NYCT sets new single-day pandemic-era ridership record

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced this week the MTA New York City Transit subway system logged 2.11 million riders Nov. 6, surpassing the previous daily record of 2.01 million riders set June 26.

The annual New York City Marathon happening that day helped propel NYCT ridership to 84% of pre-pandemic levels, officials from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said in a press release. 

Daily ridership also increased 12% compared with the passenger count during last year’s marathon, and climbed 13% compared with the previous Sunday (Oct. 30), when 1.88 million riders rode the subway system.

“New York City Transit planned ahead to minimize planned service changes due to track work on a projected busy Sunday for the transit system, and these ridership results show the decision was worth it,” said NYCT President Richard Davey.

The transit agency decided to reduce planned maintenance-related service changes to minimize disruptions on the subway system ahead of the marathon.