Gov. Cuomo touts rapid ridership growth on new Second Ave subway
The ridership includes customers entering and leaving 72nd Street, 86th Street, and 96th Street, and the new entrance at 3rd Ave and 63rd Street as well as customers transferring from the F Subway line to Q Subway line at 63rd Street.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced initial ridership figures for the New York MTA’s Second Avenue Subway, since the line opened in January, has grown steadily by approximately 8,000 daily riders per week, hitting 155,000 daily riders on Friday, Jan. 27.
“The Second Avenue Subway has already become an integral part of the Upper East Side and these ridership figures show just how important this expansion project is to the neighborhood and our economy,” Gov. Cuomo said. “This project is proof that government can still get big things done and these early ridership numbers send a clear message that when we deliver on our promises New Yorkers respond.”
The Second Avenue Subway expansion is part of the Gov. Cuomo’s sweeping statewide initiative to redevelop and rebuild New York’s aging infrastructure from the ground up. The comprehensive plan includes a new LaGuardia Airport, a transformational renovation of JFK Airport, completely redesigned Penn Station, the LIRR 2nd and 3rd Track projects, the new New York Bridge, and a major expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Center, as well as a complete overhaul and upgrades to the MTA's seven bridges and two tunnels in the metropolitan region.
The ridership includes customers entering and leaving 72nd Street, 86th Street, and 96th Street, and the new entrance at 3rd Ave and 63rd Street as well as customers transferring from the F Subway line to Q Subway line at 63rd Street.
The MTA also released figures for the nearby Lexington Avenue Line, a notoriously crowded line in New York City, which has reduced weekday ridership in four key stations, 68th Street, 77th Street, 86th Street, and 96th Street. According to new ridership figures, the number of daily riders entering and exiting the four Upper East Side Lexington Avenue Line Stations declined by an average of 27% on weekdays and as much as 46% during peak morning rush hours of 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., as compared to the same period last year.
“The opening of the Second Avenue Subway was a singular event, and New Yorkers have been quick to embrace the new line, with ridership climbing quickly,” said MTA interim Executive Director Ronnie Hakim. “The fact that so many daily riders are using the new line has also helped to ease crowding during the morning rush at key stations on the Lexington Avenue line, making commuting easier, faster, and better for thousands of New Yorkers.”
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
