[Bus]  [Rail Service]   [Subway]

Bus: A total of 210 bus lines serve NY City.  Buses run uptown on Tenth, Eighth, Sixth, Madison, Third and first avenues and downtown on Ninth, Seventh, Fifth and Second avenues.   Some of the major east-west crosstown bus routes are 14th, 23rd, 24th, 42nd, 57th, 65th and 79th streets.  Upon boarding, ask the bus driver for a free transfer from an uptown or downtown bus to a crosstown bus , or vice versa. Most bus stops have Guide-A-Ride signs, showing bus stops and transfer points along that route.  Fare on the Manhattan and Bronx lines is $1.50; exact change (no bills) or a token is required.  For information concerning the subway and city-operated buses phone the New York Transit Authority at (718) 330-1234 or (212) 564-8484 for buses information.

Rail Service:  There are two train stations in Manhattan: Pennsylvania, at Seventh Avenue and W. 33rd Street, and Grand Central, at Park Avenue and E. 42nd to 44th streets.   Amtrak only runs out of Pennsylvania Station.  For information phone Amtrak at (212) 582-6875.

Subway Crosstown subways operate on 14th, 42nd, 53rd and 60th streets.  In addition, there is shuttle train from Grand Central Station to Time Square (intersection of 7th Ave. and Broadway from 42nd to 43rd streets) where passengers can transfer tree of charge to other lines. Subway also are fast.  Directional signs and by both local and express trains.   Inexperienced subway travelers are advised to avoid the express and take the local trains.  Although not as fast as the express, the local trains stop at each station, making missing the correct stop less likely. It is useful to purchase several tokens at once, as some token booths close before the stations do, and token lines tend to be tedious; tokens also can be used for bus fare.   The color of the globe sitting atop the subway's entranceway stanchion indicates whether or not the token booth is open: if white, it is open; if red, it is not. You can avoid waiting on line for tokens by using a thin plastic fare card called MetroCard which is good for 10 rides and costs $15.  At press time the card can be used on all New York City buses and at more than 140 subway stations.   Subway and bus maps are available at the Grand Central, Pennsylvania and Columbus Circle stations and the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Last Updated: 1999/01/10