Subway passenger flow hits new high after epidemic, still lower than pre-epidemic

Recently, New York City’s subway system achieved a significant milestone, with over 4.3 million paying passengers for five consecutive days, marking the highest ridership levels observed since the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this figure still falls short by 25% compared to the pre-pandemic average of 5.7 million daily riders.

During the peak of the pandemic in Spring 2020, ridership plummeted to below 500,000 per day, severely impacting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which heavily relies on fare revenue. Even in 2021, when vaccines became widely available, daily subway ridership was only around 2 million, less than half of the pre-pandemic levels.

As the threat of the pandemic lessens, 2023 has already seen 39 days where the subway’s average ridership surpassed 4 million. This year alone, there have been 38 days achieving the same benchmark. Janno Lieber, chairman of the MTA, noted that these rising numbers signify progress for both the subway system and the city as a whole.

Experts suggest that the normalization of remote work since the pandemic is a key factor in the subway’s recovery not yet being fully realized. Additionally, maintaining safety and cleanliness within the subway is crucial for attracting more riders. In response to rising transit crime in the aftermath of the pandemic, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams have increased police presence and National Guard support in the subway system over the past two years. Many experts link issues in the transit system to broader mental health challenges, and this month, Adams announced a new initiative aimed at addressing mental health issues to enhance passenger safety.

According to the latest data from the New York Police Department as of October 13, serious crimes within the city’s transit system have decreased by about 5% this year, while minor assault incidents have dropped by approximately 2%. However, subway assaults across different boroughs continue to occur at high rates; for instance, three incidents were reported in Manhattan between October 20 and 21, and Brooklyn experienced two robbery and assault cases on October 17 and 18.