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History of the MTA: Learn about the city’s transit system from its inception

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  • Originally called the Transit Exhibit, the city opened its first transit museum (now called the New York Transit Museum) at the former Court Street shuttle station in Downtown Brooklyn on July 1, 1976.
    Photo Credit: Nicole Brown
  • NYC Transit introduced graffiti-free buses and subways on May 12, 1989, the MTA said.
    Photo Credit: Newsday / Jim Cummins
  • New Yorkers got their first glimpse of the MetroCard on Sept. 19, 1996, when the MTA said it sent two buses to community centers, shopping centers and other locations to promote the new form of fare payment. On May 14, 1997, the entire subway system began accepting MetroCards. On July 4 of that same year, MetroCard Gold began allowing commuters to move from bus to subway, subway to bus, or bus to bus for free.
    Photo Credit: iStock
  • The MTA first began selling unlimited 30- and seven-day MetroCards for a fixed price on July 4, 1998.
    Photo Credit: Meghan Giannotta
  • Tokens were officially phased out of use on April 13, 2003, after nearly 50 years, per the MTA. Buses accepted tokens as fare through the end of 2003.
    Photo Credit: Newsday / Susan Farley
  • Ground is broken for the Second Avenue subway project on April 12, 2007. The first phase of the project is scheduled to open on Dec. 31, 2016.
    Photo Credit: Charles Eckert
  • In 2015, the MTA said average subway ridership on a weekday was 5.7 million. Annual ridership for all of 2015 was 1.76 billion. Both are the highest ridership numbers the city has seen since 1948, according to the MTA.
    Photo Credit: Anthony Lanzilote
  • After 22 years, the MetroCard may soon be coming to an end. The MTA has said it hopes to introduce new, open fare technology for payment and begin a slow phase-out of MetroCards in 2018.
    Photo Credit: Charles Eckert

The subway has been rumbling through New York City since Oct. 27, 1904, but it wasn’t until 1968 that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority took over city transit.

From trains and buses to bridges and tunnels, the MTA plays a major role in keeping this city moving every day.

Take a look at key moments in the agency’s history, from before its inception through to present day.

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