MTA New York City Transit announced today that ridership on the subway system surpassed one million for the first time since March, as the agency continues to safely welcome customers back to the system, which is being disinfected around-the-clock and is cleaner and safer than at any point in its history. Subway ridership hit 1,047,493 on Tuesday, June 23. Buses reached the million-rider milestone on Friday, June 19, with bus ridership increasing again June 23 to 1,081,934 taking local and express buses that day. Weekday subway service is being delivered with regular schedules, and buses with regular closed-school schedules, providing maximum capacity for current and anticipated ridership in line with New York’s phased reopening strategy.
The milestones represent about 19% of the normal pre-pandemic subway ridership of more than 5.4 million people and 50% of the normal pre-pandemic bus ridership of more than 2.1 million people. Subways and buses both reached their lowest point in weekday ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday, April 13, with 365,835 subway riders and 347,790 bus riders on that day.
On June 5, the MTA announced its 13-point Action Plan for A Safe Return as New York City entered Phase 1 — which included a combination of increased service, continuous cleaning and disinfecting, enhanced safety and security across the system and innovative technology to make the system safer. On June 8, subways returned to regular weekday service and buses returned to regular weekday closed-school service in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, with 75% of regular service in Manhattan.
Passengers coming back will find NYC Transit is leading the way internationally with its safety initiatives to protect both employees and customers. All passengers must wear a face covering while riding on public transit. To date, the MTA has made available 1.4 million masks provided by the State and the City to its passengers who can pick one up as they enter the system. Additionally, thus far, the MTA has distributed 700,000 mini-bottles of NYS Clean Hand Sanitizer to its passengers. Hand sanitizer dispensers are also placed in stations across the subway system.
Decals and floor markings with cues to encourage social distancing have also been placed in subway stations. The MTA will continue with rear-door boarding on local buses until further notice to ensure the safety of its operating employees and of customers, and a four-hour overnight subway closure allows for the unprecedented cleaning and disinfection program underway on train cars and in stations.
New York City entered Phase 2 on Monday, June 22.
-via Press Release