Port Washington Branch Trains Will Increase Service to Mets-Willets Point With Implementation of 24/7 Service Including Overnights, Weekends and Holidays
Railroad Preserves Morning and Afternoon Peak Express Service
MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) today announced it will reinstate full-time, year-round service at Mets-Willets Point station beginning Monday, April 24, seven days a week, overnight and on holidays. The change is to encourage customers to take mass transit to Citi Field events and provide customers, including Queens residents, an alternative option to travel on day-to-day basis. This will also benefit customers and employees traveling to Flushing Meadows Corona Park and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“With Earth Day right around the corner, we are excited to expand our eco-friendly footprint and offer customers more sustainable, convenient options to travel, whether to games, concerts, work or other activities,” said MTA Long Island Rail Road Interim President and Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi. “The additional Mets-Willets Point service implemented during the pandemic provided an alternative mass transit option to Flushing, one of the most vibrant and diverse communities in the entire city, and we are pleased to be able to give people traveling to and from this area more opportunities to use the LIRR.”
“We are thrilled that MTA is expanding Long Island Rail Road service at Citi Field,” said New York Mets Owner, Chairman and CEO Steve Cohen. “The Long Island Rail Road is an easy and convenient way for our fans to get to the ballpark. This expansion of service supports our organization’s vision to have safe and accessible transportation options for our fans, employees and the wider Queens community.”
“More frequent service gives riders more viable commuting options and greater incentive to use mass transit." said State Senator Leroy Comrie. "The expansion of service at Mets-Willets Point coupled with the reduced fare CityTicket offers an attractive alternative to commuters travelling to Citi Field. I commend the MTA and LIRR for continuing to push forward with our state's climate goals and encouraging New Yorkers to ride the rails.”
“24-hour year-round LIRR service to Mets-Willets Point will be a tremendous asset for New Yorkers looking for alternative transit options during the evenings, weekends and holidays,” said State Senator John Liu. “Kudos to the MTA for responding to rider needs and understanding that the best way to get more riders into the public transit system is to increase access for all.”
“If there’s one thing I love as a Mets fan without a driver’s license, it’s fast, reliable, and accessible transit around Willets Point,” said State Senator Jessica Ramos. “I’m excited to welcome this expanded service to our district and hope it will bring more fans and families to root for the home team on public transit.”
“24/7 LIRR service to Mets-Willets Point will strongly benefit Queens residents looking for a convenient and environmentally friendly way to get around, especially as the planned holistic redevelopment of Willets Point gets underway,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “With much of Queens in a transit desert with limited to no access to subways, it’s great that the LIRR is able to offer enhanced service along its existing rail network. I look forward to working with the LIRR to develop additional ways to improve its service in Queens. We need to do all we can to provide world-class transportation options here in ‘The World’s Borough.”
"The reinstatement of LIRR full time year-round service at Mets-Willets Point station will bring Long Island closer to my district and will help alleviate severe train overcrowding,” said Councilman Francisco Moya. “The new schedules are going to benefit the local economy, Queens residents, workers commuting to this area, and soccer fans who will be able to have faster and more convenient travel in the near future to Willets Point NYCFC soccer stadium as well as the residents who will reside at the 100% affordable housing project at Willets Point.”
Service at Mets-Willets Point during most periods will run at half-hourly intervals and more frequently during peak periods. LIRR customers and baseball fans can rest assured they are getting the most service available. The LIRR will still prepare to run extra trains at the end of events on an as-needed basis. These trains are not advertised on a schedule or TrainTime app until placed into service as they are coordinated with the conclusion of Citi Field events and volume of customers.
Beginning next Monday, between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., eight morning peak westbound trains out of 15 will not stop at Mets-Willets Point. Between 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., six peak eastbound trains out of 20 peak afternoon trains will not stop at Mets-Willets Point. Customers traveling during off peak periods within city limits such as Penn Station to Mets-Willets Point can purchase a City Ticket for just $5.00. For more information on City Ticket eligibility, see here.
The LIRR implemented full service at Mets-Willets Point in February 2021 to help transport people to and from New York City’s COVID-19 vaccination site at Citi Field and received positive feedback from customers who began to use the station as a regular option for commuting.
Enhancing Transit Connections
Mets-Willets Point is also served by the train with connections available to trains at the ADA accessible 74 St-Broadway/Roosevelt Av stop in Jackson Heights and connections available to trains at Queensboro Plaza.
Bus lines that connect with the train include the Q18, Q23, Q29, Q32, Q47, Q53, Q58, Q60, Q67, Q72, Q104, Q12, Q13, Q15, Q15A, Q16, Q17, Q19, Q20A, Q20B, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q33, Q34, Q39, Q44 SBS, Q49, Q50, Q53 SBS, Q65, Q66, Q69, LaGuardia Link Q70 SBS, Q101, Q102, B62, N20G, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M11, M12, M20, M34 SBS, M34A SBS, M42, M55, M101, M102, M103, M104. All MTA buses are ADA accessible.