"The MTA's ridership is inextricably linked to the economy ofNew York City--especially ridership to the central businessdistrict, where the majority of jobs are located," according toDiNapoli's report. "New York City lost 110,000 jobs (2.9%) betweenOctober 2008 and October 2009, which has caused a sharp drop inutilization of the MTA's transit facilities (e.g., subways, buses,and bridges and tunnels)."

Through October of '09, MTA utilization was lower in every monthcompared with the same month in 2008, the report stated. "Peopledon't commute when they're unemployed," says DiNapoli in astatement.

Subway ridership, which grew 17.5% between 2000 and 2008,slipped 3.2% during the first 10 months of last year, for a loss of44 million riders citywide. Weekday riders on Manhattan declinedfurther, dropping 3.9% compared to a year earlier, with Midtown hiteven harder with a drop of 6.2%. The report noted that the declinetapered off this past October, "an encouraging development."