A noticeable increase in subway ridership has been taking place on subway trains in New York City, but not enough to call it a comeback, yet.
"Subway ridership is ticking up slowly but surely, new turnstile data show, but straphangers are still not coming back as fast as drivers," reports Dave Colon from New York City.
The findings come from Todd Schneider, who provides analysis of publicly available ridership data for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) subway system. The MTA subway system counted 600,952 riders on May 15, the highest number since the system counted 676,556 riders on March 27.
The information comes with a note of caution: the slight increase on the New York subway is nowhere near enough to overcome the system's fiscal emergency, and most of the city is still staying home, so a return to normal is not suddenly imminent. Moreover, the increase in subway ridership is slower than the number of drives returning to the streets in the city. "Up on the streets, vehicle miles traveled rose from 21,630,000 miles on March 30, one week into PAUSE, to 34,240,000 miles on May 8, an increase of 58 percent," according to Colon.
FULL STORY: Nature Is Healing: Riders Are Slowly Returning To The Subway
Ridership Up, Speeds Down for Buses in New York City
The new normal might be fleeting on buses in New York City, but it's already different than the normal routine during the early months of the pandemic.
New York Subway Sets Pandemic Ridership Record
With school back in session and Broadway shows open to the public, subway ridership is surging in New York City, but still well below pre-pandemic levels.
Report: New York MTA Facing 'Greatest Crisis' in its History
A new report on the finances of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) makes a desperate plea for assistance from the federal government.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Baker Creek Pavilion: Blending Nature and Architecture in Knoxville
Knoxville’s urban wilderness planning initiative unveils the "Baker Creek Pavilion" to increase the city's access to green spaces.
Pedestrian Deaths Drop, Remain Twice as High as in 2009
Fatalities declined by 4 percent in 2024, but the U.S. is still nowhere close to ‘Vision Zero.’
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie