Subway service resumes in Lower Manhattan

New York Gov. George Pataki greeted commuters on the reopened 1 line Sunday.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- New York City took another step forward Sunday from the destruction of September 11 by reopening six subway lines closed after terror attacks destroyed the World Trade Center.

Gov. George Pataki announced that after months of repair for structural and water damage, the Lower Manhattan subway service would once again begin transporting thousands of commuters.

Subway lines 1, 2, 3 and 9 and the N and R lines at Cortlandt Street Station are resuming their usual routes. A portion of the lines ran underneath the World Trade Center.

"Subway service is a vital lifeline for Lower Manhattan," Pataki said. "The restoration of this subway service will accelerate Lower Manhattan's revitalization and ease the inconvenience many people have faced since September 11."

Pataki congratulated workers for completing the subway repairs in just nine months. Repairs weren't able to begin until much of the rubble was cleared away.

CNN News assistant Jennifer Pereira contributed to this report.