Governor Hochul Announces Increased Weekday Subway Service

 

Second Phase of Subway Service Enhancements Included in State Budget Begin Monday, Increasing Frequency of Weekday C Service

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced upcoming MTA subway service enhancements beginning Monday, August 7. The second phase of previously announced weekday service increases on the C line will increase frequency with midday trains arriving every eight minutes instead of every 10 minutes. About 800,000 riders are expected to benefit each weekday from the off-peak service enhancements made possible through increased funding in the FY 2024 New York State Budget.

“With more frequent subway service, New Yorkers can feel confident that there is no better way than the MTA to get where they need to go, even beyond traditional commuting hours,” Governor Hochul said. “Thanks to funding from the FY 2024 Budget, we are able to respond to riders’ needs and keep the city moving - above and below ground.”

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “HUGE thanks to Governor Hochul and the State Legislature for heeding the call for increase subway service to meet the needs of post-pandemic riders. Not everyone is a rush hour commuter, and more frequent subway service throughout the day – and night – will better connect New Yorkers to Broadway, to education, to all kinds of recreation, and to everything the City has to offer. With this funding from the State Budget, the MTA can get nearly a million riders to where they need to go faster.”

The planned subway service enhancements focus on off-peak periods where subway ridership has recovered the highest from its pre-pandemic baseline. Subway ridership overall continues to recover, with weekday paid ridership around 65% to 70% of the pre-COVID baseline. The latest trend shows 3.5 million riders on an average July weekday.

New York City Transit explored where additional off-peak service would have the most benefit, focusing primarily on lines with train frequencies of 10 to 12 minutes during off-peak hours. Planned work was taken into consideration when these enhancements were planned to ensure critical state of good repair work and capital work would not be affected.

The first phase of weekend service increases on the G, J, and M lines, increasing frequency on the three lines with trains arriving every 8 to 10 minutes instead of every 10 to 12 minutes, began on Sunday, July 2.