NYC 24-hour subway service resumes May 17

by Dominick Mastrangelo - 05/03/21 1:43 PM ET

Subway service in New York City will resume a 24-hour schedule starting May 17, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced on Monday.

The subway, which typically runs overnight, began closing between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. during the pandemic to allow for sanitization and cleaning.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials said Monday that they will continue to clean and disinfect while trains are still operational, The New York Times reported.

“Today is a milestone for New York state and a significant moment of transition,” Cuomo said.

Several elected leaders, including Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), have called in recent weeks for the MTA to resume 24-hour service.

“The city that never sleeps is waking up from COVID, and so should the subway,” Schumer said. De Blasio said last week that July 1 would be “the right time” to bring back 24-hour subway service.

About half of all adults living in New York City have received at least one coronavirus vaccine shot, state health officials estimate.

The Times reported subway ridership levels have begun to rebound in recent weeks, with local leaders slowly lifting some public health measures and reopening guidelines.

Tags Andrew Cuomo Andrew Cuomo Bill de Blasio Bill de Blasio Chuck Schumer Chuck Schumer New York City Subway