No matter if you are from the outer boroughs, the heart of Manhattan, or the surrounding Long Island and New Jersey areas traveling in and around the NYC area needs planning — especially when public transportation is involved. City Guide has an exclusive guide for you all about city transport. Keep reading to see how to hack the system like a professional.
When taking the trains and subways around NYC the most crucial item, you possess is a ticket. Everyone’s ticket needs are different, so it is super important to know how often you are traveling and what deals you can own for your needs.
When taking the Railroad, the pro move is to either have the website for your line saved or to have the apps downloaded. When it comes to the Long Island Rail Road, there are two apps to get, the MYmta app and the MTA eTix app (tickets can be bought at ticket booths, machines or on the app). The Metro-North and NJ Transit each have their own app. The Metro-North uses the Metro-North Train Time app and the Metro-North shares the MTA eTix app with the LIRR, While NJ Transit uses the NJ Transit Mobile app.
Make sure to follow your railroad provider on social media. Sometimes their tweets update before the website or app, so be in the know 24/7 by following and having notifications on. This is the best way to get quick news about every line with up to the minute details.
Also, note that the price is dependent on which train zone you are in. For example: if you are using the LIRR and get off at Woodside (Zone 1) it will be cheaper than getting off at Oceanside (Zone 7) because they are located in separate zones.
If you want to save a few bucks of a round trip, take the LIRR to Jamaica and then take the subway from there! Depending on your ticket zone you could save money this way!
If you are traveling to Mets-Willets, Pinelawn, Bellport, Yaphank, Southhold, and Greenport stations, do not have ticket machines available. Please plan accordingly.
When it comes to choosing your ticket options, there are a few different options. For the LIRR and Metro-North, if you plan on buying a one-way or round-trip ticket, you must know the difference between peak and off-peak tickets. Peak Tickets can be accepted even during off-peak times, but off-peak cannot be taken during peak times. Peak fares are between 6-10AM and 4-8PM on weekdays for the LIRR, and between 5-10AM and 4-8PM for the Metro-North, we like to call it the trains version of rush hour, but instead of waiting in traffic you are paying a tad bit more for your ticket.
If you are traveling with children between the ages of 5 and 11, then they qualify for a child’s ticket which is half the price of a peak ticket. Or, buy a family pass! When an adult is with a group of up to four children, each child rides for $1, provided that the adult has bought a full priced ticket. On NJ Transit, up to three kids under the age of 5 can ride free with a paying adult. And, all railways offer discounted prices for senior citizens.
For weekend travel by LIRR or Metro-North, buy a one-way ticket into the city, and then while in Manhattan buy a City Ticket back. This ticket is 4.25 and is only valid on Saturday/Sunday. City ticket is only valid if you are traveling within zones 1 and 3 on the LIRR and the Harlem and Hudson lines for the Metro-North. The city ticket can be bought at ticket machines or at the ticket window, and it cannot be purchased aboard the train. If you plan on going to Citi Field on the weekend, buy a ticket to Woodside and then get a City Ticket to Mets-Willets Point.
Heading to Atlantic Terminal from the LIRR? Save money by buying the Atlantic Ticket. The Atlantic ticket is a $5 one-way ticket for use only on the purchase date. The Atlantic Ticket can only be purchased from Jamaica, Hollis, Queens Village, Locust Manor, St. Albans, Laurelton, Rosedale, Atlantic Terminal, Nostrand Ave, and East New York. There is also a weekly option available that comes with a 7-day unlimited subway metro card, this deal is $60.
If you plan on traveling more frequently, then it is essential to look into the bundle packages that should be on your radar.
The 10 trip ticket can be used for 10 trips in either direction. The peak 10 trip for LIRR has no deal attached however the off-peak ticket saves you 15%. This ticket is convenient and last for six months. The Metro-North offers an additional type of 10 trip ticket which offers a 15% discount to anyone getting off at a stop before Grand Central.
The Monthly ticket lasts for a whole month and can be used any day at any time. If you travel into the city every weekday (or 42 days a month), you save 50% off the original amount. The only downside is that these tickets cannot be shared. Monthly tickets can be bought starting on the 20th of the previous month.
If you are in the city for a short time and plan on taking the train for every day of one week, then a weekly ticket is for you. Weekly tickets save the user 30% on the Metro-North and the LIRR and like the monthly can only be used by one person.
If you ride the bus and take the LIRR than the UniTicket is for you. This ticket combines a bus and a railroad ticket into one, but the downside is that it can only be used in specific locations and in some cases just for certain buses. Check this website to see if you can be covered by the UniTicket. For NJ Transit, if you are traveling on the Atlantic City Rail line, you may use a one-way, weekly, or monthly train pass for Bus route 551 and 554.
What is unique about the monthly pass for NJ transit is that it is also be used for buses and on the light rail.
If you want to find out how to navigate other transit systems like a pro click here for buses and here for the MTA Subway!
