MTA commuter rail ridership surges in New York City

Ridership on New York City commuter rails has seen a significant rebound, with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) exceeding its September 2019 passenger levels. Metro-North has also reported record weekend demand during the fall travel season.

Officials attribute this growth to the expansion of “City Tickets,” which offer discounted fares for travel between stations within city limits. Since the expansion of these weekday discounts in 2022, ridership at stations within New York City has increased by 180 percent compared to four years ago. For example, ridership at the Laurelton station in Queens rose by 478 percent, while the Melrose station in the Bronx saw a 503 percent increase.

State officials also linked the rising numbers to major infrastructure projects, including Grand Central Madison and the Main Line Third Track and Double Track projects. While these milestones indicate a shift toward leisure and intracity travel, the State Comptroller noted that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority still faces potential budget gaps beyond 2026.