NEW YORK — Big changes are in store for the 3.6 million people who ride the New York City subway every day.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced this on Monday the upcoming rollout of more than 400 new cars.
And that’s just the start of the upgrades.
Here’s what to expect in the future
A solid new year could emerge for the millions of straphangers.
CBS News New York has learned that buses and subways are expected to run more frequently. The bus improvements are part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s initiative to give people more commuting options once congestion pricing starts on January 5. This comes as subways continue to offer more frequent service during off-peak hours on 12 lines, which began in June 2023, according to the MTA.
Other improvements include passengers having the option to use eight express bus routes from March and 16 local bus routes from summer 2025.
“We are in the midst of a generational upgrade of our subway fleet and the benefits are enormous,” said NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow.
435 new metros expected by 2027
Frequent A or C train riders have probably seen this the R211 metros on their commute. The MTA Transit Committee just approved the purchase of 435 additional cars, with delivery expected in 2027.
‘We will continue with them. Broadly speaking, if congestion pricing doesn’t go through, it would impact how many cars we buy across the system. But this specific sequence, the option timeframe and the pricing really require us to move forward,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber.
According to the MTA, the order includes 355 enclosed cars and 80 open gangway cars, which would be in addition to the 345 R-211 cars currently in use.
Improvements to the G-line
The transit agency also offers information for the G line, which will use at least two five-car trains trains with open gangwaymaking it the second metro line on which these trains run.
“We will make use of the current cars listed on the C and look to implement this in the first quarter of 2025,” Crichlow said.
Leaders say the new option will allow NYC Transit to replace other subway trains, the R-68s, which entered service in the mid-1980s. They currently operate on the B, D, N and W lines.
Elijah Westbrook
