With ridership down to 10,000 people per night, and numerous homeless people taking up residence on the subway, New York will no longer run overnight subway service for the foreseeable future.
"The MTA will soon cease overnight subway service, an unprecedented disruption that will allow crews to disinfect trains more frequently to help slow the spread of coronavirus," reports Jake Offenhartz.
"In a joint press conference on Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio said that subways will not run between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. for the duration of the pandemic. The indefinite shutdown will begin the morning of May 6th."
The news comes as subway ridership has plummeted by 92 percent during the pandemic, and recent controversies have erupted over the MTA's handling of homeless people using the subway system for shelter during the pandemic. While announcing the service changes, Mayor de Blasio cited the homelessness issue as one challenge that would be easier to address by suspending overnight service.
To make up for the lost service, the "MTA will provide buses, for-hire vehicles and 'dollar vans' for essential workers traveling at night," according to Offenhartz.
FULL STORY: MTA Will End Overnight Subway Service For Duration Of Pandemic
Ridership Up, Speeds Down for Buses in New York City
The new normal might be fleeting on buses in New York City, but it's already different than the normal routine during the early months of the pandemic.
Subway Ridership Starting to Rise in New York City, but not as Quickly as Car Trips
A noticeable increase in subway ridership has been taking place on subway trains in New York City, but not enough to call it a comeback, yet.
Free Rides, Overnight Service Considered for Metro Transit in D.C.
Washington, D.C. councilmembers are making a bold commitment to public transit.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Baltimore Ordered to Improve Sidewalk Accessibility
The city is one of many to face lawsuits for failing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
This Toronto Suburb Has More Bus Riders Than Columbus, Ohio
Brampton, Ontario used gradual improvements in service to prove that if you build it, they will ride.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service