Following last years’ service reductions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, MTA New York City Transit is resuming its 24-hour subway service.

The resumption of 24-hour service, which will begin on May 17, will coincide with the Gov. Andrew Cuomo's announcement lifting the 12 a.m. food and beverage service curfew for outdoor dining areas. While service is restored, the MTA will continue its disinfection and cleaning efforts in addition to its systemwide mask mandate.

"COVID-19 is on the decline in New York City and across New York State, and as we shift our focus to rebuilding our economy, helping businesses, and putting people back to work, it's time to bring the subway back to full capacity," Cuomo said. "We reduced subway service more than a year ago to disinfect our trains and combat the rising tide of COVID cases, and we're going to restore 24-hour service as New York gets back on the right track. This expansion will help working people, businesses, and families get back to normal as the city reopens and reimagines itself for a new future."

On February 15, Cuomo announced that the MTA would partially restore overnight service on the New York City subway, pending continued positive trends in New York's COVID indicators. A week later, on February 22, the MTA extended late-night subway service by two hours, from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. closure to a 2 a.m. - 4 a.m. closure daily.

Last month, MTA New York City Transit officials announced 2,009,025 trips were recorded on the subway on April 8, the first time that more than two million trips were taken on the subway since the onset of the pandemic.