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- calendar_today November 8, 2026
On The Way Expands: Hour-Long Radio Show Debuts on WNYC
After three years as a newsletter and weekly radio segment dissecting the intricacies of New York City's transit system, On The Way is making a major service upgrade. Beginning November 12, the show will air as an hour-long pop-up on Thursdays, broadcasting from 1 to 2 p.m. on WNYC 93.9 FM, via the WNYC app, and on YouTube. Hosted by Stephen Nessen, with transportation reporter Ramsey Khalifeh and editor Clayton Guse, the program will provide in-depth analysis on the latest developments in NYC transit. Listeners are encouraged to participate, ask questions, and share their commuting experiences.
Show Features: Decision Makers, Hot Topics, and Listener Engagement
The new format promises to expand discussions to the most pressing transportation matters: from the redevelopment of Penn Station and the latest transit projects like the Interborough Express and Penn Access, to ongoing challenges such as fare evasion, subway signaling issues, and the evolving taxi industry. Special guests, including key decision makers and notable experts, will join for timely conversation. Listeners can submit questions, share commute stories, and provide feedback to help shape the show’s coverage.
NYC Transit News Highlights: Bus and Bike Lane Reform
This week’s transit news points to significant changes ahead. A ballot measure passed on election night is expected to streamline the process for constructing bus and bike lanes, aiming to accelerate street safety projects across all five boroughs. According to the ballot language, the city charter amendment is designed to “simplify the review of street safety projects to reduce construction timelines.” Ben Furnas, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, says the reform diminishes opposition efforts to delay such initiatives. Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office estimates a potential reduction of at least 33% in construction timelines for major projects. However, the new process will still require input from community boards before moving forward with any redesign.
Recent MTA and Subway Developments
Among other developments, the long-awaited Grand Canal basketball court at Sixth Avenue in SoHo is set to reopen by the end of November, after being used for subway substation construction since 2022. Halloween and the NYC Marathon weekend saw record-high MTA subway ridership, with 3.27 million riders on Halloween Saturday — the highest Saturday subway traffic since 2016 — and the marathon bringing the largest Sunday ridership to date. Police in the East Village recently confiscated eleven idle e-bikes along East 11th Street and First Avenue, responding to complaints from local businesses and residents. A budget watchdog report by the Citizens Budget Commission has also recommended the MTA cut certain positions made obsolete by technology, as the agency faces a projected $900 million funding shortfall with spending outpacing fare revenue.
Curious Commuter Column: Why Fewer Seats on New D Trains?
In the recurring Curious Commuter segment, Charles from Brooklyn asked why the MTA eliminated more than half the seats on new D trains. The MTA is replacing aging subway cars with newer R211 models, which feature wider doors for easier boarding and increased standing room, resulting in fewer seats. Although this change may inconvenience riders on longer commutes, the modern cars are expected to be more reliable and less prone to breakdowns.
Upcoming Event: In-Depth Interview with MTA Chair Janno Lieber
WNYC’s "On The Way" will host MTA Chair Janno Lieber at The Greene Space on November 17 for a public conversation about the future of New York’s mass transit system. Lieber, who is only the fourth person to lead the MTA for more than five years, will join transportation editor Clayton Guse. Subscribers can use a promotional code for discounted tickets. Full details are available here.
Source: gothamist.com.
