New York City Transportation Tips by cjg1

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Grand Central now is nothing from what it used to be. Originally a shared depot on 42nd street it quickly became Grand Central Station. According to the official web site considered one of the three top engineering marvels of the 19th century for the glass and steel train shed.

The current version came about due to the ban of steam powered trains below 42nd street and also the horrid tunnel conditions from using steam power. So with electrification came the burial of the trains. Thus only needing the Terminal building at the end of the line. The new Grand Central Terminal opened in 1913.

In recent years it has undergone a major cleaning and refurbishing. You can still see what the ceiling used to look like if you look in the north west corner of the main floor. This may be viewed as a mistake but really there is only one mistake in the ceiling.

If you look closely, you will notice that the entire ceiling painting of the zodiac is backwards. Seems the artist that painted it had the picture sitting on top of his ladder so he would paint what he looked down on instead of holding it above and painting it correctly.

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Website: www.grandcentralterminal.com

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: You can drive into the city. I have but usually don't.
Three major airports serve the area with several others accessable by train. And the best option.
Two major Railroad stations. Grand Central Terminal for MetroNorth and Pennsylvania Station for Amtrak, LIRR, and NJT.
Taxi, walking, or the Subway.

Fear not. Although service may be cut back in the later hours the trains do run all night.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: The NYC cab system is rather large and proficient. To have the option to just jump a ride when there is a group of you or you are in more of a hurry is great. The cabs are a lot safer than you generally hear and will get you directly to your destination.

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Website: www.nyc.gov/taxi

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Something I must admit has taken me a while to get used to is the bus system. I always used to take the trains as near as I could get and walk but some cases now I have need to use busses off of the trains. And with a metrocard free transfers from the trains to the bus.

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Website: www.mta.info

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: Taking the subway, even after the fare hike from $1.50 to $2.00 it is still a great way to get around long distances in the city. The maps are easy to read and the system fairly simple and easy to use.

And another reason why NYC is the greatest. Our trains run ALL NIGHT.

Fares are $2 per ride with one free transfer to a bus. You can ride any train anywhere however long you want for this $2.
For $7 you can get a day pass. Unlimited rides on the day you buy it until midnight.
$24 will buy you a weekly pass. Note. This is usually best for people coming in even for only a couple days.
And of course the monthly is $76.

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Website: www.mta.info

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Walking has to be my favorite way to get around this city. You can see the simple little changes as you move through neighborhoods. Find places you weren't looking for but are glad you found. Even a closer or better alternative to whereever you were going.

And for people watching being on the streets is the place to be.

Just be courtious. Stay to the right if you're meandering or walking and gawking. Tourists are great and help the city. But please remember we are late for work in have places to go.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: JFK is where most international travelers and a decent share of domestic ones will arrive.

It is a multi-terminal airport with the airtrain linking the nine of them in six stops. Terminals two and three, five and six and also eight and nine are shared stops.

The major international terminals are one and four although international flights leave from nearly all. Depending upon airline of course.

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Website: www.kennedyairport.com

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: My least favorite of the airports serving this great city.

I do find myself here more often than not though as i like the schedule to oakland at 615am via denver.

A smallish 4 or so terminal airport it is very easy to access. You can take the M60 bus from 125th street or the Airporter bus lines from places like GCT and the Port Authority.

Mostly domestic here but not strictly.

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Website: www.laguardiaairport.com

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: This is to me what an airport should be. It is connected to the North East Corridor Amtrak and NJT trains. There is fast efficient monorail between the parking areas, the train station, and all the terminals. Only three here now but I have heard of plans to expand.

There are also bus services to the city if the airtrain is too expensive for you. I believe last time i took it it was $11.75 each way.

A full array of Int'l and domestic flights leave and arrive here.

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Website: www.newarkairport.com

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: I feel this needs to be put out where all can see it. It is NOT an easy thing to connect between NYC airports. Depending on traffic you can take 3 hours between any of them or more.

If you must connect between airports here make sure you have a stop over so you dont have to rush and worry and most likely miss your flight anyway.

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