NEW YORK - City and state officials including Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo are celebrating the first phase of the city's reopening Monday which include changes to how New Yorkers will be able to get around.
It comes after New Yorkers have been under a state of lockdown for two and a half months as the city battled the coronavirus.
"All New Yorkers should be proud that you got us to this day," De Blasio said during his daily briefing.
Phase One allows construction on various projects to resume.
Wholesaler, manufacturing and non-essential businesses can reopen.
Retail stores can offer curbside or in-store pickup, but only for orders made in advance.
Browsing is not allowed.
Employees will be required to socially distance and wear face coverings.
The number of people in workplaces will be limited.
Employers will also have to monitor their workers' health.
The city's transit system is also adjusting to welcome back a wave of riders who either stopped or drastically changed their transit routines at the height of the pandemic.
To help people get around faster and practice social distancing, Mayor de Blaiso says the city is adding 20 new miles of car-free bus lanes across the five boroughs.
Five new busways are also being created over the next few months -- two in Queens, two in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn.
They will be similar to the 14th Street busway in Manhattan which the mayor says is being made permanent.
He says these busways will go a long way towards making sure mass transit is safer during the pandemic.
"750,000 New Yorkers will have a faster way to work, more frequent service, less crowding. Look, more service equals less crowding equals less more health and safety. That's what we want to achieve," De Blasio said.
The mayor says the Staten island Ferry is also increasing rush hour service starting Monday afternoon.
Ferries will run between the Whitehall and St. George Terminals every 20 minutes.
Free hand sanitizer and face coverings will also be available for ferry riders.
Regular service is running on subways and buses sa of Monday.
Riders must wear face coverings and following social distancing guidelines.
Stations have social distancing markers.
The subway will remain closed between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. for cleaning.