fmpden

New Yorkers ---

Headed to LGA on Tues, 22nd, landing around 6pm. Hearing and reading some horrid stories about long taxi lines, traffic, etc. because of the constructions. Need to get to 76th and West End. I do this frequently and usually use a taxi. Is there a public transit option? Understand there is a bus that goes most due west and crosses one of the subway lines - red or blue?? Is that a viable option? Or am I just stuck if the taxi line is long. Thanks

doug_stallings

That's a pretty busy time since you are going to be heading into the city at the end of rush hour. Taxi lines at LGA are always long, but it depends entirely on which terminal and airline you are arriving at. But I'd have to say that's the worst of all possible times to arrive at LGA (i.e., 5-7 on a weekday evening). There's also ongoing construction on the Triboro Bridge.

You can certainly take the bus, but it's going to be subject to the same traffic delays as taxis, so that's only an option if you really need or want to save money. It will save you no time. You'd take the M60 bus all the way to the west side and then transfer to either the 2/3 at 125/Lenox, the 1 train at 106/Broadway, or A/C subway on 125/Frederick Douglass, but then you are still a fairly long walk from your final address. Therefore, I still think a taxi is your best option if you don't mind spending the extra money. Just be prepared that this could be a $50 ride if traffic is really bad. If you want to mitigate the cost of the taxi, then take the M60 into Manhattan, and then get off at Lexington and take a taxi to avoid the worst of the traffic.

If you take the bus you must have exact change of $2.75 or the cost on a Metrocard. There's a Metrocard vending machine in the main terminal at LGA but not at the Delta terminals.

doug_stallings

I think I wrote something incorrect. I just checked, and the LGA web site says there are now Metrocard vending machines at terminals C and D as well as B. So you should be covered regardless of the airline if you choose to take the bus. Sorry about that.

Fra_Diavolo

>>>crosses one of the subway lines - red or blue??

fmpden

Thanks all. We have had the full range of taxi fares from $35 to $55. Getting through the toll gate on the bridge seems to be the big delay. Normally we are on Delta but this time it is United. I am aware that all of the taxi pickups have been consolidated to one location. We did alright in early Sep with a ten minute taxi line but saw a massive maze set up to handle hundreds. Trying to avoid waiting in that maze taxi for over an hour that I have read about.

Diavolo, I was aware of the designation of letters and numbers. Here, we refer to our lines via color so it carries over.

Doug, we already have our metro cards. Actually the senior citizen cards. That is even cheaper. Appreciate the bus routing in case I need it as a back up.

Now, any tips on best viewing location for the TG Macy parade. Knocking off a bucket list item.

doug_stallings

You could also arrange for a car service in advance. You call upon arrival (after you've picked up your bags), and they meet you at the curb. You might have to wait 10 minutes but certainly not an hour.

I don't think the back-up in traffic will necessarily be at the bridge, but it could be. That day is not a gridlock alert day (the next day, Wednesday, is). If you would rather have the convenience of a car service, then just do that. It is almost guaranteed to be faster than a city bus.

Your only other option is to take a bus or taxi to Roosevelt Avenue (this would be the Q70) and take the E train from there. That can be a faster route into the city, but you'd have to make a complex change to get a different subway line uptown once you are in Manhattan (at 50th Street or Times Square) or switch to a taxi, which may be hard to find during rush hour.

fmpden

Thanks for the other suggestion (Q70). We are very familiar with Manhattan lines and the Time Sq station area so we could survive that. Our son and dil are on the Upper West side so we are the area four or five times year for the past several years. Again, thanks for the info.

maxima

For watching the parade here is a link fron timeout ny

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/thin...ing-day-parade


you do get to see the balloons, marching bands, floats etc, but the performers in front of Macy's such as the rockettes, broadway shows, etc do not march. so you wont get to see them live

the balloons are blown up on the upper west side the night before and that has become an event in itself