Hybrid work has meant fewer riders on New York City's subway and a drop in fare revenue for the system's operator the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The number of paid weekly subway riders on the New York City subway averaged 3.6 million in June, according to the MTA, compared with daily ridership of almost 5.5 million in 2019. Inflation and transit crime have also impacted subway ridership.

Fare evasion has taken its toll on the transit authority too costing the MTA $690 million last year including $285 million on its subways. The MTA is the operator of New York's more than 6,400 subway cars, more than 5,700 buses, two of the country's busiest commuter trains and multiple bridges and tunnels.

So when will New York City subway riders return? And what can the MTA do to respond to fare evaders? Watch the video to learn more.

Chapters:
00:00 — Introduction
02:53 — Private companies
06:30 — Fare evasion
09:43 — Subway fare revenue
10:53 — MTA building costs

The North River Tunnels are a pair of rail tunnels that carry Amtrak and New Jersey Transit lines under the Hudson River between Weehawken, New Jersey, and the Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan. Constructed in 1910, the North River Tunnels is a critical travel option for commuters on the New Jersey Transit and Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor line. These tunnels are active, they allow 24 crossings per hour each way and operate near capacity during peak hours. The tubes run parallel to each other underneath the Hudson River. Their centers are separated by 37 feet. The two tracks fan out to 21 tracks just west of Penn Station.

Aerial footage of the East Village, Manhattan. Featuring: Irving Plaza, Stuyvesant Square Park, Tompkins Square Park, Lower Manhattan in the late fall, early winter.