July 4 NYC Transit Changes: Extra Commuter Trains, Subway Changes

NEW YORK, NY — New Yorkers will be on the move for July 4, whether it's to the suburbs or to the city beaches, and the MTA is modifying its service in an attempt to best shuttle everyone off to their holiday celebrations.

The MTA will add "getaway train" service on its commuter rail lines such as the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad on Wednesday to help people flee the city for the holiday. Both commuter rail agencies will run on a weekend schedule during the July 4 holiday, so the getaway trains may be the best bet.

There's also good news for drivers. MTA Bridges and Tunnels will suspend scheduled maintenance work starting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday until the end of the morning rush hour on Friday, July 5 due to an expected increase in congestion on the roads.

Here's a breakdown of the service changes:

Long Island Rail Road:

The LIRR will run eight extra eastbound trains from Penn Station on Wednesday, July 3 starting at 2:08 p.m.

• Babylon Branch
  • 2:22 p.m. express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon;
  • 2:32 p.m. express to Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon;
  • 3:00 p.m. stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, all stops to Babylon;
• Far Rockaway Branch
  • 3:48 p.m. express to Locust Manor, then making all stops to Far Rockaway;
• Port Jefferson Branch
  • 2:08 p.m. stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, then making all stops to Huntington;
  • 2:29 p.m. stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then making all stops to Huntington;
  • 3:24 p.m. stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury and Hicksville;
• Port Washington Branch
  • 3:40pm stopping at Flushing – Main Street, all stops to Great Neck.

Trains will run on a weekend schedule on the July 4 holiday.

Metro-North Railroad:

Thirteen extra "getaway" trains will depart from Grand Central Terminal on Wednesday, July 13 betwen 1 p.m. and 4:11 p.m., according to the MTA. Five of the trains will run on the Hudson line, three of the trains will run on the Harlem line and five of the trains will run on the New Haven Line.

The Metro-North Railroad will run on a sunday schedule on the July 4 holiday.

New York City Subway:

Subways will run on a weekend schedule on July 4 with extra service on the 4/5/A/C/F and 42nd Street shuttle prior to and following the Macy's fireworks show.

Other service changes include:

• 2/3 trains will bypass the Wall St and Clark St stations in both directions between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. As an alternative, use the nearby Borough Hall or Bowling Green 4/5 stations instead;
• 5 service will run between Bowling Green and Eastchester-Dyre Av, and 5/D trains will run local in the Bronx;
• 6/7 express service is suspended. Use 6/7 local trains instead;
• B trains will not run. Use the A/C/D and/or Q;
• G trains will operate every 8 minutes from 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4 to 1:30 a.m. Friday, July 5;
• Use J local service instead of J/Z skip-stop service.
• The L Project is ongoing. L trains will operate every 4 to 6 minutes between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m.; with reduced frequency between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; and every 20 minutes after 10 p.m. between Lorimer St and 8 Av.
• M trains will run between Metropolitan Av and Delancey St-Essex St between 6 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., and between Metropolitan Av and the 96 St Q station from 8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4, to 1:30 a.m. Friday, July 5.
• W trains will not run. Use the N/Q or R.