The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad set post-pandemic ridership records on May 9.
The LIRR carried approximately 221,290 riders while Metro-North carried approximately 205,069 riders.
In February, LIRR ridership increased 41 percent, following the opening of Grand Central Madison.
In April, LIRR and Metro-North carried a combined 9.46 million riders.
“The ridership records keep coming, and they validate everything the MTA has been doing to make the commuter rails an attractive option—more frequent service, fare discounts, and with Grand Central Madison, an incredible new facility and a shorter commute,” said Janno Lieber, chairman and CEO Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
LIRR carried 200,915 customers on an average weekday in April. It reinstated full-time, year-round service at Mets-Willets Point station on April 24.
The opening encourages riders to take mass transit to Citi Field events and also provide Queens residents with an alternative travel option.
In April, Metro-North carried 180,174 riders on an average weekday.
On April 18 and 19, Metro-North set post-pandemic ridership records, carrying 194,549 and 195,086 riders respectively. On April 24, it carried 180,789 riders, nearly 7,000 more than the previous best Monday.
Metro-North also reached its first three-day ridership high since the pandemic, hitting 193,111 riders.