Subway Ridership at Highest Levels Since 1950!

[East New York]

Everyone knows there is no better way to navigate the city than riding the subway. In 2011, subway ridership increased 2.3% from 2010….that's more than 36 million trips! Weekend ridership also continues to swell. In fact, average weekend ridership topped 5.4 million, the highest weekend ridership since 1947.

 

Some other notes based on results through November 2011:

 

*The Myrtle Av line had the strongest growth of any line, likely a continuing effect of the service change that re-routed the line via 6th Avenue in Manhattan and Queens Blvd. in Queens.

 

*We continue to see strong growth in northern Brooklyn on the western portions of the and lines running through Williamsburg and Bushwick.

 

*The Aqueduct-North Conduit Ave station (and Aqueduct Racetrack station when open) saw a large ridership increase after the closure of off-track betting in December 2010. Ridership at Aqueduct-North Conduit Av nearly tripled after the opening of the Resorts World Casino at the racetrack on October 28, 2011.

 

 

mta.info | Subway Ridership at Highest Levels Since 1950!

[INDman]

And people keep saying that the TA should not have created the line...

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Speaking of the , what is up with the shorter car lengths?? Makes no sense on that line whatsoever. Any time that I've waited for the ( or the at the 47-50th street station, I always see people running to the last car because they don't realize that the line has fewer cars on it.

[INDman]

Speaking of the , what is up with the shorter car lengths?? Makes no sense on that line whatsoever. Any time that I've waited for the ( or the at the 47-50th street station, I always see people running to the last car because they don't realize that the line has fewer cars on it.

 

It makes sense, on the Eastern Div. (once the train goes Essex St and into Brooklyn) the platforms can only hold 8 60ft cars. If the ran 10 cars, 2 cars would not be in the station. And no, extending the platforms won't happen because its not worth the cost and the signal system would have to be changed too.

[Shortline Bus]

mta.info | Subway Ridership at Highest Levels Since 1950!

 

 

Not to go off topic but the dramtic increases in services begs for the return of the (B39) IMO at least weekdays. And also maybe a Greenpoint-LIC-East Midtown route via Midtown Tunnel as well to take off the crushload.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

It makes sense, on the Eastern Div. (once the train goes Essex St and into Brooklyn) the platforms can only hold 8 60ft cars. If the ran 10 cars, 2 cars would not be in the station. And no, extending the platforms won't happen because its not worth the cost and the signal system would have to be changed too.

 

Must be the same issue with the line too then. Pretty stupid if you ask me. Meanwhile right across the platform you have the ( and that have no problems with this issue.

[INDman]

Must be the same issue with the line too then. Pretty stupid if you ask me. Meanwhile right across the platform you have the ( and that have no problems with this issue.

 

No the runs short trains for different reasons. They don't have enough cars to make the a full length line. As for it being stupid, what do you want the TA to do about it. When the BRT and BMT lines were built, all stations were built to handle 8 cars, even the Broadway subway.

[Jdog14]

Must be the same issue with the line too then. Pretty stupid if you ask me. Meanwhile right across the platform you have the ( and that have no problems with this issue.

 

The C CAN run full 10 car trains. Over the summer they ran 8 car R46s which makes up 10 60ft cars. IIRC it's the barn at 207 that can't handle longer trains (reassure me on this one).

[Via Garibaldi 8]

No the runs short trains for different reasons. They don't have enough cats to make the a full length line. As for it being stupid, what do you want the TA to do about it. When the BRT and BMT lines were built, all stations were built to handle 8 cars, even the Broadway subway.

 

They don't have enough cats huh...?? lol

[INDman]

The C CAN run full 10 car trains. Over the summer they ran 8 car R46s which makes up 10 60ft cars. IIRC it's the barn at 207 that can't handle longer trains (reassure me on this one).

 

While the barn can;t hold 10 cars, it's NOT why the isn't full length.

[East New York]

Not to go off topic but the dramtic increases in services begs for the return of the (B39) IMO at least weekdays. And also maybe a Greenpoint-LIC-East Midtown route via Midtown Tunnel as well to take off the crushload.

 

Not only the B39, but Q24 service along Broadway needs to be restored as well. The seniors have a very dificult time climbing those platform stairs. The disabled are just SOL now.

[INDman]

They don't have enough cats huh...?? lol

 

Oh your funny...... You know what I mean.

[trainfan22]

Great news! But shocking, I mean 1950!? I wonder if the lousy economy contributes to this.

[Roadcruiser1]

Having ridden the new many times it is a lot more crowded, a lot more busier, and is used a lot more than the (Mx) ever was. The does a great job in not just serving people but by giving people an additional option besides using the . When the (Mx) used to run on the West End Line it was never full. You can always find a seat on board no matter what even during rush hour. Now during a normal hour seats can't be found as easily, and during rush hours a lot of people are standing holding on to the poles as there are not enough seats available for everyone. Since it's a good thing I often suggest that it should run more frequently not less. Especially since the can't handle the rush hour crowds with so many people.

[Grand Concourse]

Speaking of the , what is up with the shorter car lengths?? Makes no sense on that line whatsoever. Any time that I've waited for the ( or the at the 47-50th street station, I always see people running to the last car because they don't realize that the line has fewer cars on it.

Not sure how much of a difference it would've made if the ran to Brooklyn like Church av, but they weren't very full to begin with especially since it ended at a 'useless' terminal at 2nd av.

 

As the others said, the lines have shorter platforms and can handle 8-car trains. For Queens Blvd, the is still better than the when the ran 6-car R46 trains.

[geoking66]

I always thought it was that the had ridiculously low ridership, probably because it runs so poorly…

[Grand Concourse]

I occasionally ride the to the Rockaways during the midday, and those local stations are nearly ghost towns especially east of Broadway Junction. Other than that, the should have 10-car trains. If the wasn't so frequent, maybe WTC could short turn some trains there as the Manhattan segment of the line needs the more, imo.

[Guest lance25]

It probably will. Whenever it uses something that isn't the R32s.

[Fresh Pond]

Hmmm, I wonder why the has spiked so much recently

 

*cough* hipsters *cough cough*

 

I occasionally ride the to the Rockaways during the midday, and those local stations are nearly ghost towns especially east of Broadway Junction. Other than that, the should have 10-car trains. If the wasn't so frequent, maybe WTC could short turn some trains there as the Manhattan segment of the line needs the more, imo.

 

Those stations in the Rockaway Pk branch are literally the bottom of the barrel in terms of ridership. Aqueduct racetrack is dead last and right in front of that is Beach 105 St

[geoking66]

Hmmm, I wonder why the has spiked so much recently

 

*cough* hipsters *cough cough*

 

 

 

Those stations in the Rockaway Pk branch are literally the bottom of the barrel in terms of ridership. Aqueduct racetrack is dead last and right in front of that is Beach 105 St

 

I'd love to see that station-by-station stats for the . Wonder if it's sustaining the momentum from last year. Morgan Avenue at 20% growth is still astounding.

[Grand Concourse]

Those stations in the Rockaway Pk branch are literally the bottom of the barrel in terms of ridership. Aqueduct racetrack is dead last and right in front of that is Beach 105 St

 

Which is why I've said other than rush hours and the summer, the shuttle is good enough for that area. If they need to run more trains, then they should be short turned at Howard Beach or Broad Channel (provided the test track north of the station is empty).

B105th is next to what looks like a water treatment plant. But with the new housing there, it might not be so low use as it used to be.

[Shortline Bus]

This is a shame why Albany, NYC City Hall and DC even in these tough economic times has not tried to invest more in mass transit. That for another chat.

 

Back to topic. *If the funding was available* before creating any new or restoring lines (besides the ongoing extension and opening of the 1st part of the SAS to 96th St.)IMO i would expand the late evening service of all lines. For instance the and the full route running about 90 minutes later with their services ending at around 1230am 7 days a week. Not to mention the running express until 1230am as well. Besides weekends, late evening service 7 days a week is the fastest growing of ridership.

 

Not to mention restore pre June 2010, weekend headways on all Mannhattan "A"(IRT) and "B" (IND/BMT)lines. Barring "GO"s" all subway lines serving Manhattan would be running every 6-8 minutes or less Saturdays between 10am- 10pm and every 8-10 minutes or less on Sundays between 12 Noon-8pm. That would solve the issue of SRO rush hour crowding on lines such as the Lex, 7th/Bway and in Manhattan even now on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

 

To pay for it I would extend the overnight period only on Sundays until 8am on all lines but with trains running every 10-12 minutes between 6am-8am. Of course the Lex line and and QB Lines would still have 'express' service on sundays starting at 630am.

 

Reactions?

[Fresh Pond]

I'd love to see that station-by-station stats for the . Wonder if it's sustaining the momentum from last year. Morgan Avenue at 20% growth is still astounding.

 

Interesting enough, I read in the newspaper a few days ago, the MTA thought about shutting down the in the 70s/80s since almost no one rode the line back then.

 

Which is why I've said other than rush hours and the summer, the shuttle is good enough for that area. If they need to run more trains, then they should be short turned at Howard Beach or Broad Channel (provided the test track north of the station is empty).

B105th is next to what looks like a water treatment plant. But with the new housing there, it might not be so low use as it used to be.

 

The only time that area sees a good amount of ridership is during the summer months.

[TwoTimer]

Which is why I've said other than rush hours and the summer, the shuttle is good enough for that area. If they need to run more trains, then they should be short turned at Howard Beach or Broad Channel (provided the test track north of the station is empty).

B105th is next to what looks like a water treatment plant. But with the new housing there, it might not be so low use as it used to be.

 

The only time that area sees a good amount of ridership is during the summer months.

 

Uhhh isn't that what he just said.

 

It's easy to research what ran back in 1950, but was the service comparable for the ridership...

[T to Dyre Avenue]

It makes sense, on the Eastern Div. (once the train goes Essex St and into Brooklyn) the platforms can only hold 8 60ft cars. If the ran 10 cars, 2 cars would not be in the station. And no, extending the platforms won't happen because its not worth the cost and the signal system would have to be changed too.

I thought the Eastern Division platforms (except Metropolitan Ave) could hold nine 60-footers. I saw pictures in "Subway Cars of the BMT" that showed trains made up of eight 67-foot Standards (536 ft) coming off the Williamsburg Bridge. A train made up of nine 60-footers is just four feet longer (540 ft). If the (M)'s ridership continues to grow like this, the MTA will need to take a serious look at running longer trains on the line. They already need to do this on the line.

 

Ridership on the subway is growing, yet we still have pretty much the same subway infrastructure we had 30 years ago when ridership was declining. We can't afford to continue down that same (pardon the pun) track.