NYC Subway Sets Ridership Records During Halloween and Marathon Weekend

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said New York City’s subway carried record numbers of riders during Halloween and the New York City Marathon weekend. On Thursday, 4.72 million people used the system, its highest daily total since the pandemic began in 2020. Sunday set a record for subway ridership on that day of the week, while Saturday’s 3.59 million riders marked the most for a Saturday since 2016.

The MTA said the Sunday total was 3.14 million, 11% above the previous year’s record. Governor Kathy Hochul said mass transit made major city events possible, and MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the figures showed people rely on trains when the city hosts large gatherings.

The agency said it added subway service in anticipation of the crowds. But riders described packed platforms and long waits, with videos showing crowds at West Fourth Street and Second Avenue stations. Some complained that trains were too infrequent for the demand, including reports of waits of 20 to 30 minutes late at night and a 24-minute estimated wait for a No. 6 train in the morning.

The surge comes amid broader recovery in subway use. The MTA recently recorded 22.32 million riders across five weekdays and 27.87 million over seven days. The agency is investing in subway cars, repair yards and signal systems, and is developing the Second Avenue Subway extension and the Interborough Express.