NYC Subway Hits 1.4B Rides — Full Recovery
NYC subway reaches 1.4 billion rides in 2025, matching pre-pandemic levels with 85% on-time rate
MTA Hits 1.4 Billion Subway Rides in 2025
New York City subway riders pushed the MTA to its highest annual ridership since before the pandemic, with 1.4 billion trips taken in 2025. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the milestone January 2, highlighting the system's full recovery to 2019 levels after COVID-19 devastated transit use. The subway hit a single-day record December 22 with 4.08 million riders, officials said.
Performance Improvements Drive Ridership Growth
The ridership surge came alongside major performance gains across the MTA's rail networks, according to the transit agency. Subway on-time performance reached 85% in 2025, while Long Island Rail Road hit 94% and Metro-North achieved 92%. Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO, said the system isn't just recovering but thriving. The improvements reflect years of infrastructure investments and service enhancements that've rebuilt rider confidence after the pandemic's disruptions.
Congestion Pricing Generates $1 Billion for System
The MTA's first-in-the-nation congestion pricing program, launched in January 2025, generated $1 billion in revenue for transit improvements throughout the year. The program charges drivers entering Manhattan's central business district, with funds directed to system upgrades and infrastructure projects. Metro-North set its own record November 27 with 127,000 riders on Thanksgiving Eve, the railroad's highest holiday travel day ever. Catherine Rinaldi, Metro-North Railroad President, said the record shows customers trust the system to get them where they need to go.
Recovery Marks Full Return to Pre-Pandemic Levels
The 2025 ridership numbers represent a complete recovery from the pandemic's impact, when subway ridership dropped over 90% during 2020 lockdowns. Demetrius Crichlow, NYC Transit President, said the subway and bus systems are moving more people more reliably than before. Robert Free, Long Island Rail Road President, credited improved on-time performance for growing ridership on LIRR. The recovery took five years from the pandemic's start in March 2020.
Riders Benefit from Improved Service Reliability
Commuters can expect continued service improvements as the MTA builds on 2025's momentum, officials said. The combination of infrastructure investments, new station openings, and congestion pricing revenue supports ongoing system enhancements. Betsy Plum, Executive Director of Riders Alliance, said the record numbers show New Yorkers want reliable public transit and the MTA must keep investing in service improvements. Real-time service updates and trip planning are available through Moovit for all MTA subway, bus, and commuter rail lines.
