Reopen News: Subway and bus service updates in New York City

ByEyewitness News WABC logo

Monday, August 10, 2020

Subway and bus service during Phase 1 in NYC

The MTA has resumed regular weekday service Monday as New York City began Phase 1 reopening, with precautions in place to ensure the safety of essential workers and all New Yorkers.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The MTA has resumed regular weekday service as New York City with precautions in place to ensure the safety of essential workers and all New Yorkers.

What to expect during Phase 4

Regular weekday and weekend subway service on most lines.

Regular weekday school-closed bus service on most routes.

Restored service on express buses.

The subway remains closed between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. each day for cleaning.

A mask or face covering is required to ride on any subway or bus.

MTA has deployed a dozen vending machines at 10 subway stations allowing customers to buy COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE). The new machines, part of a pilot program, offer reusable face masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. More information is available here.

The MTA's 13-point action plan during the reopening includes:

-Increased service

-Unprecedented cleaning and disinfecting

-Mandatory face coverings

-Enhanced safety and security

-Nation-leading employee safety initiatives

-Innovative cleaning solutions

-Hand sanitizer, which will be in stations across the system (The MTA will also distribute mini bottles)

-Floor markings, directional arrows and new signage

-Staggered Business Hours

-2 million mask contribution from state, city

-Contactless payments

-New partnership and technology to make system safer

-Data dashboard to provide riders with daily ridership numbers

Subways and Buses:

Subways returned to regular weekday service, but overnight subway closure from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. remain in effect.

There are new markings and signage with directional cues to help maintain social distancing:

Buses are running on a weekday, school-closed schedule, with some changes in Manhattan.

The city has implemented 20 total new miles of busways and bus lanes that will serve nearly 750,000 daily rides, with faster travel and more frequent buses designed to increase social distancing.

The overnight closures do not affect the Staten Island Railway, which will continue running during those hours.

The MTA will continue to run enhanced bus service between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. to help get essential workers where they need to go. If bus service is not an option, essential workers can use the Essential Connector program.

Check MTA.info for updates.

Staten Island Ferry

Additional Staten Island Railway service resumed on July 6 including express trains for the first time since the essential service plan was implemented.

Morning rush hour service is every 15 minutes instead of every 20 minutes.

Staten Island Railway trains are scheduled to coordinate with Staten Island Ferry departures and arrivals.

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