The MTA was transporting goods instead of people Monday.
The agency's annual pop-up sale drew shoppers looking to buy quirky items like used subway station signs and the perfect MetroCard machine to pull together a living room.
Nearly 700 people braved the rain to attend this year's event, where train seats, garbage cans, cockpit knobs, dials, switches and other transportation treasures were put up for sale.
“This is our fourth year doing this event, and today's crowd was the largest we've ever had,” said James Whitaker, 50, who has been an MTA employee for the past 30 years and helped organize the event.
“I've been working all four years, and today is the biggest audience here,” he said.
Some participating straphangers waited for hours in the rain, hoping to slip into the sale before it closed at noon.
Deidre Plummer, a 42-year-old nurse, said, “I'm thinking of moving to North Carolina because New York is too expensive, but I wanted to take part of New York City with me.'' An intercom that matches her umbrella” sign.
John DiMarco, 55, a former NYPD officer, picked up a transit police sign for $100.
“I retired from the NYPD after 34 years,” DiMarco said.
“I worked with Mayor Adams on the road from 1995 to 1997,” he added, holding up a placard. “The mayor and I worked together here in 1995 when I was a sergeant. We worked in the transportation department and this is a great memory for me.”
Some were looking for last-minute Christmas gifts, like a sign for their family's local stop or a sign for their coveted Yankees stadium.
“I'm trying to get a Yankees sign as a Christmas present for my uncle,” said Christian O., 18, of Brooklyn. “My aunt asked me. He's a big collector and he's going to flip this over for Christmas. I'm just curious. Look at this line!”
When the gates finally closed at noon, more than 300 people were left disappointed and forced to leave empty-handed. Among them were New Yorkers who wanted to move to San Francisco and bring parts of the Big Apple west.
“We had to change some plans to do this, but I think we can always try again next year,” said Brian Castro, 35.
Monday's event is open to walk-ins after two days of private engagements, including a few items to buy, including antique porcelain Times Square and 42nd Street signs that sold for $2,500 each. Some people put in thousands of dollars.
Proceeds will go toward the MTA's general operating budget, leading some shoppers to hope it will help fill a $68 billion gap the system is trying to raise to sustain operations for the next five years. are.
Nick Arroyo, 47, a mechanical engineer who received a Christmas present, said: “I think every dollar helps, but I don't think it'll hurt us much because we're in the red so badly.'' A brother who just moved out of state.
“That's especially true when you're doing a multimillion-dollar study into why people jump turnstiles,” he said, adding that the agency has spent up to $1 million to understand how fare evaders think. He stated that he is seeking bids for the
“They're blowing money like crazy!” he added.
