Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the New York City Subway will resume 24 hour a day service beginning May 17. In April, MTA New York City Transit officials announced 2,009,025 trips were recorded on the subway on April 8, the first time that more than two million trips were taken on the subway since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. The MTA will continue its unprecedented disinfection and cleaning effort. More than 75 percent of MTA customers agree the subway has never been cleaner. The resumption of 24-hour service will coincide with the Governor’s announcement lifting the 12 a.m. food and beverage service curfew for outdoor dining areas.
Beginning May 6, 2020, New York City Transit closed for disinfection from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. The MTA provided free alternative transportation options to essential workers during the overnight hours that included a significant expansion of bus service across the city and for-hire vehicles as necessary.
On February 15, Governor Cuomo announced that the MTA would partially restore overnight service on the New York City subway, pending continued positive trends in New York’s COVID indicators. Effective Monday, February 22, the MTA extended late-night subway service by two hours, moving to a 2 a.m. – 4 a.m. closure daily.
The MTA has undertaken unprecedented cleaning and disinfecting protocols in the year since the pandemic began – and leveraged innovative technology – to ensure the system is as safe as possible for its customers. The MTA continues to work with FEMA for reimbursement on eligible COVID-related costs. The Authority has also rolled out robust public education campaigns and issued millions of masks to its customers. Mask compliance in the system remains high, with more than 97 percent of customers wearing a mask when riding mass transit. These COVID-related measures will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. The MTA also unveiled updates to the subway map that allow riders to find the nearest vaccination site throughout the city.
-via Press Release