How to get to the right place and buy discount tickets: a complete guide to public transport in New York

The benefits of public transportation in New York abound. The most common among them are availability, time savings and flexibility. In the Big Apple, an average of 3 New Yorkers use the subway system since the pandemic, reports documented.

But the subway is not the only means of transportation in the five districts, as there are also ferries and buses. We have collected the maximum information about the public transport system in New York.

New York City subways, buses, Staten Island Railroad, ferries

The public transportation system in New York City has been overseen by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) since 1965. It includes all subway lines, buses, and the Long Island Railroad (LIRR). The agency serves 15,3 million people throughout New York, Long Island, and other nearby areas.

The subway has been an indispensable system for residents of the Big Apple since it opened to the general public in 1904. At the time, the subway was operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) and included 28 stations in the Manhattan area. The following year, the subway expanded to the Bronx, in 1908 to Brooklyn, and in 1905 to Queens.

Subway ride

New York currently has 472 subway stations on 36 rail lines serving four of the five boroughs. Each service line has its own letter and color. There are also forms indicating whether the service is express (diamond) or local (circle).

You can check metro fare here. Pay for your ride contactless through OMNY using a debit/credit card/phone at the turnstiles or by purchasing a physical MetroCard from one of the vending machines at the station. There is a $1 fee to purchase a physical card. But it gives you the option to purchase an unlimited 7-day ($33) or 30-day ($127) MetroCard.

After the 12th paid OMNY ride, the following rides are free until the end of the week.

Staten Island has its own rail lines. They are operated by the Staten Island Railroad (SIR), a subsidiary of the MTA. This is the only area that is not connected to the metro system. It covers 21 commuter line stations and accepts MetroCard or OMNY cards. The fare is the same as when traveling by metro or buses in other areas.

On the subject: Ferry fares skyrocket in New York

Directions by bus

A bus ride in New York costs $2,75 per ride. The same payment methods as their subway counterparts (OMNY and MetroCard), as well as coins, work here. There are 327 bus routes in five districts, 234 of which are local. All buses are wheelchair accessible. And the nearest landing station can be find here.

Buses Select Bus Service (SBS) make fewer stops, follow priority routes.

Express buses run between districts and operate mainly during weekday rush hours. They are similar to intercity buses. The fare is $6,75 and cannot be paid with the Unlimited Ride MetroCard.

Things to keep in mind: weekend service may result in delays or redirects. Send a message to the MTA via WhatsApp for the latest information.

Ferries in New York

Another way to travel within the areas is to use the New York ferries. They are operated by Hornblower Cruises. It connects 25 berths along six routes around five districts. Ferry fares are $4 for an adult one-way ticket and $27,50 for a 10-ride ticket.

Ferry tickets can be purchased through the app NYC Ferry by Hornblower, in person at a vending machine or through a ticket agent.

Here you can see all ferry routes and their timetables.

Discounted Subway Cards for New Yorkers

Low-income Big Apple residents can apply for and receive a 50% discount on subway and bus fares as part of the Fair Fares program. To date, over 271 New Yorkers have participated. It is available to all citizens regardless of immigration status.

Individuals must be between the ages of 18 and 64, live in one of the five boroughs, and meet annual income requirements to qualify for the discount.

Eligible New Yorkers can apply Online Training: For those who prefer the flexibility of learning from a distance or cannot make it to our Sofia location, we offer comprehensive online courses. or via mobile app Access HRA. This will require an email address.

Note: during the application process, proof of income, address and identification documents will be required.