Governor Andrew Cuomo rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday to commemorate the NYSE reopening for the first time since March 23rd. "I don't believe this economy just bounces back, and it is not going to be enough just to go back to where the economy was. We are going to rebuild and recreate the economy for the future—stronger than before," Cuomo said. "As trading on this iconic floor recommences, New York is showing the nation that we will lead the lead way."

The NYSE is reopening with new rules that could have major implications for how other offices do the same once the city begins its phased reopening process in the weeks and months ahead, the most controversial of which is a prohibition on employees and visitors from taking mass transit.

"The NYSE will also require all comers to avoid public transportation, which will limit their exposure and preserve capacity for others," Stacey Cunningham, president of the NYSE, wrote in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, which laid out the company's plan. "Floor brokers and other visitors will be screened and have their temperatures taken as they enter the building. Those who don’t pass the check won’t be allowed to enter until they test negative for COVID-19 or self-quarantine in accordance with federal guidelines."

Cunningham said that the “designated market makers,” who oversee trading in the securities of 2,200 listed companies, will continue to work remotely for the time being. The floor brokers have returned, but in smaller numbers initially; they will be required to wear protective masks as they work and follow social distancing requirements on the floor. The rest of the building "will remain largely empty," and they will implement a "daily regimen of thorough cleaning and sanitization of the trading floor."

Instead of mass transit, traders will be taking rideshares and cars; some have also been walking and biking to work.

"It's really frustrating news," Brian Fritsch, manager of advocacy campaigns for the Regional Plan Association, told Gothamist about the NYSE ban on mass transit. "But I don't think it's something that is very practical for most employers and most industries in the city." He said the number one solution for mass transit is running trains and buses with "far more frequency than what we would expect." He cited Seoul, Hong Kong and Tokyo as examples of major cities that have shown "with good cleaning, face masks and possibly temperature checks, you can have a clean, safe mass transit system."

"We know obviously that mass transit is going to be part of the solution to NY's economic recovery," he added. "There's no way this city operates without a well run public transit system. In order to have an equitable recovery, it's even more important because we know how crucially important mass transit is for folks who cant afford vehicles."

MTA spokesperson Aaron Donovan said in a statement to Gothamist, "The MTA has been talking publicly about reopening for three weeks, piloting cleaning agents and UV light, and today we enhanced service on Metro-North and LIRR in tandem with the phased reopenings of Long Island and the mid-Hudson Valley."

A few traders who returned to the trading floor today told Streetsblog they've shifted from public transit to driving for the time being. They added that the NYSE had worked out deals with some local garages to subsidize parking to make it a little easier. “I drove in from Queens, but I usually take the Long Island Rail Road,” said Kirk Katzburg. “Do I like the ban? No, but I like working more, so I drove.”

At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio admitted that there is no concrete plan for transit safety precautions as the city reopens, but insisted that there was still time to come up with one.

"I don't see the restart happening until the first or second week of June," de Blasio said. "It's not far off, but we certainly have some days to work with the MTA and try to perfect this strategy. And as with everything else, to see how they're going and make adjustments as we go along."

De Blasio said the city is talking to the MTA about maintaining frequent cleaning, ensuring people wear face coverings, and stategies to avoid overcrowding.

"As the city and state are looking at the sheer magnitude of number of people who will come back into the economy, back to their work places...this is the place where the challenge is greatest," he said.

(With additional reporting from Annie Todd.)