MTA Releases Public Service Announcements Encouraging Universal Mask Usage 

MTA Releases Thanksgiving Weekend Service Details for Essential Travelers 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is strongly urging customers to adhere to advice from public health experts to avoid Thanksgiving and holiday travel to best keep themselves, their families and fellow New Yorkers healthy and safe. 

“With COVID-19 cases dramatically increasing around the country, we are encouraging the public to restrict travel this Thanksgiving during this once-in-a-hundred-year public health crisis,” said Patrick J. Foye, Chairman and CEO of the MTA. “We are also reminding those who must travel about the urgent necessity of wearing masks while riding on public transportation. It's not only the right thing to do, but it's also the law.” 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is continuing to recommend use of face masks in public, and is providing this guidance to Americans: “Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year.” 

The MTA has found that that more than 95% of customers on New York City Transit, the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad are wearing masks. To acknowledge customers who are complying and supplement mask distribution, the MTA last week expanded its cadre of volunteers who distribute masks to customers – known as the Mask Force – to include regional transportation partners. Reinforcing their work, the MTA today began playing audio announcements from agency executives thanking riders for wearing masks along with a written note to motorists who have opted in for messages from MTA Bridges and Tunnels. 

Transcripts of the announcements are below and audio is available. 

Sarah Feinberg, Interim President of New York City Transit 

This is Sarah Feinberg, InterimPresident ofNew York City Transit. 2020 has been a year unlike any other, and on behalf of everyone at Transit, I want to wish you and your family Happy Holidays and thank you for continuing to ride with us. We’re doing everything we can to protect you. Have a safe holiday season and remember to wear to mask. 

Craig Cipriano, President of MTA Bus Company and SVP for Buses of MTA New York City Transit 

This is Craig Cipriano, president of MTA Bus Company. On behalf of everyone of us, I would like to wish you and your family a happy holiday season. You have my sincerest thanks for continuing to ride with us. We appreciate you being here, and are proud to provide you with safe, reliable public transit. Best wishes, and please, remember to wear your mask.

Cathy Rinaldi, President of Metro-North Railroad 

This is Cathy Rinaldi, president of Metro-North, wishing you and your family Happy Holidays. This has been a challenging year for all of us, and I am incredibly thankful for your continued support. We’re doing everything we can to help keep you safe while you are riding with us, so that you can enjoy this holiday season. All the best and safest wishes to you and yours. And please remember to wear a mask.

Phil Eng, President of Long Island Rail Road 

I’m Phil Eng, president of Long Island Rail Road. I’d liketo wish youand your loved ones a Happy Holiday season and share my sincerest thanks for continuing to ride with us. We appreciate you being here, mask and all, and are proud to do everything we can to serve you as safely and comfortably as possible. Best wishes to you and your family, and please stay safe as we look forward to a new start in 2021. 

Daniel F. DeCrescenzo, Jr., President of MTA Bridges and Tunnels 

Hello, 

I want to reach out to personally wish you and your family Happy Holidays. 

There’s no denying that 2020 has been a year unlike any other. But through it all, we at MTA Bridges and Tunnels have continued to do everything we can to make sure your commute over our bridges and through our tunnels is as safe as possible. Thank you for continued support, and I hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season. Wear a mask in public! 

Sincerely, 
Daniel F. DeCrescenzo, Jr. 
President, MTA Bridges and Tunnels 

Service Details 

For those who must travel over the extended holiday weekend, the MTA will operate regular weekday service agencywide on Wednesday, Nov. 25, with weekend or holiday services in effect for Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, as noted below or on our website.  

Subways and Buses 

On Thanksgiving Day, New York City subways and buses will operate on a Sunday schedule and the Staten Island Railway will operate on a Saturday schedule. There are some bus routes that either do not operate on Sundays or do not run on part of the route at certain hours. Customers traveling on Thanksgiving Day should check Sunday schedules, lines and routes by accessing the trip planner on the website. 

On Friday, Nov. 27 New York City subways and Staten Island Railway will operate a regular weekday schedule.  

New York City buses will operate on reduced weekday schedules with some exceptions. On Staten Island and in Queens, limited-stop service will not run, except the S89 Ltd and S90 Ltd on Staten Island. Local service will be available on these routes. SIM4X and SIM8X will not operate. 

A special schedule will be in effect for express bus routes run by MTA Bus Company and New York City Transit. View this special schedule and plan your trip accordingly. 

Metro-North Railroad  

Peak fares will be in effect during peak hours on Metro-North's West-of-Hudson lines on Wednesday, Nov. 25.  

On Thanksgiving Day Metro-North Railroad will operate on a weekend schedule. There will be no train service between Southeast and Wassaic and no Hudson Rail Link service at Riverdale and Spuyten Duyvil. 

On Friday, Metro-North's Harlem, Hudson and New Haven Lines will operate on a weekend schedule. West of Hudson service will operate on an expanded weekend schedule, with extra trains on the Port Jervis Line departing Port Jervis at 6:18 a.m. and 4:05 p.m., and an extra train departing Hoboken at 4:22 p.m. Hudson Rail Link will be operating on a hourly schedule Friday, see special timetables prior to traveling.  

Grand Central’s entrances at 46th through 48th Streets will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27. 

Long Island Rail Road 

The Long Island Rail Road will operate on a holiday/weekend schedule Thanksgiving Day and on a regular weekday schedule Friday, Nov. 27. 

Alcohol is prohibited in the Long Island Rail Road system from 8 p.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26. 

Bridges and Tunnels 

MTA Bridges and Tunnels will suspend lane closures related to routine maintenance and temporary construction work beginning 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, through the end of the morning rush on Monday, Nov. 30, to accommodate motorists. Any extraordinary weather-critical work that must be accomplished over the holiday weekend would occur only during overnight hours when traffic is at its lightest. 

Planned Work 

The MTA is taking advantage of traditionally low ridership the day after Thanksgiving to get maximum access to the tracks and prevent potential service outages.  

Beginning at 5 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 27 until Sunday, Nov. 29 at 10 p.m., shuttle buses will replace  Shuttle and rush hour  train service at four stations -- Beach 90 St, Beach 98 St, Beach 105 St and Rockaway Park-Beach 116 St -- to accommodate critical switch replacement.  trains will continue to operate normally between Far Rockaway-Mott Av and Inwood-207 St, as well as between Ozone Park-Lefferts Blvd and Inwood-207 St. 

Customers wishing to travel to affected stations will be provided with free shuttle bus service between Rockaway Park-Beach 116 St and Beach 67 St, where a transfer to Far Rockaway  trains will be available. Customers can also use the Q35 bus to connect to  train service at Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College. 

Track maintenance and signal modernization work is also being done on the  lines. Customers are encouraged to visit the MTA’s many real-time service information sources prior to traveling. 

Channels for Service Updates 

Information about the planned schedule change noted in this press release, and 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. 

new.MTA.info–The “Service Status” box atnew.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. 

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 MyMTAAlerts.com.  

Twitter – Twitter users can follow @MTA, @NYCTSubway, @NYCTBus, @LIRR and @MetroNorth to receive dynamic service updates and customer service support. 

WhatsApp - NYC Transit recently started using WhatsApp to expand 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. 

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. For customers calling from Connecticut, the number is: 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.