NYC subway records 1.5 billion riders

#7 Line, NYC Transit
Originally uploaded by rllayman

(AP photo by Adam Rountree. The skyline of New York City is seen from a stop along the seven subway line in Queens borough of New York, Thursday, July 7, 2005.)

AP reports:

The New York City subway system has recorded its highest passenger numbers in more than half a century, transport officials said. Figures released Wednesday show a total of more than 1.5 billion passengers thronged the trains last year. More than 5 million people use the subways on an average weekday. Both figures are the highest since the early 1950s. Officials say surging tourism and service upgrades have brought more passengers.