"It's Up To Us, New York"
The MTA is taking unprecedented steps to keep riders and workers safe, including cleaning and disinfecting trains and buses daily. Since May 6th, the MTA has cleaned and disinfected 30,000 stations and cleaned and disinfected 500,000 subway cars. The MTA is also piloting the use of proven UV light technology to clean subway cars and crew facilities. The state is deploying over one million masks, and 25,000 gallons and 500,000 2-oz. bottles of sanitizer for the MTA for reopening.
It's been more than 100 days since the state’s first confirmed case of COVID-19....and the city shut down. In an act of solidarity, our governor took the 7 train to mark the start of Phase 1 of the reopening NYC.
Governor Cuomo said, "How do you know the subway is going to be safe on reopening day? If it wasn't safe, I wouldn't ask anyone to go on the subway. And for me, it's very simple. I just assume I'm making the decision for myself and for my children. If the subway isn't safe for me, then I wouldn't ask anyone else to go on the subway. Today, I took a ride on the 7 Train. The M.T.A has done phenomenal work and I encourage New Yorkers to practice proper safety as they return to the subways during New York's reopening."
The city had shut down the Metropolitan Transportation Authority system between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. for regular cleaning and sanitation purposes in an attempt to prevent the virus from spreading, but it has still seen ridership plummet.
New York has dealt with the highest caseload of coronavirus in the nation and reported 454 new cases on Sunday. Across the U.S., more than 110,000 Americans have died from the disease and nearly 2 million have been infected. Social distancing and NY on Pause has been the key to flattening the curve here in the city.
Now, that NY is no longer in Pause, NY is launching the MTA "It's Up To Us, New York" campaign to remind New Yorkers to keep doing their part to fight Coronavirus. The campaign will appear across social media, on MTA buses and trains and on billboards across the state. I want to remind New Yorkers that masks are mandatory when riding public transportation systems and to follow all guidelines and protocols when riding, including maintaining social distancing to the extent possible, using hand sanitizer and observing decal guidance.
1. Wear a Mask
2. Stay Six Feet Apart
3. Wash Your Hands with Soap
4. Disinfect Your Phone
5. Sneeze into Your Arm, Not Your Hand
6. Don't Shake Hands
7. Don't Touch Your Face
Here is what you will see!
The Governor also announced the MTA is accelerating construction on $2 billion in capital projects during this period of reduced ridership caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The projects include:
- Launching the rehabilitation of the F Train's Rutgers Tube with the contract awarded in July - four years ahead of the original schedule;
- Accelerating 11 ADA stations, including adding 24 new elevators;
- Rehabilitating the 138th Street Grand Concourse Station, which will be completed one month early in October 2020; and
- Accelerating repairs of steel and concrete defects and leaks within the 2/3, 4/5 Train's Eastern Parkways Line in Brooklyn and shaving 10 months off the project by increasing work up to 25 percent during overnight closures.