Seven years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, weekend ridership on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority system has yet to fully rebound to pre-pandemic levels, with the Bronx seeing the slowest recovery among the five boroughs.
A report released this month by the New York State Comptroller’s Office found that citywide paid weekend subway ridership has reached 89% of 2019 levels, while bus ridership stands at 67%.
In the Bronx, however, the recovery is significantly lower. Weekend subway ridership in the borough is at just 66% of pre-pandemic levels, according to the report.
Several of the subway lines with the steepest declines run through the Bronx, including the 4, 2 and 5 trains.
Bus ridership has also been slower to rebound in the borough. The report found that the seven routes with the largest drops in weekend ridership are all in the Bronx, including the Bx41, Bx35, Bx29 and Bx39.
The report points to employment trends as one possible factor. The Bronx currently has the highest unemployment rate in New York City, which may be contributing to fewer weekend transit trips.
Meanwhile, Manhattan has seen the strongest weekend ridership recovery, a trend the report attributes in part to the borough’s tourism industry.