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NYC- Thanksgiving Transit Guide

November 25, 2024

    Dear Mooviters, 

    It’s that time of year again for turkey, pumpkin pie, and family gatherings! And of course, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Stay head of the curve with these tips and transit updates for Thanksgiving travels and for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:

    🦃Be Prepared for the Turkey Day Traffic & Transit Changes!

    Peak Travel times are:

    • Wednesday, Nov. 27 (just before Thanksgiving)
    • Saturday, Nov. 30 (post-feast travels)
    • Sunday, Dec. 1 (heading home from holiday visits)

    Many Agencies operate holiday, alternative, or no service on the following days:

    • Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 28
    • Day after Thanksgiving, Friday, Nov. 29
    • Complete list of Thanksgiving Service by Popular Agency – see below👇

    🚍Plan Ahead & Take Public Transit to Thanksgiving!

    • 🗓Plan:
      • Use Moovit to plan your trip in advance to check for best travel options.
      • Traveling out of your metropolitan area? No worries, Moovit includes Intercity options like Amtrak, Flixbus, & Megabus.
      • Public transit is the cheapest option to and from the airport. Take the LIRR, Subway, with the JFK Airtrain to JFK or take NJ Transit, PATH with Newark Airtrain for the Newark Aiport.
      • Park & Ride – check park & ride options in your area to access hub stations and leave the car behind.
    • 🎟Pay:
      • If available pay for your ticket in advance to save hassle at the station
      • Amtrak and other intercity services often require reservations during Thanksgiving. Book tickets as early as possible.
    • 🚌Ride:
      • Use Moovit during your trip for real-time arrivals.
      • Check Moovit for service updates that impact your trip.

    No matter how you choose to travel this Thanksgiving, remember: Transit offers plenty of options to make your journey smooth, simple, and stress-free. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the holiday season—whether you’re shopping, traveling, or spending time with loved ones!

    Thanksgiving Day Service by Agency

    • MTA Subway and Bus
      • MTA will operate Sunday service on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28th, and will return to regular service on Friday, November 29th.
    • LIRR
      • Alcohol is not allowed on LIRR trains or at stations on Nov 27th & 28th
      • Extra Babylon, Huntington and Ronkonkoma Branch trains are running for those attending the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
    • MNR
      • MNR will operate Holiday service with additional service for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (more info below) on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28th, and Saturday schedule with additional service on Friday, November 29th.
        • The Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven Lines run on a special schedule on Thanksgiving Day, and a Saturday schedule on the day after Thanksgiving, with extra trains in the morning and afternoon. 
        • The Port Jervis Line runs on a weekend schedule on Thanksgiving Day, with two extra trains and on a weekend schedule on the day after Thanksgiving, with three extra trains.
        • The Pascack Valley Line runs on a weekend schedule on Thanksgiving and the day after.
    • Staten Island Railway
      • Staten Island Railway operates on a Saturday schedule for Thanksgiving Day
    • NJ Transit 
    • JFK Airtrain 
      • JFK Airtrain will operate regular service on Thanksgiving Day, and on Friday, November 29th. 
    • PATH
      • PATH will operate modified weekend service (Journal Square-33 Street (via Hoboken) and Newark-World Trade Center lines in service.) on Thanksgiving and modified weekday service (All 4 lines operate on a 10-minute schedule during daytime and early evening hours.) on Friday, November 29th.
    • The following agencies will operate weekend service on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28th, and resume regular service on Friday, November 29th:
      • CT Transit
      • Suffolk County Transit
      • Staten Island Railway
      • Staten Island Ferry
      • Greater Bridgeport Transit (Friday, Nov 29th – Weekend Service)
      • Lower Hudson Valley Transit
      • Transport Of Rockland
      • Norwalk Transit District
      • City of Long Beach Transportation
      • Shore Line East
    • The following agencies will have no service on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28th, and resume regular service on Friday, November 29th:
      • LANTA
      • Dutchess County Public Transit
      • HART
      • Housatonic Area Regional Transit
      • Ulster County Area Transit
      • River Valley Transit
      • Southeast Area Transit District
      • Monroe County Transit Authority
      • COLTS
      • Luzerne County Transportation Authority
      • Hazleton Public Transit
      • Schuylkill Transportation System
      • Move Sullivan

    Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Guide

    The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place Thursday, from 8:30 till Noon, rain or shine. The parade starts on the west side of Central Park West from W 75th to W 61st. Then continues to Columbus Circle and then heads south on 6th Avenue from W 59th to 38th, and ends right in front of Macy’s. We recommend getting there early to grab a good spot. 

    Metro North Railroad will be offering additional service to help parade-goers:

    The Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven Lines run on a special schedule on Thanksgiving Day

    In the morning and early-afternoon, we are running extra trains for those attending the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    In the late-afternoon and evening, service will generally be hourly, with extra trains at some stations. The New Canaan, Danbury, Waterbury, and Wassaic branches will run on a regular weekend schedule.

    There will be no service on the Hudson Rail Link, Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry, or Newburgh-Beacon Ferry.

    The Port Jervis Line runs on a weekend schedule on Thanksgiving Day, with two extra trains

    An extra inbound train depart Port Jervis at 6:18 AM and arrives Hoboken at 8:30 AM.

    An extra outbound train departs Hoboken at 5:19 PM.

    These trains make all stops between Port Jervis and Suffern, then run to or from Secaucus Junction and Hoboken.

    LIRR will offering extra service on Huntington and Ronkonkoma Branch trains are running for those attending the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    MTA Subway Service Changes for the Parade:

    C Trains

    In Manhattan,  C skips ‌81 St-Museum of Natural History in both directions during the Thanksgiving Day Parade

    F Trains

    In Manhattan, F skips 57 St in both directions during the Thanksgiving Day Parade

    S Trains

    S 42 Street Shuttle runs more frequently during Thanksgiving morning. MTA is providing additional service to get you to the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    1 Trains

    1 trains run more frequently during Thanksgiving morning. MTA is providing additional service to get you to the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    Some entrances/exits at 34 St-Penn Station 1 2 3 , 59 St-Columbus Circle A C D 1 and D F N Q R stations along 6 Av will be closed during the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Expect Crowding at these locations and follow the instructions of NYPC personal. Consider using other nearby stations as alternatives.

    MTA Bus Detours and Service Changes for the Parade:

    • No M5 service between Broadway at W 65th St and 5th Ave at W 31st St; buses will instead detour via 9th Ave and 10th Ave to/from 29th St
    • M7 buses will be detoured in both directions between Broadway at W 69th St and W 23rd St at 6th Ave
    • M7 buses will be detoured between 6th Ave at W 57th St and Amsterdam Ave at W 71st St in both directions
    • No M10 service between Central Park West at W 86th St and 8th Ave at W 57th St; buses will instead detour via Columbus Ave and Amsterdam Ave to/from 57th St
    • No M12 service between W 57th St at 11th Ave and Columbus Circle
    • No M20 service on 7th Ave/8th Ave between W 57th St and W 66th St and southbound buses are detoured from 7th Ave between Central Park South and 23 St
    • No M20 service on 7th Ave/8th Ave between W 57th St and W 66th St; buses will instead detour via Columbus Ave and Amsterdam Ave to/from W 65th St
    • M31 and M57 buses will be detoured from 57th St between 9th Ave and Madison Ave in both directions
    • M34A-SBS and M34-SBS buses will be detoured from 34th St between Madison Ave and 8th Ave
    • M34-SBS buses will be detoured from 34th St between Madison Ave and 9th Ave in both directions
    • M42 buses will be detoured from 42nd St between Madison Ave and 9th Ave in both directions
    • M50 buses will be detoured between W 50th St at 9th Ave and E 49th St at Madison Ave in both directions
    • No M55 service on 5th Ave and 6th Ave between W 33rd St and W 44th St
    • M66 buses will be detoured between W 65th St at Amsterdam Ave and E 67th St at Madison Ave in both directions
    • ‌M72‌ buses will be detoured between W 72nd St at Broadway and E 72nd St at Madison Ave in both directions
    • ‌M72‌ buses will be detoured between W 72nd St at Columbus Ave and W 66th St at Central Park West in both directions
    • M79-SBS buses will be detoured from79th St between Amsterdam Ave and Madison Ave
    • M104 buses will be detoured in both directions between Broadway at W 72nd St and W 41st St at 8th Ave

    Happy Thanksgiving,

    The USA Moovit Team

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