MTA Launches Extra Early and Getaway Service on LIRR & Metro-North on Wednesday, Nov. 23
REMINDER: LaGuardia Link Q70 Select Bus Service to Airport Now Free
MTA Bridges and Tunnels Will Suspend Routine Maintenance at All Crossings to Accommodate Increased Travel
For Real Time Updates Customers Can Visit new.MTA.Info, myMTA app, MTA TrainTime app
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is prepared to get millions of holiday travelers to their destinations during the 2022 Thanksgiving weekend. Trains and buses across the MTA system will operate on special schedules on Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 27, with special expanded railroad service on Wednesday afternoon, to accommodate the unique travel demands of Thanksgiving weekend.
Customers are encouraged to utilize the multiple fare promotions the MTA offers across Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Metro-North Railroad, and New York City Transit (NYCT). Fare discounts include the 20-trip ticket which offers a 20% discount off comparable peak one-way fares, special fare discounts for families traveling with children, and the “Lucky 13” program on subways and buses.
LIRR and Metro-North recommend customers use the MTA TrainTime app, to buy one-way, round-trip, 10-trip, 20-trip, weekly and monthly passes, as well as reduced fare tickets, child and family fare tickets and military tickets, on smartphones or mobile devices. With the MTA TrainTime, customers can also find train schedules, view seat availability, track trains in real time, and more.
Travelers heading to and from LaGuardia Airport should utilize the free LaGuardia Link Q70 Select Bus Service (SBS). The LaGuardia Link Q70 SBS connects the subway lines and LIRR to LaGuardia Terminals B and C providing a streamlined ride with customer amenities designed for travelers. Stops for LaGuardia Link Q70 SBS are distinctly marked outside LIRR’s Woodside Station/61 St-Woodside subway station, and at the bus bays the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av /74 St-Broadway subway station complex.
Customers boarding at LaGuardia Terminals B, and C can spot the LaGuardia Link buses via their distinctive light blue exterior design. Customers are urged to allow extra time due to increased holiday traffic.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels will suspend daytime lane closures related to routine maintenance and construction work beginning 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22, through 6:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 28 to accommodate motorists throughout the busy travel weekend. Any critical work that must be accomplished over the holiday weekend would occur only during overnight hours as traffic conditions permit.
Wednesday, Nov. 23: Expanded Early Afternoon Service on LIRR, Metro-North
- The Long Island Rail Road will operate 12 extra trains departing Penn Station between 12:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. The extra service includes four extra trains on the Babylon Branch, three on the Port Jefferson/Huntington Branch, two on the Ronkonkoma Branch, and one each on the Far Rockaway, Montauk and Port Washington Branches. Times are shown in the current timetables and are available by using the MTA TrainTime app and MTA.info trip planning tools.
- Metro-North Railroad will operate a regular weekday service augmented with 10 additional early-getaway trains (3 Hudson Line, 2 Harlem Line and 5 New Haven Line) departing GCT between 1:15 – 3:30 p.m. and one from New Haven at 5:15 pm. Early getaway ferries will operate between Ossining-Haverstraw and Beacon-Newburgh. Times are shown in the current timetables including the Connecting Service timetable, and are available by using the MTA TrainTime app and MTA.info trip planning tools.
- For Metro-North’s West-of-Hudson customers, a Port Jervis Line early getaway train will depart Hoboken at 2:41 p.m., stops at Secaucus Junction, Ramsey/Route 17, Suffern and all stops in New York State to Port Jervis, arriving at 4:56 p.m. The connecting train from New York Penn Station departs at 2:34 p.m.
- Staten Island Railway will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24: Take the Subway to Macy’s Parade
- On Thanksgiving Day, New York City subways and buses will operate on a Sunday schedule and the Staten Island Railway will operate on a Saturday schedule.
- Metro-North is operating a special schedule with extra service before and after the parade. The Hudson Rail Link buses at Spuyten Duyvil and Riverdale do not operate, nor do the ferries between Ossining-Haverstraw ad Beacon-Newburgh.
- The LIRR and Metro-North’s West of Hudson service will operate on a weekend/holiday schedule with extra service before and after the parade.
- There are many bus routes that either do not operate on Sundays or do not run on part of the route at certain hours. Customers traveling on Thanksgiving Day should check Sunday schedules, lines and routes.
Getting to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. at 77th Street and Central Park West and ends in front of Macy’s at Herald Square (34th Street).
The closest subway stations to the start of the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are the at 72 St, the at 79 Street, the at 81 St, and the at 59 St-Columbus Circle.
There will be additional service on the 42 Street Shuttle as well as increased early morning service on the line to accommodate spectators. In order to prevent overcrowding on stairways and platforms, some subway entrances at 59 St-Columbus Circle will be closed. Trains will bypass the 72 St and 57 St stations between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. In addition, select exits and entrances will be closed at Penn Station, and other stations along the Sixth Avenue line.
The LIRR schedule is supplemented with 17 extra trains timed perfectly for those attending the Thanksgiving Day Parade or otherwise visiting the city. There will be six extra westbound trains originating on Long Island between 6 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. (two each on the Babylon Branch and Ronkonkoma Branch, and one each on the Montauk Branch and Port Jefferson Branch), and 11 extra eastbound trains departing Penn Station between 11 a.m. and 1:35 p.m. (four each on the Babylon Branch and Ronkonkoma Branch, two on the Port Jefferson/Huntington Branch and one on the Montauk Branch).
Metro-North will provide additional inbound morning service for customers going to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. There will also be expanded outbound service starting in the late morning and continuing until mid-afternoon for customers traveling to suburban destinations. Finally, there will be expanded evening service for customers returning to New York City.
West of Hudson Service
- The Port Jervis Line operates a weekend schedule with one extra round-trip train to accommodate parade-goers.
- An eastbound train departs Port Jervis at 6:18 a.m., makes all stops to Suffern, then express to Secaucus Junction and Hoboken, arriving at 8:30 a.m.; the connecting train from Secaucus Junction arrives New York Penn Station at 8:39 a.m.
- A westbound train departs Hoboken at 12:20 p.m., stops at Secaucus Junction and then operates express to Suffern and all stops to Port Jervis, arriving at 2:33 p.m. The connecting train from New York Penn Station departs at 12:14 p.m.
- The Pascack Valley Line operates a normal weekend service.
Bus service in Manhattan may experience delays, and will be affected by reroutes, detours, and/or frozen zones, especially those routes operating in Midtown near the parade route such as the M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M10, M11, M12, M15, M15 SBS, M20, M31, M34 SBS, M34A SBS, M42, M50, M55, M57, M66, M72, M79 SBS, M101, M102, M103, M104, Q32, BxM1, BxM2, BxM3, BxM4, BxM6, BxM7, BXM8, BxM9, BxM10, BxM11,, QM2, QM4, QM5, QM6, SIM1C, SIM3C, SIM4C, SIM33C, X27, X28.
The 79th Street Transverse Road will be closed from noon Wednesday, Nov. 23, to noon Thursday, Nov. 24, and buses will not be permitted to cross during this time. Details will be provided at new.mta.info under “Service Status.”
Black Friday, Nov. 25
- New York City subways will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
- Most New York City Transit and MTA Bus Company buses will run on reduced weekday schedules. Some limited-stop services will not run. Check for any service changes on bus routes at mta.info under “service status.”
- The LIRR will operate on a regular weekday schedule, with lower, off-peak fares in effect all day.
- Metro-North will operate on an enhanced Saturday schedule with additional inbound service in the morning and outbound service in the afternoon to accommodate the Friday workforce and Black Friday shoppers, with off-peak fares in effect all day. The Hudson Rail Link buses at Spuyten Duyvil and Riverdale operate on a special schedule, as do the ferries between Ossining-Haverstaw and Bacon-Newburgh. See schedules on the Metro-North Connecting Services page at mta.info, on posters in the station, and on the ferries and on the buses.
- West of Hudson: The Port Jervis Line will operate an enhanced weekend schedule with three additional trains, and the Pascack Valley Line will operate a normal weekend service.
- The Staten Island Railway will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
Saturday, Nov. 26, and Sunday, Nov. 27
New York City Transit, the LIRR and Metro-North, including West of Hudson service, will operate on regular weekend schedules.
For real-time service updates and information, customers can use the following options:
MYmta app – Customers who use the comprehensive MYmta smartphone app will see real-time travel information for all MTA services all in one place.
TrainTime app - The MTA launched a totally revamped TrainTime app as the new one-stop app for commuter rail customers in the region on both Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad, showing all train schedules for 30 days in the future.
new.mta.info – The “Service Status” box at new.mta.info is always the definitive source for the latest status for each line.
Live Subway Map – The Live Subway Map shows the real-time position of trains, planned service changes at any given time, highlights accessible stations, and much more.
MTA Weekender – Customers can sign up for the “MTA Weekender,” a weekly digest of major weekend service changes throughout the transit system.
Twitter – Twitter users can follow @MTA, @NYCTSubway, @NYCTBus for service updates and customer service support.
WhatsApp – Customers can chat with NYC Transit via WhatsApp. Riders can receive customer service support in their native language through the help of Google Translate.
For those who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511. Connecticut customers should call 877-690-5114. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711 relay to reach the MTA at 511.