Facts About the New York City Subway

The New York City Subway system is inseparable from the image of New York City itself. This massive network of transportation ingenuity is as beloved as it is bemoaned.

History

On October 27, 1904, New York City's first subway system opened in Manhattan. It was run by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company, and ran from City Hall to 145th Street and Broadway.

Features

Throughout New York's subway systems, there are a wide range of artworks, murals, mosaics and metal sculptures to make each station distinct.

Size

The New York City Subway system is composed of 722 miles of track and carries 7 million people a day in over 6,352 subway cars.

Crime and Safety

In 2009 the odds of assault in the New York City subway system are about the same as being struck by lightning.

Fun Fact

In 1867, Alfred Ely Beach built an underground subway system in secret in only 58 days. The demonstration line was 300 feet long and had only 1 station, and the train car was blown along the track by a giant fan.

Resources

• Metro Transit Authority History
• nycsubway.org - Comprehensive galleries and source of subway history.