MTA Will Operate on a Weekend Schedule on Sunday, July 4, and Observe the Fourth of July Holiday on Monday, July 5
Commuter Railroads Offering Getaway Packages and the Return of ‘Summer Saturdays’ Promotion
Masks Required Onboard Subways, Buses, Commuter Rails and Paratransit
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is lengthening trains, adding service and running on weekend schedules throughout the July 4 holiday weekend with options for customers traveling to area beaches. The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad are also offering getaway deals and the return of the popular “Summer Saturdays” program.
“Driving in beach traffic is the worst, especially if you have screaming kids in the backseat,” said MTA Chief Customer Officer Sarah Meyer. “So #takethetrain to skip the traffic, relax with your friends (or kids) on the bus, and leave the driving to us.”
The MTA has undertaken unprecedented cleaning and disinfecting protocols in the year since the pandemic began, rolled out robust public education campaigns, issued millions of masks to its customers and is hosting public vaccination hubs at Grand Central and Penn Station. Masks are required on board trains and buses and in indoor platforms.
Service details for each agency are below:
New York City Subway
The subway will operate on a Saturday schedule on Monday, July 5. For beachgoers, the Rockaway Park Shuttle extension to Rockaway Blvd will connect to any train on weekends beginning July 3 and will operate on July 5.
Customers are reminded that some subway lines do not operate on Saturdays. express service is suspended. Use local trains instead. trains will not run, use the and/or . Use local service instead of skip-stop service. trains will not run, use the or .
Major service changes due to planned work on the lines are scheduled on Monday, July 5. To stay informed, use the MYmta app, visit new.mta.info, or call 511 and say “Current Service Status.”
New York City Buses
Buses will operate on a Saturday schedule on Monday, July 5. Customers traveling on Monday should check Saturday schedules, lines and routes.
There are many bus options to area beaches throughout New York City.
- The Bronx/Orchard Beach – Bx12
- Brooklyn/Brighton Beach – B1, B36 and B68
- Brooklyn/Coney Island – B36, B64, B68, B74, B82
- Brooklyn/Manhattan Beach – B1 and B49
- Queens/Jacob Riis Park – Q22 and Q35
- Queens/Rockaway Beach – Q22, Q35, Q52 SBS and Q53 SBS
- Staten Island/South Beach – S51, S52
- Staten Island/Midland Beach – S51
- Staten Island/Cedar Grove Beach and New Dorp Beach – S76
- Staten Island/Oakwood Beach – S76 (with a walk)
Long Island Rail Road
The LIRR will operate on a regular schedule on Friday, July 2, including normal summer Friday service to the Hamptons and Montauk with additional train cars added. Six additional eastbound trains will also run – three to Babylon and one each to Hicksville, Huntington and Ronkonkoma.
On Sunday, July 4, trains will operate on a Saturday schedule.
Also on Monday, July 5, the LIRR will operate on a holiday schedule, with westbound summer return service from the Hamptons and Montauk and additional train cars. Four additional morning westbound trains, two each on the Babylon and Ronkonkoma Branches, will arrive in Penn Station between 6:15 a.m. and 7 a.m. Four additional afternoon eastbound trains, two each on the Babylon and Ronkonkoma Branches, will leave Penn Station between 2:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North will run on a regular schedule with additional train cars added for the afternoon rush on Friday, July 2. Metro-North will operate on a Sunday schedule on Sunday, July 4, and Monday, July 5. Grand Central North will be closed on Monday, July 5, since the financial markets are closed in observance of the July 4 holiday.
On Friday, July 2, the Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines will operate on their current weekday schedule. On Saturday, July 3, and Sunday, July 4, both lines will operate regular weekend service. On Monday, July 5, the Pascack Valley line will operate regular weekend service.
The Port Jervis Line will offer enhanced holiday service, which includes two additional inbound and one additional outbound train as follows:
- The 6:18 a.m. train from Port Jervis, making all stops to Suffern, then express to Secaucus Junction, with a connection to Penn Station at 8:25 a.m., arriving at Penn at 8:39 a.m.
- The 4:05 p.m. train from Port Jervis, making all stops to Suffern, then express to Secaucus Junction, with a connection to Penn Station at 6:20 p.m.., arriving at Penn at 6:33 p.m.
- The 5:14 p.m. train from Penn Station, with a connection to Secaucus Junction at 5:32 p.m., then express to Suffern, making all stops to Port Jervis, arriving at 7:36 p.m.
Railroad ‘Summer Saturdays’ Promotions
Beginning Saturday, July 3, and going through Saturday, August 28, LIRR and Metro-North will honor all monthly tickets for travel to and from all LIRR and Metro-North stations, regardless of what stations are printed on the ticket. Monthly ticketholders traveling on these days will be able to bring up to four additional travelers for only $1 per person each way.
For information about discount LIRR and Metro-North and admission packages for beaches, museums, zoos and more visit https://new.mta.info/daytrips.
Staten Island Railway
Staten Island Railway will operate on a Sunday schedule on Monday, July 5.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels
MTA Bridges and Tunnels will suspend daytime temporary lane closures on Friday, July 2, at 1 p.m. Critical work requiring temporary lane closures is planned for Friday night into Saturday morning at the Throgs Neck and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridges and at the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel.
Channels for Service Updates
Information about all planned service changes is available through the MTA’s many real-time service information sources.
MYmta app – Customers who use the comprehensive MYmta smartphone app will see real-time travel information for all MTA services all in one place.
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 MTA launched a public beta of its groundbreaking Live Subway Map on Oct. 20. In its first iteration the Live Subway Map shows the real-time position of trains, planned service changes at any given time, highlight accessible stations, and much more.
LIRR TrainTime app – Customers can download the app on their smartphones to see real-time travel information such as arrivals and capacity tracking. Customer service representatives are available for live chat to answer questions from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Metro-North TrainTime app – Metro-North unveiled major upgrades to its TrainTime app late last year to keep customers updated by the second. The upgraded app includes real-time capacity tracking to enhance social distancing, real-time train location updated every three seconds and is available in six language.
Email and text message service updates – Customers are urged to sign up to receive alerts, tailored by specific branch and time of day, by visiting www.MyMTAAlerts.com.
Twitter – Twitter users can follow @MTA, @NYCTSubway, @NYCTBus, @LIRR and @MetroNorth to receive dynamic service updates and customer service support.
WhatsApp – Customers can chat with NYC Transit via WhatsApp. NYC Transit first added the function last year. WhatsApp expands the number of customer service channels available to riders and is especially helpful for non-native English speakers. Riders can receive customer service support in their native language through the help of Google Translate.
Apple Business Chat – NYC Transit recently launched its Apple Business Chat pilot that allows iPhone users to communicate directly with NYC Transit and get real-time updates.
These communication channels can be accessed while at home or on the go. For customers who are located at stations, the MTA will post the latest service updates on digital signs at station platforms and will make audio announcements over public address systems, and on-board announcements made by train crews.
For those who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511, the New York State Travel Information Line. 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.