(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on February 23, 2010.)
In 2009, MTA New York City Transit’s (NYCT) subway, bus and paratransit ridership totaled 2.3 billion, the second-highest total since 1969, but the first time annual ridership dropped in six years. Ridership declined 2.7 percent, or by 63.5 million trips, compared with 2008’s total because of the weak economy and regional job losses, according to NYCT.
Total subway ridership decreased 2.7 percent year over year to 1.6 billion, the second-highest level since 1951. The largest decline occurred in Manhattan, where average weekday ridership fell 3.6 percent mostly due to job losses in Midtown. Average weekday subway ridership dropped 2.5 percent in Queens, 1.1 percent in Brooklyn and 0.6 percent in the Bronx.
Weekend subway ridership decreased 1.5 percent year over year to 5.2 million, the second-highest total in more than 30 years, according to NYCT. Total weekday ridership for the subway and bus system averaged 7.4 million, the second-highest mark since 1969, but down 2.6 percent from 2008’s average.
Total preliminary ’09 farebox revenue of $3.1 billion fell $2.1 million short of estimates, “further eroding the MTA’s overall precarious financial position,” NYCT officials said in a prepared statement. Revenue rose 3.5 percent year over year, but only because fares increased in June 2009, they said. The average fare went up from 2008’s $1.33 to $1.41.