MTA Updates On Thanksgiving Weekend Schedules For Travel In To And Out Of Manhattan

NASSAU COUNTY, NY. — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has released its transportation schedule for Thanksgiving weekend, the end of a week in which Port Authority officials estimate nearly 9 million travelers will traverse its airports and crossings. Experts predict record-setting Thanksgiving travel nationwide this week, with congestion across New York highways expected throughout the week.

For Nassau County residents, extra trains will be in service and lane closures due to routine maintenance will be suspended on bridges and tunnels into and out of the city.

For a day-by-day breakdown of changes in service to get into and out of Manhattan this weekend, read on below:

Wednesday, Nov. 26

Long Island Rail Road trains will be operating on a normal weekday schedule, the MTA said. MTA bridges and tunnels will have daytime lane closures suspended from Tuesday, Nov. 25 through 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1, to accommodate increased traffic, with the exception of critical operation work, which will be allowed to continue on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, officials said.

Travelers looking to find the last trains out of Manhattan can download the MTA or TrainTime apps, which the MTA said will help riders make all of their transit plans.

Thursday, Nov. 27

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will kick off at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of 77th Street and Central Park West.

The Long Island Rail Road will be running on a holiday/weekend schedule, MTA officials said, with 15 extra trains running on three lines to help people get to and from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Those trains are as follows, per the MTA:

Babylon Branch

The 6:33 a.m. train from Babylon will make all local stops through Rockville Centre, including Massapequa Park, Massapequa, Seaford, Wantagh, Bellmore, Merrick, Freeport and Baldwin, then stop at Jamaica and Penn Station.

The 6:54 a.m. train from Babylon will make all local stops through Rockville Centre, then stop at Jamaica and Grand Central.

The 7:25 a.m. train from Babylon will make all local stops through Rockville Centre, then stop at Jamaica and Penn Station.

The 11:03 a.m. train from Penn Station will run express to Jamaica, then stop in Lynbrook, Rockville Centre, and then make all local stops through Babylon.

The 12:03 p.m. train from Penn Station will run express to Jamaica, then stop in Rockville Centre, and then make all local stops through Babylon.

The 12:24 p.m. train from Grand Central will run express to Jamaica, then stop in Lynbrook, Rockville Centre, and then make all local stops through Babylon.

The 12:51 p.m. train from Grand Central will run express to Jamaica, then stop in Rockville Centre, and then make all local stops through Babylon.

Ronkonkoma Branch

The 6:14 a.m. train from Ronkonkoma will make all local stops through Hicksville, including Farmingdale and Bethpage, before stopping at Mineola, Jamaica and Penn Station.

The 6:57 a.m. train from Ronkonkoma will make all local stops through Hicksville before stopping at Mineola, Jamaica and Grand Central.

The 7:01 a.m. train from Farmingdale will make all local stops through New Hyde Park, then make stops in Jamaica and Penn Station.

The 11:17 a.m. train from Penn Station will run express to Jamaica, then stop in New Hyde Park and then all local stops to Farmingdale.

The 12:13 p.m. train from Grand Central will run express to Jamaica, then stop in Mineola and Hicksville, and then make all local stops to Ronkonkoma.

The 12:30 p.m. train from Grand Central will run express to Jamaica, then stop in Mineola and Hicksville, and then make all local stops to Ronkonkoma.

The 12:47 p.m. train from Penn Station will run express to Jamaica, then stop in Mineola, then Hicksville, and then make all local stops to Ronkonkoma.

Port Jefferson Branch

The 11:59 a.m. train from Grand Central will run express to Jamaica, then stop in New Hyde Park and make all local stops through Huntington.

Once passengers arrive in New York City, buses and trains will be operating on a Sunday schedule. For travelers looking to get to the Thanksgiving Day Parade, the closest subway stops to the start are on the 1, 2 and 3 trains at 72nd Street, the 1 train at 79th street, and A, B, C, D and 1 trains at 59th Street-Columbus Circle. There will be extra service on the 42nd Street Shuttle (S) train, as well as the 1 train, to help passengers get to the parade route.

Friday, Nov. 28

The Long Island Rail Road will be running on a regular weekday schedule with off-peak fares in effect all day, officials said.

Saturday, Nov. 29

By the weekend, Long Island Rail Road service will return to normal, with weekend schedules in effect, officials said.