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New York City’s subway just hit a milestone that would’ve seemed unthinkable a few summers ago: more than 4 million riders a day, for three days in a row. From July 15 through 17, the MTA logged 4,046,610, 4,121,751 and 4,029,692 trips, respectively, marking the first time since 2019 that the system has seen that kind of sustained summer crush.
Even a soggy Monday didn’t slow things down. The surge came just days after a near-record downpour on Monday, July 14, with MTA crews hustling overnight to keep commutes on track. And keep on track they did—literally. According to Governor Kathy Hochul, subway performance is also on the upswing, with 2025 poised to be the MTA’s best year for on-time service on record.
The four-million mark has now been hit seven times in just three weeks, starting late June and continuing through mid-July. That’s no fluke, according to Hochul.
“We’re delivering a transit system that is safer and more reliable, and New Yorkers have responded by riding in record numbers,” Hochul said in a statement. “When ridership is on the rise, New York is on the rise.”
Several factors are fueling the bump. One standout: This is the first summer NYC students can use their OMNY cards 24/7, even during school breaks. Previously, student MetroCards were limited to school days. Expanded access means more freedom—and more rides.
Meanwhile, the tap-and-go revolution is in full swing. OMNY usage jumped to 75-percent during the week of July 14, up from 67-percent in March, with New Yorkers embracing phones, contactless cards, and good old-fashioned convenience.
Safety and satisfaction are also trending upward. Major subway crimes are down 3.2-percent year-over-year—and nearly 10-percent compared to 2019—while customer satisfaction has climbed across subways, buses and commuter rail. The MTA is also reporting an 8-percent increase in subway ridership compared to last year, and a whopping 31-percent jump since 2022.
In short: New Yorkers are back on board—and the subway, for all its ups and downs, is having a moment.