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Stringer celebrates restart of 24/7 subway service, highlights plans to realize ‘NYC in 6’ and increase off-peak transit
Stringer’s 17-point plan to revamp and redesign NYC’s transit and streets networks would establish true 24/7 service to support frontline workers and an equitable economic comeback
Stringer: “We need to step up for the frontline workers who got us through this pandemic and kick our economy into gear to bring an equitable recovery. As mayor, I’ll be ready on day one to reimagine our transit system and lead our city’s greatest comeback.”
New York, NY – City Comptroller and mayoral candidate today stood in Union Square to applaud the restoration of 24/7 subway service — a defining moment in the city’s comeback from the COVID-19 pandemic — and outline his vision for true 24/7 service across the city’s entire public transportation network.
Stringer’s comprehensive transportation plan will jumpstart the city’s economic comeback with investments in mass transportation to better serve the needs of working people. His “NYC in 6” proposal would establish rapid, round-the-clock transit service and ensure that New Yorkers never wait more than 6 minutes for the next ride, any time of day — supporting frontline workers and non-work trips late at night, early in the morning, and in the middle of the day.
“To anyone who doubted New York or declared the city dead, today is a sign that New York is coming back — and we’re not going anywhere,” said Comptroller Scott Stringer. “But this is just the beginning — we can’t reopen our city and our economy the same way we closed them. We need to step up for the frontline workers who got us through this pandemic and kick our economy into gear to bring an equitable recovery. As mayor, I’ll be ready on day one to reimagine our transit system and lead our city’s greatest comeback.”
Between 2000 and 2018, the number of New Yorkers commuting to work outside of rush hour rose 33 percent, and the number commuting within the non-Manhattan boroughs rose by 28 percent. The median income of off-peak subways commuters ($37,048) is far below that of rush-hour subway commuters ($50,783). By reducing wait and travel times for off-peak riders, Scott will improve transportation equity across the city, helping make fast, affordable transit possible for all hard-working New Yorkers.
Part 2 of Stringer’s comprehensive 17-point transportation plan focuses on realigning transit service for our 21 century, 24-hour economy. Stringer’s proposals for greater off-peak and accessible service include:
- Invest in rapid, round-the-clock transit service so trains and buses arrive at least every 6 minutes, all day every day. Scott will introduce an “NYC in 6” plan to ensure that New Yorkers never wait more than 6 minutes for the next ride, even if they’re traveling outside of rush hour — better serving many frontline and essential workers who operate outside the 9-5. Under “NYC in 6,” subways and buses would maintain rush-hour frequencies and would never run more than 6 minutes apart from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. To fund “NYC in 6,” the State should flip the distribution of the gas tax within the 12-county Metropolitan Commuting Transit District, providing upwards of $500 million for public transit.
- Historic investment in bus service. Scott will be the “Bus Mayor” that New York City needs, building out 35 miles of dedicated bus lanes and busways each year; dramatically improving lane enforcement with better designed bus lanes, increased camera enforcement, heavier fines, and dedicated truck and bike cargo loading zones throughout the city; working with the City’s franchisee to double the number of bus shelters; pressing the MTA to implement all-door boarding on every bus route; and ensuring that the NYC Department of Transportation is working hand-in-hand with the MTA to successfully implement its Bus Network Redesigns so that New Yorkers can get where they need to go, when they need to get there.
- Open up commuter lines for in-city use to expand affordable transit. Scott’s plan will make 41 commuter stations across the 5 boroughs accessible with the swipe of a MetroCard and at the same cost — effectively expanding our transit system overnight at a fraction of the cost of new construction. In addition to bringing in-city fares to $2.75, Scott will work with the LIRR and Metro-North to make more local stops in neighborhoods in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens — including St. Albans, Queens Village, Spuyten Duyvil, Tremont, and Williamsbridge — and provide more mid-day and weekend service to accommodate the travel patterns of everyday New Yorkers.
- Build more affordable housing near transit. Scott’s plan will encourage the development of housing options for lower-income New Yorkers around dozens of underutilized subway stations and lines across the city that have the capacity to serve more riders, while protecting existing residents and tenants.
- Work with the MTA to make our subways accessible to all. Scott’s plan will improve access at the 76 percent of subway stations that currently fail to meet accessibility standards and reopen closed subway entrances. Scott will use his control of city streets to accommodate and expedite ADA improvements throughout the subway system and will also ensure that the City’s contribution to the MTA capital budget supports these upgrades.
- Ensure 24-hour subway service — always. Scott’s plan will ensure we never suspend 24-hour subway service, because it is a bedrock covenant between the MTA and the residents of New York City.
To read the full Stringer transportation and infrastructure plan, click here.
Scott Stringer was born and raised in Washington Heights. He attended P.S. 152 on Nagle Avenue and I.S. 52 on Academy Street. He graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Marble Hill and John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, a CUNY school.
Stringer was elected City Comptroller in 2013. Prior to serving as Comptroller, he was Manhattan Borough President from 2006 to 2013 and represented the Upper West Side in the New York State Assembly from 1992 to 2005. He and his wife, Elyse Buxbaum, live in Manhattan with their two children, Max and Miles.
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