METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

New York MTA, CUNY to Create Internship Program

The program will build on MTA and CUNY's initiatives while supporting equity, diversity, and social mobility.

New York MTA, CUNY to Create Internship Program

MTA Chair & CEO Janno Lieber, Chief Administrative Officer Lisette Camillo, and CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez at MTA Headquarters announced a partnership to attract paid interns to the MTA.

Photo: Marc A. Hermann /MTA

2 min to read


The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the City University of New York (CUNY) celebrated an internship program partnership that connects CUNY students from across all 25 campuses with paid internship opportunities at the MTA at both the undergraduate and graduate level, according to the agency's news release.

The program will build on MTA and CUNY's initiatives while supporting equity, diversity, and social mobility. The program received 16,216 applications for just 150 slots in its first year, last summer. 

Ad Loading...

Applying for the Program

Earlier this month, 128 positions were listed for the summer program which runs for approximately eight weeks and is full-time.  

A second application period opens in the fall on a part-time basis.  

In some cases, students who participate in full-time positions during the summer are able to transition to a part-time status once the school year begins. Students working full time are eligible to receive benefits, including medical, through Research Foundation CUNY. There are currently 84 interns wrapping up their internship with the MTA, marking the program’s first full year.

“I have always believed that the MTA and other New York institutions need to focus on attracting talent from incredible public schools and colleges,” said MTA CEO Janno Lieber. “When I became the Chair, this partnership with CUNY was one my first initiatives and I’m thrilled about how it’s worked out.”

Internship Insight

Internships are available across all MTA agencies: NYC Transit Subways, Buses, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North, Construction & Development, and Bridges and Tunnel with openings in fields such as legal, finance, architecture, technology, project management, environmental science, engineering, real estate, station operations, safety, transportation, and communications.

Ad Loading...

The initiative is funded by MTA and the students are employed through RF CUNY.  

More Management

AAAHI receiving METRO's Innovative Operator of the Year Award
Motorcoachby Alex RomanSeptember 16, 2026

METRO Opens Submissions for 2026 Motorcoach Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for METRO Magazine’s Operator of the Year and Innovative Operator of the Year awards.

Read More →
A New York MTA subway car with an open gangway
Railby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 16, 2026

New York MTA Advances Final Contract for Second Avenue Subway Expansion

Contract Four is the largest in the Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project and includes construction of station infrastructure, tracks, and signals for the subway expansion, MTA officials said. Work on Contract Four will begin in 2027.

Read More →
Transit Leaders Gather for National Safety Summit
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanSeptember 16, 2026

Transit Agencies Highlight Safety Gains at National Summit

Leaders from 15 major transit systems shared crime-reduction results and safety initiatives while discussing the role of continued federal support.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with text reading "NITA Names New Leadership, Expands Reduced-Fare Program."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 14, 2026

NITA Names New Leadership, Expands Reduced-Fare Program at First Board Meeting

The new regional transit authority appointed its first board chair and interim executive director while extending reduced fares across CTA, Metra, and Pace for eligible riders.

Read More →
From Checklists to Better Outcomes
TechnologySeptember 11, 2026

Beyond the Checklist: A Structured Approach to Transit Maintenance

Reliability-Centered Maintenance helps transit agencies move beyond routine checklists to focus limited resources on the assets and failures that have the greatest impact on safety, reliability, and service.

Read More →
A red, white, and blue graphic with the APTA logo and text reading "APTA Nominates 2026-2027 Chair & Vice Chair."
Managementby Staff and News ReportsSeptember 10, 2026

APTA 2026 Nominating Committee Selects Leadership Slate, Names Chair and Vice Chair Nominees

Leadership changes will help shape the association’s priorities and its representation of the transportation industry during the 2026–2027 term.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
DART's light rail station at 8th and Corinth
Security and Safetyby Alex RomanSeptember 10, 2026

DART Launches Major Security, Fare Enforcement Initiative

The 90-day demonstration will deploy coordinated security teams at five light rail stations while testing controlled access and gathering data to guide future investments.

Read More →
STraffic White Paper Cover Learn about delivering 1300 gates at 91 stations while managing fare evasion. Explore the large scale deployment, solution customization and real-world results that affect the region. Prepare for deployment in your region now.
SponsoredSeptember 9, 2026

Advancing Fare Collection Through Technology and Innovation

Learn about delivering 1300 gates at 91 stations while managing fare evasion. Explore the large scale deployment, solution customization and real-world results that affect the region. Prepare for deployment in your region now.

Read More →
A TransLink train goes by a large FIFA World Cup soccer ball structure.
Managementby Elora HaynesSeptember 8, 2026

Game Day in Motion: Moving Millions During the 2026 World Cup

Between packed transit stations and team motorcoaches, see how agencies and operators across North America tackled the transportation demands of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with text reading "Surface Transportation Averts Shutdown, Leaves Transit Funding Gap."
Managementby Elora HaynesSeptember 4, 2026

Surface Transportation Extension Averts Shutdown, Leaves Transit Funding Gap

The stopgap keeps federal transportation programs moving, but missing advance funding could complicate the transit and rail projects agencies are planning next.

Read More →