The MTA Delay Verification Form at delayverification.mta.info lets New York City subway and bus riders request official confirmation that their trip ran late. The delay must have lasted at least 10 minutes and happened within the last 180 days. The MTA usually emails its findings within about 36 hours, and you can forward or print that message as proof for an employer or school.1MTA New York City Transit. MTA Delay Verification
What to Have Ready Before You Start
The form is short. Gather these details first so you can finish in one sitting:
- Your first name, last name, and email address (entered twice — the response goes to this address).
- The exact calendar date of the delay.
- Total minutes you were delayed. The minimum is 10; anything shorter will not be verified.
- Each bus and subway route you rode, in order. The form has separate buttons for “Add Bus Travel” and “Add Subway Travel,” so you can list multiple legs if you transferred.
- A trip comment (optional) describing what you observed: signal problems, a train held at a station, police activity, and so on.
That is the entire form.1MTA New York City Transit. MTA Delay Verification
How to Fill It Out
Open delayverification.mta.info and enter your name and email. The email confirmation field catches typos; if the two entries don’t match, the form won’t submit. Use a personal email you check regularly rather than a work address you might lose access to.
Pick the date from the calendar and enter the total minutes delayed. Add each route you rode in the order you traveled, with your approximate times for each leg. A trip comment isn’t required, but specifics help. Something like “B train held at DeKalb for 20 minutes due to signal problems” gives the MTA more to match against its internal logs than a general note would.
Submit the form. You should see an on-screen confirmation, and the MTA sends an initial email acknowledging the request. Keep that email as proof you filed within the window.
When the Verification Arrives
The MTA checks your request against its service records. This typically takes about 36 hours but can run up to three business days.1MTA New York City Transit. MTA Delay Verification You will get a second email with the findings. If records show a qualifying delay, the response confirms it. If records show service was running on or near schedule, the email will say no significant disruption was found. Check spam and junk folders if nothing arrives within a few days.
Which Delays Qualify
Two requirements are firm: the delay must have been at least 10 minutes, and it must have happened on an NYC Transit subway or local or express bus.2Metropolitan Transportation Authority. How to Contact the MTA The cause does not matter as long as the system recorded it. The MTA notes that delays happen for many reasons, including sick passengers, police investigations, and scheduled or unscheduled maintenance.1MTA New York City Transit. MTA Delay Verification
Personal circumstances do not qualify. If you missed a train because you were running late or your MetroCard wouldn’t swipe, no letter will be issued. The MTA only confirms disruptions that appear in its operations data.
If the Delay Was More Than 180 Days Ago
The online form only accepts requests for delays within the last 180 days. For anything older, call MTA Customer Services by dialing 511.1MTA New York City Transit. MTA Delay Verification2Metropolitan Transportation Authority. How to Contact the MTA The MTA does not publish how far back agents will search, so be prepared to explain your situation.
Requesting Verification by Phone
If you can’t use the website, dial 511 and say “Subways and Buses” to reach Customer Services. Have the same details ready that the online form asks for: the date, the routes, your approximate travel times, and how long the delay lasted.2Metropolitan Transportation Authority. How to Contact the MTA
LIRR, Metro-North, and Access-A-Ride
The form at delayverification.mta.info covers NYC Transit subways and buses only. Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad riders should dial 511 and say the name of the railroad, or go to mta.info/contact-us for the right contact.2Metropolitan Transportation Authority. How to Contact the MTA
Access-A-Ride has no dedicated delay verification form. If your paratransit trip ran significantly late and you need documentation, submit an inquiry through the MTA customer feedback form at contact.mta.info and select “Access-A-Ride,” or call 877-337-2017 (718-393-4999 outside the New York metro area) and press 6, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Include your AAR ID number, name, address, phone number, and the date, time, and details of the trip.3MTA. Contact the Department of Paratransit This route will not produce the standard subway and bus letter, but it creates a record of the complaint.