MTA logs more pandemic-era ridership records

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City announced last week that New York City Transit subway  and Long Island Rail Road services both logged new pandemic-era ridership records.

NYCT subway carried 3.875 million riders, while LIRR carried 204,600 riders, on Sept. 21. Both numbers top the previous pandemic-era records — which began March 20, 2020 — set earlier this month.

"Busy trains are a sign that the city is returning to a sense of normalcy,” said Demetrius Crichlow, senior vice president of subways at NYCT. "Riders are showing they’re confident in the subway system to get them where they need to be.” 

The authority's contactless fare payment system OMNY also registered nearly 1.5 million taps that day, a record high for the system, MTA officials said in a press release.

While Metro-North Railroad has not broken any ridership records since Sept. 8, ridership remains strong as the commuter railroad carried more than 188,000 people on Sept. 21, MTA officials added.