NYS Essential Connector Program

To help Essential Workers (including those in healthcare) commute to work while the NYC subway is closed from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. on a daily basis (effective May 6), the MTA has established the Essential Connector Program. The program's website:  https://new.mta.info/coronavirus/overnight

Overview:

  • Program will help provide essential workers with connections to other alternate transportation options during this time, such as buses, vans and for-hire vehicles.

  • MTA is taking a close look at the ridership during this time and will add more bus service overnight. Bus services will be prioritized for:
    • Routes with existing overnight service that serve hospitals
    • Routes that serve hospitals but do not have overnight service
    • Routes that parallel subways
  • If a bus is not a possible alternative for essential worker, for-hire vehicles will be available. Essential workers are eligible for one free trip in a for-hire vehicle per night. MTA website states, “We’ll share more details, including how to book rides, soon.” Governor Cuomo also made clear these trips to work for essential workers in for-hire vehicles would be paid for by MTA.

  • To start, teammates can fill out the the Essential Connector Updates form via this link: https://mta-nyc.custhelp.com/app/essential-connector. The form asks for name, email, phone number, home address, work details including type of essential worker (with a drop down mean that includes health care) and travel details. Further instructions should appear once submitted.

We will provide further updates as they become available.