Essential Workers Can Get Free Car Rides In Subway Shutdown: MTA

NEW YORK, NY — Essential workers that still need to get around during the MTA's historic late-night shutdown of the subway system can get a free car ride if their commute is too difficult, the agency announced.

Transit officials have launched an "Essential Connector" program that will pay for one free trip in a for-hire-vehicle per night if an essential worker's commute would take more than an hour and 20 minutes, requires two transfers or would mean a half-mile or more walk.

The announcement comes nearly two weeks after the MTA began stopping late night service between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. each night to clean trains during the coronavirus pandemic.

Transit officials estimate about 11,000 riders — among them essential hospital workers — have been relying on late night trains during the COVID-19 shutdown.

(To keep up to date with coronavirus developments in NYC, sign up for Patch's news alerts and newsletter.)

Essential workers can plan their commutes using a new "Essential Connector" app that will show ways to get to or from work during the overnight subway closure. The MTA has increased overnight bus trips by 76 percent and boosted their fleet by 150 percent to make up for the cut subway service.

The for-hire-vehicle option can also be found on the app, which was built with the help of Axon Vibe, officials said.

“These are immensely challenging times, but I’m proud of our team for moving so quickly to build a user-friendly app that delivers for New Yorkers who rely on mass transit in the overnight hours," NYC Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg said.

Cleanliness concerns amid the new coronavirus pandemic spurred Gov. Andrew Cuomo last week to demand the MTA conduct daily disinfections of its subway cars.

The MTA — facing an $8 billion budget deficit after ridership dropped 92 percent — responded with a historic plan to stop late night train service between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. for the first time in 115 years.

Essential workers can also reach an "Essential Connector" call center at (718) 330-1234 and find information online.

Coronavirus In NYC: Latest Happenings And Guidance

Email PatchNYC@patch.com to reach a Patch reporter or fill out this anonymous form to share your coronavirus stories. All messages are confidential.