The system’s 2024 performance is on track for its fastest growth since the pandemic.

The New York City subway system hit one billion rides for the year, a good sign for a public transit system in an era when ridership continues to lag after pandemic-related disruptions.
According to an article by Ben Brachfeld in the Bronx Times, “September was the first month since the pandemic when average weekday ridership on the subway was over 4 million, a feat which was repeated in October.”
The MTA selected one passenger, Michael Carrasquillo, as the symbolic “billionth rider,” awarding him a month of free rides.
Brachfeld notes that “The subway has still not fully recovered from the pandemic days, when ridership plummeted as New Yorkers were told to stay home and stop the spread of the coronavirus. The MTA has blamed this on the normalization of working from home, even as auto traffic over MTA bridges and tunnels regularly exceeds pre-pandemic figures.”
FULL STORY: NYC Subway hits 1 billion riders in 2024, on track for a post-pandemic record pace

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.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
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