Stephen Nessen

Reporter, WNYC News

Stephen Nessen covers transportation for the WNYC Newsroom. 

Since 2008, his work has varied from chronicling the transformation of the World Trade Center through photos and radio stories, to profiling the city’s most unique characters, like a tabloid crime photographer, Mohawk Ironworker and Cuban Salsa legend Arsenio Rodriguez. He spent a year reporting on the oldest family in one of the city’s oldest public housing projects for a four part series. His stories are often featured on NPR, and his photos have been the subject of a Yahoo television show.

Read Stephen's latest reporting on Gothamist.

Stephen Nessen appears in the following:

MTA outreach teams are involuntarily hospitalizing homeless people with signs of mental illness. We rode along for a shift.

Monday, March 18, 2024

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last week that she’ll spend $20 million to expand the initiative.

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Gov. Hochul's homeless outreach team visits the MTA's Fulton Transit Center

Friday, March 15, 2024

This week's On The Way roundup of transit news features a ride-along with a team seeking to help severely mentally ill people in the subways. 

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Ruff riders: Are there more dogs on NYC subways (or is it just us)?

Friday, March 08, 2024

More and more big dogs are illegally riding the trains amid dwindling enforcement of the MTA’s rules for canine commuters.

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Dogs on the NYC subway, National Guard in the stations

Friday, March 08, 2024

This week's On The Way roundup tackles a new ridership trend, as well as Gov. Kathy Hochul's latest bid to boost public safety. 

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Hochul deploys National Guard, state police to do mandatory bag checks in NYC subway

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

Soldiers from New York’s National Guard are coming to a subway station near you, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday.

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Congestion pricing might drive NYC commuters uptown. Residents want parking permits.

Tuesday, March 05, 2024

WNYC
Since the tolling program was signed into law in 2019, transit observers have worried drivers from out of town will park north of the toll zone at 60th Street, then hop on the subway.

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The lasting toll of violence on New York City’s subway

Friday, March 01, 2024

A commuter describes the lasting trauma of a a mass shooting on an N train in 2022 in this week's On The Way roundup of transit news. 

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Why riders can easily trip emergency brakes on NYC’s subway trains

Friday, February 23, 2024

E-brakes and a lawsuit brought by subway cleaners during the pandemic headline this week's roundup of NYC transit news.

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Why can't New Yorkers board through the rear doors on local MTA buses?

Friday, February 16, 2024

High rates of fare beating are likely to blame for the inconvenience. 

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A new MTA subway entrance gets a priest's blessing

Friday, February 09, 2024

A new project at Grand Central Terminal leads this week's roundup of transit news in "On The Way."

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MTA's new Grand Central subway entrance requires a big drill, dynamite — and a priest

Tuesday, February 06, 2024

After a year of digging down, construction workers are now drilling and blasting their way across 42nd Street to the 7 train platform. But first, a moment of prayer.

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Gov. Hochul backs congestion pricing but gives free tolls to Queens, Bronx drivers

Friday, February 02, 2024

A giveaway to some NYC drivers headlines this week's roundup of transit news.

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On The Way: This week's roundup of transportation news

Friday, January 26, 2024

A big week in New York City transit featured new details about the MTA's modern train cars and a NJ Transit fare hike. 

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New Fare Evasion Gates and Other Transit News

Thursday, January 18, 2024

The MTA's battle with fare evasion and more transit news with WNYC's Stephen Nessen.

Subway signs, benches, trash cans among 1,000 items at MTA's pop-up holiday sale

Friday, December 15, 2023

There’s only one place to get a rare gift for the subway aficionado in your life. It’s in a train yard in Coney Island.

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New subway cars still need repairs months after MTA pulled them off rails

Friday, December 15, 2023

An update on repairs to the MTA's newest trains headlines this week's On The Way roundup of New York City transit news.

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This Week in Politics: Congestion pricing moves forward

Saturday, December 09, 2023

WNYC
Congestion pricing took a key step to becoming a reality for New Yorkers and area drivers this week.

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Don’t expect changes to MTA's congestion pricing even after final public review

Friday, December 08, 2023

This week's rundown of New York City transit news focuses on reaction to a landmark vote on congestion pricing.

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Mayor Adams seeks last-minute changes as congestion pricing faces MTA vote

Tuesday, December 05, 2023

Political observers say Adams is attempting to distance himself from the inevitable backlash over the cost.

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MTA can’t even run its monthly board meeting on time

Friday, December 01, 2023

Congestion pricing will be considered by the MTA board one calendar month later than expected. 

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