Billionth Subway Rider Celebrated At Yankee Stadium Station

NEW YORK CITY — Sasha Salazar made New York City history Tuesday morning when she decided to go see the movie "Avatar," hopped the subway and became its billionth rider.

"I'm so shocked, I'm so honored and I'm so happy," the Bronx woman said. "I thank the MTA because this is such a great thing."

Salazar was honored Tuesday morning at the Yankee Stadium subway station at 161st Street and River Avenue where MTA bigwigs and press gathered for the historic moment.

"We're here to celebrate a milestone for the subway," CEO and Chairman Janno Lieber said. "We're at a billion."

It's the first time the New York City Subway has carried one billion customers in a calendar year since 2019, according to the New York Governor's office.

Just 640 million in 2020 straphangers clung to those metaphorical straps in 2020 and only 760 million in 2021.

Despite reaching the billionth milestone, officials say daily subway averages are hovering at just 60 percent of pre-pandemic levels for 2019, when it carried nearly 1.7 billion riders.

"We have been working hard to bring customers back by providing safer, cleaner, and faster service," Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "Hitting one billion riders in 2022 is evidence that our work is paying off."

Salazar, of Highbridge, thanked the MTA workers for their service and transit leaders for the additional NYPD officers she says make her feel safe.

"I usually stay up late," explained Salazar, who usually takes the 4 or D train.

The MTA gifted Salazar a $100 OMNY card, an NYC Transit Museum membership and a framed piece of subway art.

Said Lieber, "She's kinda the model MTA customer."

The landmark swipe comes about one week after the MTA announced it would cut service on seven subway lines in 2023, Transit Worker Union Local 100 president Richard Davis noted.

“They make zero sense," Davis said of the cuts. "Riders are coming back to the system. Why reduce the frequency of trains?"