Ridership across mass transit plummets amid coronavirus
The coronavirus crisis is causing millions of New Yorkers to flee the mass transit system, with subway ridership on Wednesday dropping 18.65 percent compared to a year ago, according to newly released statistics from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
On an average weekday, more than 5.5 million people ride the subway system, which suggests more than 1 million fewer people are taking the subway on a daily basis.
On buses, ridership dropped 15 percent. Buses typically serve some 1.8 million people a day.
Metro-North Railroad, which services coronavirus epicenter New Rochelle, saw a nearly 50 percent dip in ridership during the morning rush hour Thursday. Long Island Rail Road ridership was down 31 percent Thursday morning.
New Yorkers are not choosing to drive into the city either. Bridge and tunnel ridership is down nearly 7 percent, the MTA said.
“Not surprisingly, we are seeing daily declines in ridership and we expect those declines to continue as mass gatherings are barred and major companies and universities move to telecommuting,” said MTA spokesperson Abbey Collins. “This has led to a decline in revenue and we continue to monitor the situation closely and will be reporting on it at Board. We continue to run regular service.”