A rushing subway station filled to the brim with people abruptly went quiet. Pre-pandemic, one could expect 5.5 million traveling a day via MTA, while post pandemic ridership has fallen to 50-80% of what it once was. As New York and its residents shielded themselves at home, as working from home became the standard in 2020. Few people were commuting as the MTA hustled to sterilize their stations. As the pandemic continued, travel to office jobs was revived, and commuting gradually became what it once was.
To prepare for public needs, the MTA began cleaning its subways and its stations. 10-person crews were appointed to several stations across the city, spraying disinfectants on walls, stairs, handrails and turnstiles, nothing was left unturned. The MTA spent hundreds of millions to ensure that their buses, subways, and stations were as clean as they could be.
Benefiting from fewer commuters, the MTA has focused more on repair and construction as several boroughs require track repairs, such as the E train line by Jamaica in Queens. Even with the pandemic, the work is scheduled to be finished by December 2020. The lesser demand for transportation has ensured that fewer delays will occur.
Combined with a diminishing passenger population and greater expenses, the MTA requested a $12 billion bailout from the U.S Government. Likewise, Amtrak would request $4.9 billion as their trains are only carrying 25% of pre-pandemic ridership. To tempt riders back on, Amtrak announced that their trains will only support 50% of its capacity and their website will allow for real-time seat capacity tracking.
Despite COVID-19 becoming more of a norm, countering it remained a priority for the state and city of New York. On September 18th, the city of New York announced $50 fines were to be given to any passenger not wearing a mask on a subway. Police officers have demonstrated how to put a mask on to a whopping 3,200 people, but only one person has been fined.
While experts discuss how safe a subway can be during a pandemic, precautions have taken place. With these changes, riders are feeling a sense of security they have not felt since pre pandemic.
Although there is now a sense of assurance while riding the subway, the MTA still urges caution. As the decline in ridership has led to an increase in subway related crime. Six people have been killed in the New York subway system in 2020 compared to only two in 2019 and one in 2018. Transit workers especially have become targets of assault during this year. With a decrease in police presence, many citizens have taken advantage of fewer eyewitnesses around.
As New York’s ridership returns, a pre-pandemic life has started to feel more obtainable as various subways are back to their congested selves. Unfortunately, things are not yet back to normal in these bustling stations. Going forward, it is vital that the MTA and its passengers continue to make careful precautions to prevent any further spread of the virus.
Comments