Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chair and CEO Janno Lieber took the mound and threw out the first pitch ahead of tonight's New York Mets game at Citi Field. He was joined by two LIRR Customer Service Ambassadors to kick off the 7:10 p.m. game against the Washington Nationals.

“In New York baseball and mass transit have always been linked, and I want to thank the Mets for recognizing some of the MTA employees who keep New York moving,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Now, with the opening of Grand Central Madison, there’s one more reason to take the train to the game.”

Clifton Jerrick works as Long Island Rail Road Customer Service Ambassador at the Jamaica, Atlantic Terminal and Grand Central Madison LIRR stations. Clifton has worked for the MTA for eight years. Customer Service Ambassadors are front line employees who answer questions, help customers purchase tickets and get to their destinations. He works with customers who use wheelchairs or have mobility issues to navigate stations and get on and off trains. Clifton was honored this week during an MTA Disability Pride Month event for going above and beyond to ensure every customer he interacts with has a safe journey.

Ahead of Thursday night’s game, MTA staff handed out “I Took the Train to the Game" t-shirts and stickers to fans on the 5:42 p.m. train from Grand Central Madison to Mets-Willets Point. And during the game, 25 lucky fans got an OMNY prize pack including $50 in OMNY fare, an OMNY t-shirt, OMNY button, OMNY PopSocket, and NYC Transit subway map eyeglass cleaner cloth.

The Mets and the MTA are reminding fans that public transit is the fastest and most environmentally friendly way to get to Citi Field. The Mets posted a video on social media of Mr. and Mrs. Met taking the Long Island Rail Road to Citi Field.

With the opening of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) terminal at Grand Central, Mets fans anywhere in the MTA region have easy transit access to Citi Field for the first time ever. The MTA provides the following service options to get to all New York Mets home games.

Metro-North Railroad

The opening of Grand Central Madison makes it easier than ever for Mets fans in Metro-North territory to get to the game. Customers can take a one-seat ride into Grand Central and finish their trip either on the LIRR or the  train. Either option can get a customer to the stadium in 30 minutes from Grand Central.

Long Island Rail Road

The LIRR provides direct service to the Mets-Willets Point station all season long via the Port Washington Branch, just a 19-minute ride from Penn Station. Fans traveling from Long Island on other branches can reach Citi Field by changing at Woodside, just a five-minute ride from the stadium.

New York City Subway and Buses

The Mets-Willets Point subway station is right in front of Citi Field on Roosevelt Av near 126 St. Fans can always take either the local or the express train to reach Mets-Willets Point.

The Q48 bus stops at 126 St and Roosevelt Av, right in front of Citi Field. Customers can use the real-time bus ridership tracking feature on the MYmta app before boarding.

Access-A-Ride

Access-A-Ride paratransit has a designated stop at Citi Field located at 41 Seaver Way (126 St and 37 Av), south of the Bullpen Gate in the Passenger Loading Zone (second cut out) directly in front of the AMWAY awning. Customers have ample shelter and a clear sight line of 126 St from Bullpen Gate.

To book a trip customers can use MyAAR, the MYmta app, or call (877)-337-2017.