Staten Island Ferry Service to be Shutdown July Fourth For Fireworks Displays On East River

Editor’s note: Below are the two most recent announcements by the MTA regarding schedule changes, all of which begin tomorrow.  There are increased ferries and other transportation methods throughout Friday and Saturday, particularly to accommodate bringing additional people to Macy’s fireworks display, but also keeping the water clear while the event is going on.  If you would be heading to work or home in Manhattan at these times, the changes may effect you. For those New Yorkers and Staten Islanders who have dogs or cats or other companion animals who are afraid of fireworks, we spoke with a veterinarian about things you can do to prepare for that day and how you can help your animal friends cope with the frightening sounds and sights that night. 

 

STATEN ISLAND FERRY SERVICE SUSPENSIONS PLANNED FOR JULY FOURTH

Coast Guard will be shutting down New York Harbor for U.S. Government’s 250th anniversary celebrations

NYC DOT ordered to suspend Staten Island Ferry service from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4; MTA bus routes provide alternative mass transit options

 

 

NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced Staten Island Ferry service suspensions planned for the Independence Day holiday due to Coast Guard regulations in place for the United States of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Under Coast Guard orders, Staten Island Ferry service will be suspended from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. New York Harbor will be closed to all vessel traffic. During operating hours, the Staten Island Ferry will be running service every 30 minutes, with increased, 20-minute service between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to accommodate crowds attending the city’s annual fireworks display.

Exact timing of service suspensions could change due to Coast Guard orders relating to the harbor celebrations. NYC DOT will communicate any service changes via social media and in terminals.

“This July 4 holiday will bring larger celebrations than ever before as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. We welcome all New Yorkers to join in the festivities and encourage Staten Islanders to plan around these Coast Guard regulations,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “We will be coordinating closely with the MTA to ensure regular bus service will be able to accommodate any ferry riders needing alternate mass transit options.”

NYC DOT is coordinating the service suspension with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The SIM1C, SIM3C, SIM4C and SIM33C express bus routes and the S53 and S79 SBS local bus routes provide bus service to and from Staten Island (regular bus fares apply: $7.25 for express bus routes and $3 for local bus routes). The MTA will be monitoring and enhancing service as needed across those six routes.

 

MTA Announces Fourth of July Holiday Weekend Service Plan and Unveils Star-Spangled Decorations to Celebrate 250th Anniversary of American Independence

 

Subways and Buses to Run on a Saturday Schedule on Fri. July 3; Increased Service on Certain Train Lines on Sat. July 4 for Macy’s Fireworks Show

Long Island Rail Road & Metro-North Railroad Operating on Friday Schedules on Thurs. July 2; Extra Metro-North Service Scheduled for July 3-5

MTA Bridges & Tunnels Daytime Scheduled Service Changes Continue Through Holiday Weekend

 

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced service details for the upcoming July 4 holiday. In addition to announcing service changes for the holiday weekend, the MTA is celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary by decorating buses and subway trains on select lines including the  and  as well as the Staten Island Railway with special American flag train wraps, decals, and commemorative messaging. Several Staten Island Railway bridges have been decorated with commemorative banners to celebrate the occasion.

The Long Island and Metro-North Railroads are also both running special 250^th anniversary locomotives. Metro-North Railroad will operate the Independence Lights Train, which will be powered by Heritage Locomotive 250, outfitted in red, white and blue livery with patriotic symbols on its flanks, and will have its 7-car train arrayed with red, white and blue lights. The Independence Lights Train will run from July 1-5 across all three East of Hudson lines.

July 4 weekend service details for each agency are below:

New York City Transit
Subway and the Staten Island Railway
On Friday, July 3, the New York City subway and the Staten Island Railway will operate on a Saturday schedule.

On Saturday, July 4, there will be increased service on the  and  lines in the late afternoon and early evening to accommodate riders attending the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks display. The extended service will run through the late evening.

 trains will not stop at Clark Street on July 4 from 8:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Bypass times are subject to change due to crowd conditions at the station.

There are planned subway service changes on the , Rockaway Park Shuttle  and  lines the weekend of July 3-5 so crews can perform signal upgrades and scheduled maintenance work. Customers are advised to check the MTA app or mta.info for real-time service updates and alternatives to help plan their trip.

Buses
On Friday, July 3, New York City buses will run on a Saturday schedule.

Customers should expect delays on all routes near Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront on the evening of Saturday, July 4 due to the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Show.

Access-A-Ride
Paratransit will operate full 24/7 service throughout the holiday weekend. Customers should consider the heat in planning their travels this weekend.

Long Island Rail Road (LIRR)
On Thursday, July 2, the LIRR will operate on a Friday schedule.

On Friday, July 3, the LIRR will operate on a normal Friday summer schedule. Summer Friday service to Montauk and Greenport will run on both Thursday and Friday.

On Saturday, July 4 and Sunday, July 5, the LIRR will operate on a regular weekend summer schedule.

Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North will operate on a Friday schedule on Thursday, July 2, with adjusted peak period service and getaway trains on all three lines during the afternoon.

On the Port Jervis Line, the 2:41 p.m. train from Hoboken to Middletown, with a connecting 2:34 p.m. train from Penn Station, will be extended to Port Jervis, including a stop at Otisville. The 6:14 p.m. train from Hoboken to Port Jervis, with a 6:01 p.m. connecting train from New York Penn Station, will not operate on Thursday, July 2.

On Friday, July 3, Metro-North East of Hudson trains will operate on a Sunday schedule.

On Saturday, July 4, Metro-North East of Hudson trains will operate on a Saturday schedule with two extra trains on the New Haven Line to accommodate riders after the Rye Playland and Macy’s fireworks.

For West of Hudson service, on July 3 and July 5 there will be one additional train on the Port Jervis line, which departs Port Jervis at 4:05 p.m. and arrives in Hoboken at 6:33 p.m.  The Pascack Valley line will operate on a normal weekend schedule.

MTA Bridges and Tunnels
Daytime scheduled maintenance requiring lane closures will be suspended beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2 through 5:00 a.m. on Monday, July 6.

Critical roadwork may be permitted during overnight hours at times when traffic permits. Maximum roadway availability will be maintained during times of peak travel.

Ways to Stay Informed
mta.info – The definitive source for real-time arrival information and service change information for each line or route in the MTA system. Customers can find current statuses on mta.info and upcoming planned service changes using the lookup tool at mta.info/alerts.

MTA app – Customers who use the comprehensive MTA smartphone app will see real-time train, bus and rail arrival times, and can chat with the customer care team all in one place. The app is available in the Apple Store and in Google Play.

TrainTime app – The MTA’s TrainTime app is the essential companion to navigating the commuter rail system. Customers can plan their trip, purchase tickets, check train status, and chat with customer service, all in one app. The app is available in the Apple Store and Google Play.

Email Alerts – Customers can sign up for email alerts tailored to their specific commutes and travel times. They can also sign up for MTA newsletters like The Weekender, a weekly newsletter that covers major weekend planned service changes. Customers can sign up here.

511 – Customers who prefer to contact the MTA by telephone, information is available by dialing 511. 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.

 

Banner Image:  250th Anniversary Decorations on the Staten Island Railway. Image Credit – MTA