General Introduction to New York City Transportation System
by Chenyang
One of the best things living in New York City is its outstanding transportation system.
Unlike most other places in America, car is not a necessity for New Yorkers’ everyday
life. The powerful MTA network will deliver you wherever you want to visit. So you
are not obliged to worry about 50-dollar-an-hour parking or overcrowded streets with
cyclers right in front of your car .
Airport
There are three major airports in NYC
Biggest International airport in New York City. Located in the southeast part of
Queens. Most planes here are for international airlines.
Also an international airport. Although it is in New jersey, it is very conveniently linked
with the city.
Mostly for national airlines. Located in north Queens. The planes you saw flying right
above your head in flushing are from/to this airport. If you are flying within the US, this
is a good choice, because it is nearer to Einstein, and less busy probably.
NYC Transit (Subway and MTA bus)
There are 25 different subway lines in NYC. Those most closely related with our life
are Lexington Avenue line (Green line: 4,5,6), ; 7th Avenue line (Red line: 1,2,3,9) and
Flushing line (Purple line: 7). Subway stations in Manhattan are usually not easy to
find. You have to look around the streets carefully. Inside the station, you can find
signs on the platform which read “Uptown” (coming to Bronx) or “Downtown” (Going
to Manhattan). And some lines such as 2 and 5 are express trains (they only stop at big
stations), while others like 1, 9 are local trains that stop almost every 10 streets. All
trains are local trains when they enter Bronx. If you are not familiar with New York
subway, you can request a free subway map from the station’s officers. It might prove
to be very helpful.
The name for New York City buses always start with some letters representing the
Borough it drives through. M3 is a Manhattan bus, Bx 21 is a Bronx bus, Q26 is in
Queens, B45 is in Brooklyn, while QBx1 is the bus driving between Queens and
Bronx.
The fare for subway or city bus is 2 dollars, less than the price for a gallon of gas. You
can buy a Metrocard at almost every subway station. It is suggested that you buy
regular Metrocard unless you are only spending several days in New York or going to
Manhattan every day. All subway lines are interconnected. As long as you do not get
out of the subway station, you can change lines freely. But once you come out, you
have to pay $2 again to enter, there is no transfer between taking 2 subways.
However, with Metrocard you can transfer to a bus/train after taking a train/bus. It is
also possible to transfer between 2 buses. If you get on a bus to a subway station and
find out your Metrocard is out of money, you can tell the driver you are going to take
subway, and then they will just let you in.
There was an express bus linking different parts of NYC (http://www.nybus.com/). But
MTA has taken over now and the fare has increased from 4 dollars to 5 dollars. They
also accept Matrocard.
Buses Going out
Port Authority Bus Terminal (http://www.panynj.gov/tbt/pabframe.HTM), located one
block west of Times Square, is the terminal for buses going out of the cities. You can
find the famous Greyhound buses here.
Chinatown Bus lines (http://www.staticleap.com/chinatownbus/) are loved by many
people because of the cheap prices. Here you can find a ticket to Boston for only $15.
There are bus lines to most cities in East coast.
Trains Going out
PATH
PATH (http://www.panynj.gov/path/) is a subway system connecting NYC, Newark
and Jersey City.
NJ Transit
If you are planning going further into New Jersy, NJ Transit (http://www.njtransit.com/)
is your choice. Many Jersy people take it to their work in Manhattan. NJ Transit starts
from Penn Station (34th street, 7th Avenue) in New York. During Peak Hour
(Morning hours to New York and Evening hours from New York), fare is more
expensive and round-trip tickets are not accepted. Be sure to buy tickets either at
ticket window or automated vending machine, otherwise several more dollars will be
charged for punishment.
LIRR
LIRR (http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr/) is the railroad to Long Island, which is part of
MTA. It also starts from Penn Station.
Metro-North Railroad
MNR (http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mnr/) goes to upstate New York and Connecticut.
You can take it to Yale. It is part of giant MTA too. Starting from Einstein, you should
go to Fordham station (http://as0.mta.info/mnr/stations/station_detail.cfm?key=108) by
Qx12 bus, towards the direction of Bronx plant garden.
Am-trak
(http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage)
It is also based at Penn station. It takes you everywhere in the states. But tickets are
expensive and trains are often late. I would prefer a plane ticket.
Taxi
Yellow Cab
Starting rate is $2.50. And 40 cents for each additional fifth of a mile or 120 seconds of
waiting time. During 4 to 8 pm on weekdays, there is a $1 surcharge. And also 50
cents surcharge during 8 pm to 6 am every day. To take a taxi from JFK to Einstein is
about 50 dollars.
Local taxi
There are also more Bronx local taxi companies, such as Plaza Town Cars
(718-881-1111). The local price is $4.00.
Car
YOU HAVE A CAR! Now you can enjoy your American life. But you also need to
face the problem of finding the way to your destination. Below is the 2 websites that
everybody is using for finding the route:
However I recently find google is also incredibly helpful. Instead of giving only the
maps, google is presenting to you the Satellite picture! You can actually fly around the
country just in front of your screen. Check this site, maybe I am now walking there.
To have a visual impression of the landscape that you are going to travel on will greatly
help you reduce the chance of missing an exit and make your driving much more
comfortable.
Ferry
Take a ship to visit the Stature of Liberty is one of the New York City experiences that
you cannot miss. The ferry is located at South Ferry, just beside the Battery Park. The
Staten Island ferry (http://www.siferry.com/) is also here. Recommended strongly!
Circle line sightseeing cruises starts from pier 83, west 42nd street & 12th avenue
(http://www.circleline42.com/index.ihtml?page=map). I had a wonderful experience
with the Harbor Lights Cruises.
Specific Guidelines with Transit (How to Get)
Battery Park (south ferry)
Take Bx21 bus to E180 St.. Transfer to the 2 train, downtown direction. Change to 1
or 9 train at Chambers St. Get off at the end station: South Ferry.
Chinatown
Take Bx21 or Bx31 bus to Westchester Square. Transfer to 6 train, downtown
direction. Get off at Canal Street.
Chinese Consulate in New York
Flushing
Walk along Eastchester Road to Pelham Parkway. Take Bx12 bus to Pelham Bay
Park. Transfer to Qbx1 bus. It stops right on Main Street (Chinese street) in flushing.
Qbx1 is usually on a “half hour” schedule. That means it is supposed to arrive at N:M0
(N is integer from 0 to 12 and M is 0 or 3).
If you are in Manhattan, go to Grand Central or Time Square, take 7 train and get off at
the end station, Main Street.
Grand Central
Take Bx21 bus to E180 St.. Transfer to the 5 train, downtown direction. Get off at
Grand Central station.
Ikey in New Jersy
Take a free bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal.
JFK
Laguadia airport
Take Bx21 bus to E180 St.. Transfer to the 2 train, downtown direction. Get off at 125
St. Take M60 bus to Laguadia airport.
Newark Airport
Take NJ Transit from Penn Station. Get off at Newark Airport.
Port Authority Bus terminal
Take Bx21 bus to E180 St.. Transfer to the 2 train, downtown direction. Get off at 42
St. Time Square. Walk along the tunnel to A/C/E subway station at 42 St. The bus
terminal is right there.
Penn Station
Take Bx21 bus to E180 St.. Transfer to the 2 train, downtown direction. Get off at 34
St. Penn Station.
Times Square
Take Bx21 bus to E180 St.. Transfer to the 2 train, downtown direction. Get off at 42
St. Time Square.
UN headquarter