The MTA is going to get a massive cleaning each night. Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the MTA will disinfect the New York City Transit system, including the Metro North and Long Island Railroad, daily as the State and City continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The MTA will also provide free alternative transportation options to essential workers during the cleaning hours of 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM that will include buses, dollar vans and for-hire vehicles as necessary.
Governor Cuomo said in his daily press conference, "I've consulted with the elected officials on the MTA's recommendation and we all agree to accept the plan on the Essential Connector Program. The MTA is undertaking something that people would've said was virtually impossible. Trains and buses will be disinfected daily. Service will continue. The MTA will also disinfect the fleet on the Metro North and the Long Island Railroad, which is what goes out to Long Island, goes to the Northern suburbs. They can do that without any disruption in service because of the volume of ridership, et cetera."
Beginning Wednesday, May 6, at 1 a.m., there will be no subway service from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. while we disinfect trains and stations.
But the city is operating MTA Essential Service during the COVID-19 pandemic so we can get health-care workers, first responders, and other essential personnel where they need to go during the cleaning. We’re running as much service as we can with the crews who are healthy and available to work, but service on many lines is limited.
Please: If you’re not traveling for work related to an essential business, or for urgent personal business like a medical appointment, do not use the subway or take the bus. We need to keep our limited capacity available for people who must travel.
In order to limit person-to-person contact for our station agents and riders, the MTA no longer making any cash transactions at station booths. You can only make MetroCard transactions at MetroCard Vending machines.
Trains on the Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road systems will also be disinfected every night. It will not impact service.
