempstead Branch (61.8% increase), Port Washington Branch (59.1% increase), Hempstead Branch (58.7% increase), and Port Jefferson Branch (50.3% increase).

 

[CNJRoss]

NYMTA/NYCT news release

 

ICYMI: GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES SUBWAY RIDERSHIP SURPASSES 4 MILLION RIDERS IN SINGLE DAY

 

April 21, 2023

 

 

Subways Carry Over 4 Million Paid Riders for First Time Since March 12, 2020  

 

Subway OMNY Taps Hit Single-Day Record with 1.69 Million Taps                   

 

Metro-North Railroad Sets Three-Day Average Ridership Record  

    

 

Governor Hochul today announced that New York City subway recorded 4,002,961 paid rides on Thursday, April 20. The last time the subways carried more than 4 million riders was March 12, 2020, when 4.1 million New Yorkers rode the subway. OMNY, the Authority's contactless fare payment system, also set a single-day subway record with 1,699,914 taps, accounting for 42.5 percent of all paid rides.    

"The MTA is the lifeblood of this city, and New York State has made critical investments in our subways to improve the rider experience," Governor Hochul said. "Surpassing four million riders for the first time since the start of the pandemic is a testament to the resiliency of New Yorkers and the importance of supporting the nation's largest transit system."    

 

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, "I'm grateful to our Governor who is leading the effort to fund mass transit so that we can continue to provide safe, reliable and frequent service for all New Yorkers. At the height of the pandemic, ridership dropped by 90 percent, but we kept the system running full tilt to make sure that essential workers could get to hospitals, pharmacies, grocery stores and distribution centers. This record is a testament to the resilience of New Yorkers and a reminder that mass transit is the lifeblood of this city."     

 

New York City Transit President Richard Davey said, "Hitting ridership records every week is something I can get used to and is a vote of confidence in the subway system. To keep this momentum going, New York City Transit will continue to enhance customer satisfaction wherever we can. Whether that be the OMNY fare-capping pilot, the new customer service centers at stations, we are constantly looking at ways to provide faster, cleaner and safer service."    

 

Metro-North Railroad reached a new three-day (Tuesday through Thursday) average ridership COVID-era high of 193,111, or 73.5 percent of the baseline ridership comparison from February 2020. This comes after Metro-North reached record daily pandemic-era ridership on Wednesday, April 19 with 195,086 riders, or 74 percent of the pre-pandemic average.   

 

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has exceeded 200,000 riders on 16 days since Feb. 27, the date Grand Central Madison opened for full service, a threshold the railroad had only crossed twice during the first 57 days of 2023. During the seven days between April 9 and April 15, the LIRR carried an average of 168,726 daily customers, the best seven-day average since March 2020.    

 

Metro-North President and Long Island Rail Road Interim President Catherine Rinaldi said, "Wherever you're traveling within the Metro-North and LIRR service regions, commuter railroads are the most convenient option, especially with the opening of Grand Central Madison. Customers can use the all-in-one TrainTime app to purchase tickets, plan trips, view train capacity, and track trains for both commuter railroads."   

 

OMNY's Continued Growth     

OMNY continues to grow in market share among New York City Transit customers, with the first one million tap day reached in April of 2022. The MTA reached the 500 million total OMNY tap milestone in September of 2022 when a customer tapped in at Grand Central Terminal. OMNY has now processed cards issued in 192 of the 195 countries that issue bank cards.    

 

OMNY customers now consistently comprise nearly half of all subway riders, with a 42.5 percent market share of paid rides. Nearly 100 percent of all OMNY transactions are made on customers' own personal devices or cards, making the MTA unique among North American transit systems.    

 

In October, OMNY was rolled out to Reduced-Fare customers, who can now make the switch from MetroCard to riding with their personal device or contactless card. Reduced-Fare customers can make the switch from MetroCard to OMNY seamlessly online with the OMNY digital assistant, which is available 24/7 at OMNY.info.

 

 

[CNJRoss]

NY MTA news release

 

PHOTOS: MTA Chair and CEO Lieber Thanks Subway Customers and Employees Following Second Day of 4 Million Plus Riders in One Week

 

Subway Ridership Tops 4 Million on One Day for a Second Straight Week   

 

See Photos Here

 

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chair and CEO Janno Lieber today thanked subway customers for riding public transit and visited with employees after the New York City subway recorded 4,003,136 paid rides on Thursday, April 27, marking the second time in a week that ridership has exceeded four million. OMNY customers consistently comprise nearly half of all subway riders, with a 42.5 percent market share of paid rides.

 

This most recent ridership milestone comes one day after a tentative state budget agreement was reached, in which Governor Hochul and the state legislature secured funding for the MTA for the next four years.

 

“Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, the MTA’s budget is being secured for four years, and riders won’t have to wonder if our subways, buses, and commuter rails are going to be there with the same frequency and reliability,” Chair Lieber said. “And it couldn’t come at a better time as riders continue to return to mass transit in record numbers.”

 

 

[CNJRoss]

NY MTA news release

 

MTA Announces 4 Million Riders Used New York City Subway on Single Day for Third Straight Week

 

New York City Transit

May 4, 2023

 

Subways Carried 4.02 Million Riders on Wednesday, May 3, Highest Single-Day Number Since March 2020     

 

Access-A-Ride Sets Post-Pandemic Record on Same Day, with Nearly 31,000 Booked Trips on May 3, Highest Since March 2020

 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that the New York City subway recorded 4,020,991 paid rides on Wednesday, May 3. This marked the third time in three weeks that 4 million riders used the subway to get to work, school, or other destinations, after reaching the post-pandemic milestone on Thursday, April 20. A week later, subways carried 4 million riders on Thursday, April 27. Prior to the April 20 milestone, the last time the subways carried more than 4 million riders was March 12, 2020, when 4.1 million New Yorkers rode the subway. 

 

In addition to the record on the rails, on Wednesday, May 3, 30,850 customers used New York City Transit’s Access-A-Ride paratransit service, which is a new post-pandemic record. The nearly 31,000-trip record is the highest single-day total since March 2020. Combined with the 30,449 booked trips on May 4, Access-A-Ride set a post-pandemic two-day record. The record comes as Access-A-Ride has made booking trips easier than ever, with customers now able to do so online. Customers can learn more at new.mta.info/myaar. 

 

“To hit the 4 million mark on a single day for the third straight week is a vote of confidence in the system,” said New York City Transit President Richard Davey. “New York City Transit will continue to focus on improving the customer experience through renovating stations, enhancing customer service at stations and looking at creative ways to provide faster, cleaner and safer service.” 

 

“Access-A-Ride has made strides in improving the customer experience, and the response has been a record number of booked trips,” said MTA Vice President for Paratransit Chris Pangilinan. "Paratransit enables all New Yorkers to have access to public transportation, and we are making it easier than ever to book your trip online. Customers can learn more through new.mta.info/myaar.” 

 

OMNY's Continued Growth

 

OMNY customers now consistently comprise nearly half of all subway riders, with a 42.5 percent market share of paid rides. Nearly 100 percent of all OMNY transactions are made on customers' own personal devices or cards, making the MTA unique among North American transit systems. 

 

OMNY recorded its first one millionth tap in April 2022. The MTA reached the 500 million total OMNY tap milestone in September 2022 when a customer tapped in at Grand Central Terminal. OMNY has now processed cards issued in 192 of the 195 countries that issue bank cards. 

 

In October, OMNY was rolled out to Reduced-Fare customers, who can now make the switch from MetroCard to riding with their personal device or contactless card. Reduced-Fare customers can make the switch from MetroCard to OMNY seamlessly online with the OMNY digital assistant, which is available 24/7 at OMNY.info.

 

 

[KevinKorell]

Mid-Hudson News, 5/14/23:

 

 

  MTA commuter railroads set post-pandemic ridership records    

 

 

The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad set post-pandemic ridership records on Tuesday, May 9, 2023.  LIRR carried approximately 221,290 riders on Tuesday, marking the 27th time the railroad has eclipsed 200,000 riders in a single day since the opening of Grand Central Madison. 

 

This is the story.

[KevinKorell]

Connecticut Post, Bridgeport, CT, 6/16/23:

 

 

 

     With New Haven line ridership surging, Milford's train station reopens for first time since pandemic  

 

 

 

The rush hour between Connecticut and New York is like a river swelling with rain as employers edge the economy further from the pandemic and return the workforce to the workplace via Metro-North's soon-to-be speedier New Haven rail line.

 

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