More New Yorkers and commuters are riding the Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road in and out of the city than ever before, the MTA said on Monday. With more than 84 million passengers, the Metro-North carried the most passengers in it’s history last year, and saw a 1.5 percent growth from 2013. LIRR ridership increased 3 percent during the same time period. The MTA said the increases came from riders on the rails during off-peak hours, commuting to jobs with non-traditional schedules, sporting events and weekend outings.
“Across our region, New Yorkers are developing a mindset that riding the railroad isn’t just about going to work anymore. It’s becoming more and more integrated into the fabric of daily life,” MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast said in a prepared statement. Last week, the MTA said the subway system grew 2.6 percent in 2014, carrying more than 1.75 billion people last year.
Metro-North, LIRR see record ridership
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