R62A 6 train. Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA

Phased Enhancements Geared Toward Providing Additional Service Where Recovery Rates Are Highest 

Approximately 2.9 Million Riders Projected to Benefit from Enhanced Weekend Service, Where Average Ridership Is Around 80% of Pre-COVID Baseline

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced the next phase of subway service enhancements will begin on Saturday, Aug. 12, with headways of approximately six minutes instead of every eight minutes on the 1 and 6 subway lines. These service enhancements were made possible through $35 million of funding in the FY 2024 New York State Budget.   

The planned enhancements focus on periods where subway ridership has recovered the highest from its pre-pandemic baseline. Subway ridership overall continues to recover with the latest trend showing 3.85 million paid riders on a typical average weekday and 2.2 million riders on an average Saturday or Sunday. Weekend ridership has outpaced weekday ridership in its recovery, with weekend ridership around 80% of its pre-COVID baseline, compared to weekdays when ridership has been around 65% to 70% of the pre-COVID baseline. The 1 train carries approximately 285,000 on an average weekend day, while the 6 train serves 270,000. 

New York City Transit explored where additional off-peak service would have the most benefit, focusing primarily on lines with train frequencies of 10 to 12 minutes during off-peak hours. Planned work was taken into consideration when these enhancements were planned to ensure critical state of good repair work and capital work would not be affected.    

The first phase of weekend service increases on the G, J, M lines, increasing frequency on the three lines with trains arriving every eight to 10 minutes instead of every 10 to 12 minutes, began on Sunday, July 2. The first phase of weekday service increases on the C line began on Monday, August 7, with midday trains arriving every eight minutes instead of every 10 minutes. Later this month, midday service N, R lines will increase with trains arriving every eight minutes instead of every 10 minutes. 

Later this year and through Summer 2024, the following service increases are scheduled to go into effect: 

Third Phase, December 2023: Evening Service Increase on C, N, R Lines and Midday Service on G Line 

To end 2023, evening service on weekdays will increase on the C, N, R lines and midday service will increase on the G line. Trains on those lines would arrive every eight minutes under the enhanced service. Additionally, six minute service on the 1, 6 lines during the weekend would be extended to include more hours of the day.

Fourth Phase, July 2024: Midday and Evening Weekday Service Increases on B, D, J, M Lines 

The final phase of the planned service enhancements is scheduled for July 2024, with weekday service increases on the B, D, J, M lines. The service increase would have trains arriving every eight minutes. Additionally, service would be added to the 3, 5 lines on weekends, with trains arriving every 10 minutes.