Mets Home Opener Inspires MTA Honchos' Subway Vs. LIRR Race

NEW YORK CITY — Two trains — one subway, one Long Island Rail Road — "raced" to the Mets home opener as MTA officials took another swing at inspiring public confidence in the transit system amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"For fans headed to the game today, we want you to know that the best way to get there is by taking the subway, or 7, bus Q48 or the Long Island Rail Road Port Washington branch," Patrick Foye, who heads the MTA, said Thursday. "It's not just good for the environment but for your wallet too."

And Foye put a $2.75 fare where his mouth was — he engaged in a live news conference from the 7 train from Roosevelt Avenue to Citi Field, where the Mets were about to play the Marlins.

All the while, LIRR President Phil Eng rode his rail road from Penn Station to the ballpark.

The pair engaged in a friendly competition to see who would make it to Citi Field first, taking time to emphasize the transit system's coronavirus safety measure and field questions about its future.

“Taking the train is not only safe, but you can just sit back and avoid traffic,” Eng said. “Not to mention when the game is over you can sit back and leave the driving to us.”

Foye, in response to questions, said the MTA doesn't have a timeline on when the next steps toward starting congestion pricing in Manhattan will happen.

He acknowledged the agency — despite a recent $6.5 billion bailout from the American Rescue Plan — still has significant financial challenges ahead. A ridership drop from the pandemic still threatens to sap $900 million, on a conservative estimate, from the MTA, he said.

“We’re going to do everything we can to increase the ridership,” he said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has promised to prominently ride the MTA to help draw attention to safety and instill public confidence. But, so far, he hasn't — leaving Foye and Eng to do their best.

In the end, it appeared Eng's LIRR train eked out a win over Foye's subway. No word on if there will be a rematch.