The MTA has recorded its billionth rider on the subway for 2023, the second year in a row the system has surpassed ten-digit ridership in the post-COVID era.
New Jersey resident Brian Jones was the lucky billionth rider, using OMNY to tap into the A train station at 175th Street in Washington Heights on his way to work, after arriving by bus at the George Washington Bridge bus terminal.
“Didn’t wake up knowing I’d be the one billionth customer,” said Jones. “But life is full of surprises and this is one of them.”
For his achievement, Jones was rewarded with a $100 OMNY gift card, an OMNY-branded T-shirt, and a subway map-themed glasses cleaner.
The milestone came six weeks earlier than it did last year, demonstrating the continued post-COVID influx of riders back to the system.
