More 1 Trains Speed Through West Side Weekends, MTA Says

UPPER WEST SIDE — Let's join together and feel all right, because the MTA is showing Upper West Siders "1 Love."

The 1 local train will run more frequently on weekends starting this Saturday, the MTA announced Wednesday. Specifically, the 1 will come every six minutes instead of every eight.

“We’ve said this whole time that once the funding is there, we’d look to expand service outside of the weekday peaks," said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber.

"We have the money and we’re keeping our promise.”

Increased service on the 1 and 6 lines comes courtesy of $35 million of funding in the last state budget, Lieber said.

The west side local carries about 285,000 straphangers a day and the Upper East Side local totes 270,000, officials said.

Lieber said the MTA decided to throw cash at the times when more riders ride in a post-pandemic New York City, namely weekends.

Weekends have reached 80 percent of pre-pandemic ridership, outpacing weekday ridership of only about 65 percent ridership.

Lawmakers celebrated the increased ridership as a win for all New Yorkers, not just those on the 1 and 6 trains.

“The subway is an integral part of the fabric of New York City which connects people to opportunity, work, and recreation while driving the economy,” said City Council Member Carlina Rivera.

“Fast, reliable weekend train service means workers will be able to dependably get to work on time and get home at a reasonable hour.”