PORT CHESTER, NY (October 28, 2026) — Governor Kathy Hochul announced a significant surge in Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) ridership, with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) surpassing pre-pandemic levels and Metro-North Railroad breaking weekend records.
“When I became Governor, I committed to bring riders back to mass transit from Poughkeepsie to Patchogue, because a strong rail system is vital to our entire state’s economy,” Hochul said. “Many said we would never see pre-pandemic ridership again, but I doubled down on our railroads with investments in safety, increased and faster service, and completing historic projects like Grand Central Madison.”
Metro-North Ridership Growth
Metro-North ridership hit 90 percent of September 2019 levels, with significant growth driven by the introduction of super-express trains. Weekend ridership has shown particularly strong recovery, doubling since 2019.
LIRR Ridership Surpasses Pre-Pandemic Levels
The LIRR reached 102 percent of September 2019 levels, marking the second time this year the railroad exceeded pre-pandemic ridership. The surge follows investments that expanded service and improved connectivity.
CityTicket and Future Investments
CityTicket sales tripled due to expanded fare options. The MTA plans to continue investments in new railcars and infrastructure improvements, aiming for increased capacity and reliability.
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
Have information about this story? Email robertcox@talkofthesound (preferred) or contact via WhatsApp: +353 089 972 0669.
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