Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority today announced the details for the start of the Second Avenue Subway’s first regular service train New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2017.
- The Second Avenue Subway will begin operation at noon, Jan. 1, with stations opening at 11:45 a.m. Service will run from 96th Street, 86th Street, 72nd Street, and 63rd Street.
- From Jan. 2 until Jan. 8 service on the Second Avenue Subway will begin at 6 a.m. and run until 10 p.m. Then, starting on Jan. 9, service will operate around-the-clock.
"New Year's Day marks a great New York moment and a significant milestone with the debut of the Second Avenue Subway," Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "What was once thought to be the impossible, the on-time completion of this transformative project will increase the capacity of the nation’s busiest subway system and positively impact the lives of millions of New Yorkers now and for years to come."
"Ringing in 2017 with the start of service demonstrates that the MTA is living up to its promise to deliver the Second Avenue Subway on-time," MTA Chairman and CEO Tom F. Prendergast said. "We are making improvements across our system to better serve riders and we are especially proud to introduce a new line for the first time in more than 50 years."
The MTA is also announcing that trains and buses will operate on special schedules during the upcoming New Year’s Eve holiday weekend.
Holiday service details follow for each MTA service, organized by day.
Friday, December 30
- Long Island Rail Road is adding 13 trains from Penn Station between 12:43 p.m. and 3:49 p.m. to accommodate customers leaving work early to begin the extended New Year’s holiday weekend. For additional details, click here.
- Metro-North Railroad is adding 18 extra getaway trains departing Grand Central between 12:58 p.m. and 4:10 p.m. For additional details, click here.
- Staten Island Railway is offering an “Early Departure Getaway” schedule, allowing customers to catch earlier afternoon express trains beginning at 2:30 p.m. from the St. George Ferry Terminal. There will be one express train and one local train awaiting every boat until 7:50 p.m.
- NYC Transit will operate on a weekday schedule.
- New York City Buses will operate on weekday schedules with minor timing changes.
New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31
- New York City Transit and Staten Island Railway will operate on a Saturday schedule. New York City buses will operate on Saturday schedule with minor timing changes.
- Metro-North Railroad will operate on an enhanced Saturday schedule, with nine additional trains to Grand Central Terminal in the late afternoon and early evening trains. Long Islanders who plan to head for New York City to mark the arrival of 2017 will find 10 extra trains added to the regular weekend/holiday schedule.
- Times Square – The MTA is the best way for revelers to get to Times Square on New Year’s Eve, and to travel home afterwards. We strongly recommend that customers purchase their MetroCards or train tickets in advance.
Customers heading to Times Square for the celebration should avoid using the 42 St-Times Square subway complex, since they may not be allowed to exit onto the street. In addition, the northbound platform at 50 St 1 and both north and southbound platforms at 49 St NQRW will be closed from 7 p.m. until shortly after midnight. Riders are urged to exit at stations at 50 St, 57 St or 59 St- Columbus Circle instead and walk to Times Square. Additional service will be provided in the 1234567ACDEFLNQRS lines. Stations entrances in the Times Square area are subject to closure based on instructions from the NYPD.
Buses are not recommended for traveling to Times Square because of the numerous street closures in the area. The following bus routes may be subject to reroutes: M5, M7, M20, M42, M50, and M104. Regular overnight bus service will resume as streets reopen after midnight. Following the celebration, trains on lines in and around Times Square will run every 8 to 12 minutes until approximately 3 a.m. The 42nd Street shuttle S will operate all night.
New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1
- Metro-North is proving scores of extra trains after midnight to ensure service into the wee hours of the morning to get everyone home safely from New York City or suburban locations. Train departure times are provided in the attached press release from Metro-North Railroad. For the rest of the day, Metro-North Railroad will operate a regular Sunday schedule on the East of Hudson Lines and a regular weekend schedule on the West of Hudson Lines.
- Long Island Rail Road will supplement it usual overnight service with 14 additional trains departing Penn Station between 12:30 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. For additional information, please see the attached press release from the LIRR. For the rest of the day, the LIRR will operate on a holiday/weekend schedule.
- New York City Transit and New York City Buses and Staten Island Railway will operate on a Sunday schedule. The Second Avenue Subway is expected to open at noon with Q service to and from 96th Street, 86th Street, 72nd Street and 63rd Street. Stations will open at 11:45 a.m. Sunday.
Monday, January 2
- The New York City Transit and New York City Buses and Staten Island Railway will operate on a Sunday schedule. The Second Avenue Subway will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Jan. 8, then will be open around-the-clock beginning at 6 a.m. on Jan. 9.
- Metro-North Railroad will operate a Saturday schedule on all East of Hudson Lines, and a weekend schedule on the West of Hudson Lines, with additional service on the Port Jervis Line.
