NYCT achieves new pandemic-era subway ridership record

MTA New York City Transit subway system on May 5 reached a new single-day ridership record of 3.497 million riders since the pandemic began in March 2020, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.

The new record bests the previous pandemic-era record set Dec. 9, 2021, when 3.4 million riders used the subway system.

Prior to the pandemic, average weekday ridership routinely exceeded 5.5 million on the subway system.

"As we continue our comeback from the pandemic and remain laser-focused on making our subways safer, we are turning the corner on subway ridership," Hochul said in a press release. "The subway is the lifeblood of New York City and this new milestone sends a strong message that New York is back and better than ever.”

To encourage ridership increases, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has implemented a new fare-capping pilot program that makes fares more affordable and flexible, MTA officials said in a press release. Starting with the 13th ride of each week, all subsequent rides on subways and buses are free for the rest of that week.