On October 27th, 1904, straphangers were shelling out a nickel to hop aboard the new, wildly innovative NYC subway.
Now, it’s turning 120, and New Yorkers are looking back. Throughout its extensive history, the subway has become the largest underground railroad system in the United States with 36 lines and 472 stations.
“Very few things exist that are as synonymous with New York as our subway. Whether you hear a snippet of the sound of a train or catch a quick glimpse of a station or a subway car, you know you’re in New York City,” New York Transit Museum Director, Concetta Bencivenga, said in a statement.
She continued, “Celebrating this incredible milestone anniversary offers an opportunity to explore the myriad ways the subway has transformed our region over the past 120 years and encourages us to ponder what might be in store for the next 120.”
One of the best exhibits on display in the city right now is the New York Transit Museum’s nod to the anniversary: “The Subway Is…” To ring in this occasion, the museum is also hosting nostalgia rides in antique train cars to give us a taste of life in NYC many moons ago.
But this anniversary is not only about looking back — it’s about what’s ahead.
The NYC subway turns 120: here’s what NYers wants next
We asked, you answered. What is it that you want to see from NYC’s main lifeline over the next 120 years and beyond? While of course we encountered some…unique responses, we at Secret NYC also found insightful answers to this very fair question. How could the subway be improved? Here’s what you told us on Instagram:
- Air conditioning on the platforms
- Full ADA accessibility
- Wifi in underground tunnels
- La Guardia and JFK lines
- Cameras inside each train
- A train connecting the Bronx to Queens without going through Manhattan
- Phone reception underground
- Safety and cleanliness
- No rats
While yes, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when venturing through busiest subway stations in the city and get frustrated with delays and overcrowding, there’s also plenty to appreciate, like the most beautiful subway systems, including the iconic decommissioned City Hall subway station.
Regardless of ups and downs, likes and dislikes, one thing is clear: the NYC subway is an integral part of the place we call home.