25 Things the MTA Is Proud of in 2025

As the MTA approaches the end of another year, it's looking back and reflecting on some accomplishments-2025 was an eventful year for the MTA.

The MTA is endlessly thankful for its staff and front-line employees for all of their hard work this year. Thanks to the efforts of police partners, crime is down for the year. And of course, thankful to all of the riders for taking public transit this year.

Here are 25 things from 2025 that the MTA is proud of. (Watch this video highlighting these milestones, and more.)

The MTA kicked off 2025 with a huge accomplishment: Congestion Relief Zone tolling launched on Jan. 5. In the 11 months since, the program has delivered on its promise of reducing traffic in Manhattan, leading to safer streets, cleaner air, and improved travel times. And the revenue generated by the program is already being used to upgrade transit: Funds will be used to buy new railcars and replace outdated signals, among other major improvements.

Speaking of major improvements, thanks to funding from the state budget, the 2025-2029 Capital Plan was approved, with a historic $68.4 billion earmarked for crucial repairs and upgrades to the transit system. Some of that work is now underway, notably progress on the Interborough Express, which moved into its next phase with the launch of the environmental review process.

Stations across the network got a glow up: A new passageway was opened at Grand Central-42 St that more easily connects the to the , and an entirely new entrance and elevators at the Church Av . On Long Island, major renovations were unveiled at Valley Stream and Mastic-Shirley, and the 128-year-old Webster Avenue Bridge in Manhasset was replaced with a new one that is safe, modern, and climate-resilient.

Stations also got upgrades to improve safety: We installed more than 100 platform barriers in 2025, bringing the total number across the system to 115, and by the end of the year, every subway station will have brighter LED lighting.

Safety is a top priority every year, and thanks to our partnership with Gov. Kathy Hochul, 2025 was the safest year for the subway system in a generation. That's all thanks to the work of the NYPD, MTA Police Department, and other partners, along with a $77 million investment from New York State.

The MTA changed the map-literally. This spring, a new subway diagram that provides riders with essential travel information in an easily readable and orderly manner was unveiled. Its design was inspired by the iconic 1972 Vignelli diagram and incorporates elements from older versions of the map, such as the brand colors established by the 1979 and 1998 Hertz maps.

After 30 years of the MetroCard, the MTA is moving on: The last day to purchase the iconic yellow and blue pass is Dec. 31. But the MetroCard was sent off with a bang and invited other beloved New Yorkers-including celebrities such as Andy Cohen and Oscar the Grouch, and eateries including Zabar's and Alidoro-to the party. Riders also celebrated the MetroCard with zines, miniature vending machines, puppets, and more.

Now that the MTA is saying goodbye to the MetroCard, it's time to tap and ride! But don't just take it from us: Cardi B and Phish's Trey Anastasio want riders to get on board with contactless fare payments or the OMNY Card-like Cardi said, "make sure you pay that fare and keep it real!"

In December, the MTA implemented the swap, changing which lines stop at which stations at eight and stations in Manhattan and Queens. This move will help reduce congestion and improve reliability for the 1.2 million riders who use the lines each day.

Speaking of better service, Rockaway Line riders got the gift of a more dependable subway line in 2025: Several structures along the line, which carries the train and Rockaway Park Shuttle, were completely rebuilt to update aging infrastructure and make the line more resilient. Now, trips to the beach will be more reliable for years to come.

The service improvements also extended to buses: The Queens bus network got its first substantial update in decades this summer with the launch of the Queens Bus Network Redesign, an overhaul that has made commutes through the World's Borough faster and more reliable. Next stop, Brooklyn!

Metro-North riders got speedier commutes with the launch of super-express service from Grand Central to Poughkeepsie, and the addition of more super express trains on the New Haven Line.

Next stop, Albany! In October, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that service between Grand Central and Albany will launch next spring. This temporary service will connect Grand Central to the Capital Region for the first time since the New York Central Railroad ran that route in the 1960s. Keep an eye out for more details in 2026.

More stations got a lift this year: Seven subway stations became fully accessible in 2025, bringing the total number of accessible subway stations to 154. Additionally, 39 elevator replacements were completed this year, more than double the previous record of 16 set in 2021. We also completed three major accessibility projects on the LIRR.

The R211 rollout sped up in 2025 with more of the modern railcars going into service on the and the lines (with the getting its first open gangway cars), as well as the Staten Island Railway. New, more eco-friendly Siemens Charger locomotives also went into service on Metro-North's Hudson Line, offering better service with a smaller carbon footprint.

Getting help with transit issues 24/7 is now easier than ever. In the spring, we launched MTA app chat, with employees available all day or night to help with subway or bus issues in real time. Customer Service Centers expanded its footprint to 30 stations across the subway system, where station agents can provide riders with hands-on, 24/7 support.

Innovative solutions were expanded to make the transit system more accessible for all riders. Convo Access, which connects Deaf or Hard of Hearing riders with an ASL interpreter on demand, launched in 16 locations across the system. And NaviLens, which provides audio or visual travel information via its app, has rolled out in dozens of stations and on trains systemwide.

MTA Arts & Design celebrated its 40th anniversary as the steward of New York's largest underground art museum. With 400 permanent artworks in stations throughout the MTA network - to say nothing of the musical performances, digital art commissions, and poetic moments riders encounters every year - Arts & Design ensures that art is available everywhere for everyone. (Want to keep up with what we're doing in 2026? Sign up for the Arts & Design newsletter)

The MTA also partnered with artists to bring new life to vacant retail spaces in the subway system, including a dinosaur-themed bodega at Grand Army Plaza , a serene depiction of springtime at 5 Av-53 St , and a community-focused exhibit on East New York history at Euclid Av .

And thanks to a partnership with the American Museum of Natural History, one of the most famous subway art installations is now wearable: "For Want of a Nail," which brings creatures and artifacts from the museum's collection into the 81 St-Museum of Natural History subway station, inspired t-shirts, tote bags, pins, hats, and other limited-edition merch. Get it while it lasts!

A beloved institution returned when Tracks Raw Bar and Grill, whose original Penn Station location closed in 2019, opened a new eatery at Grand Central Madison. (Don't worry, Penn riders-a new location will reopen there soon!) It was just one of many exciting retailers that opened at MTA stations this year: The LIRR concourse at Penn Station got a Van Leeuwen, Neuhaus, and Pollo Campero, among others.

Metro-North let riders behind the scenes during its Open House at New Haven Yard, where visitors got to tour the facility and see seven heritage railcars, which have been decorated to pay homage to various Metro-North trains over the past 40 years. (Want to stay updated on future events? Sign up for Mileposts, the Metro-North newsletter.)

Commuter railroads helped move New Yorkers faster and more reliably than ever: Both the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad have consistently achieved near or above 97% on-time performance in 2025. Meanwhile, subway on-time performance held strong this year, hitting highs of 85.2% in May 2025, which was the highest non-pandemic month on record.

MTA leadership traded subways and buses for bikes while celebrating the completion of bike and pedestrian paths on the Robert F. Kennedy, Henry Hudson and Cross Bay bridges. The milestone came as part of the MTA's commitment to making it easier for people across the region to access the transit system by walking, biking, and using micromobility devices.

And finally, 2025 was another banner year for ridership, with records shattered across the subway, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and even Access-A-Ride, which had its first ever million-trip month in October 2025. And more than 3 billion trips were taken using contactless payments-a major milestone as the MTA fully transitions to tap and ride.

The mission going into 2026 remains the same: to provide fast, reliable, and safe service for all customers. Thank you, this year-and every year-for riding with us.