Arrivology
Tips on easing your trip to or from New York City:
Flying
You want to fly into La Guardia, Kennedy or Newark, NJ. If you are buying your tickets online, most travel sites will let you punch in "NYC" as the airport code, letting you search all three airports at once, rather than typing LGA, JFK and EWR.
Also see: FAA’s current airport conditions
TSA’s items prohibited in carry-ons
NewYorkology Basics: From the airport to Manhattan
Resources: Airfare Watchdog, Seat Guru and Airline Quality.
Amtrak – Before booking, check their website specials. You want to come to Pennsylvania Station, New York, which also serves NJ Transit, the Long Island Rail Road and several subway lines.
Bus
LimoLiner is the business-class bus from Boston; Chinatown buses offer cheap white-knuckle rides and there's always Greyhound, the Hampton Jitney or Peter Pan.
There's no need to drive, really.
Limited morning cab share program starts in Manhattan
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission today launched a limited share-a-cab experiment along three designated routes in Manhattan that will operate weekday mornings from 6 to 10 a.m.
The first three routes are in Midtown, the Upper East Side and Upper West Side only.
The shared-ride fares are $3 or $4 per passenger (depending on the route) and can be paid in cash or by credit card. Passengers may only enter at one of three Group Ride taxi stand locations and then may be dropped off along the routes, which all end at Grand Central Terminal. The yellow cabs may not pick up additional passengers along the route and may not go to any other destination, according to the TLC’s taxi share passenger info card (in pdf).
The location and fares for the three Group Ride stands:
West 57th Street at 8th Avenue - Fare: $3
West 72nd Street at Columbus Avenue - Fare: $4
East 72nd Street at 3rd Avenue - Fare: $4
“It’s both a transportation and a social experiment,” TLC Commisioner Matthew Daus told NY1 this morning.”But it worked in the 2005 transit strike — people loved it. Mayor Bloomberg wanted us to try it as a pilot, or an experiment around the city so we’re starting with the three stands and we’ll see how it goes from there.”
Three more taxi stand locations have been approved for Manhattan plus one for US Air and Marine Air Terminals of LaGuardia Airport, the TLC announced in February (pdf).
Other stand locations planned for Manhattan:
Grand Central Terminal to 59th Street at 6th Avenue - $3
Penn Station to 59th Street at 6th Avenue - $4
Port Authority Bus Terminal to 59th Street at 6th Avenue - $3
Technically, tipping is optional and in addition to the flat-rate fare.
Image source: NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission.
Earlier: New 50-cent taxi tax jacks up JFK flat-rate to $45.50
MetroCard fare rises to $2.25 today for subway, bus
NY considers share-a-taxi experiment with lower fares
Taxis switch to zone fares during transit strike (2005)
March 3, 2010 8:09 AM Comments (2)
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Acela launches free wi-fi but with restricted browsing
 Amtrak hit its target today and rolled out free wi-fi on all 20 of its Acela Express trains, but some riders said via Twitter they had problems connecting and others complained about restrictive web filtering.
A sample of the tweets from Twitter users who said they were on Acela trains this morning:
Brian Kirchhoff - “AmtrakConnect Wi-Fi service on the Acela is slow but serviceable (especially at no cost) but the web filtering is EXTREMELY restrictive.”
Ed Keating - “Roll out of free Wifi on Acela today & they have a “tech” on board to help. Curious what the charge will be in the future”
Ted Morgan: “was so excited to see the acela now has Wi-Fi. Too bad it doesn’t work. #fail #amtrak”
Micah Collins - “Free WiFi on the Acela. First time I’ve gotten something amazing and useful for free in a long time. Thanks… http://tumblr.com/xg16xvqxq”
Pat O’Malley - “Acela wi-fi FAIL, TOS screen infinite loop. BOS to NYP.”
Earlier while in test mode:
Joe Webster - “Acela wifi blocks digg. Says it’s a streaming media site. Also blocks FB apps. But it’s free.”
NewYorkology contacted Amtrak this morning to find out about the browsing restrictions but has not yet received a reply.
However, the new web page for the AmtrakConnect Wi-Fi service addresses the issue: “AmtrakConnect is a shared Internet connection that works best when browsing basic Internet content or reading your email. We ask that you refrain from playing streaming video or downloading large files. Amtrak may restrict access to some websites or restrict individual customers from using high levels of bandwidth.”
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March 1, 2010 2:15 PM Comments (0)
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Acela free wi-fi in test mode, ready for Monday launch
Free wi-fi is in test mode on Acela Express trains and on track for a full roll out March 1, an Amtrak spokesman confirmed to NewYorkology on Tuesday.
The Amtrak wi-fi will be free at least initially on the Acela route, which covers Washington D.C.-New York - Boston.
Northeast Regional could get wi-fi next.
February 24, 2010 1:18 PM Comments (0)
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Acela free wi-fi to start March 1 on all high-speed trains
 One month from today, free wi-fi will be installed on all high-speed Acela trains, Cliff Cole, an Amtrak spokesperson, told NewYorkology by e-mail this morning.
The plan is for a “full roll out on the Acela Express trains on March 1st,” he said.
Previously Amtrak had announced it planned to offer the wi-fi starrting sometime in March. At least initially, the wi-fi will be free to all customers on the Acela trains, which travel the Washington D.C.-New York - Boston corridor several times a day.
Plans are also in the works to upgrade the interior of all Acela Express trains to improve power outlets, tray tables and leather seating, according to a January news release from Amtrak.
Image source: Amtrak
Earlier: Amtrak plans to offer free wi-fi on Acela trains in 2010
LimoLiner cuts Boston fare to $69, ends Hartford route
Amtrak confirms wi-fi in test mode on Acela trains
February 1, 2010 9:41 AM Comments (0)
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High winds close Statue of Liberty, downtown streets
 Extremely high winds and tides have caused the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to close for the day, according to the National Park Service.
“A combination of high winds and tides makes it unsafe for visitors to board and disembark the ferries to and from the islands. The park plans to re-open Tuesday, January 26,” states an advisory from the NPS. In 2009, extreme weather closed the Statue of Liberty only three times, twice for snow and once for heat.
Notify NYC, an official alert system operated by NYC government, also issued a wind advisory around 10 a.m.: “There are multiple street closures near City Hall Park in Manhattan. Debris is falling because of the high winds. The area between Gold Street, Ann Street and Park Row is closed to cars and pedestrians.”
Area airports are also operating with delays, according to the recent alerts issued by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
Related: Statue of Liberty webcam
Picture credit: Today’s view of Statue of Liberty from Red Hook, Brooklyn. Amy Langfield/NewYorkology.
January 25, 2010 11:08 AM Comments (0)
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A couple quick sales on hotels, flights for New York
There are a handful of travel deals today both coming and going for New York.
If you’re coming to New York, hit up the Quikbook hotel sale, which features the Smyth from $166 and the Algonquin from $189.
If you’re going, see JetBlue’s Cheeps, inlcuding a hard-to-get $29 one-way to Bermuda fare.
January 19, 2010 11:53 AM Comments (0)
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Amtrak sale for Northeast Regional extends to March 31
Amtrak’s two-week advance-purchase discount for its Northeast Regional service was set to expire next week, but the national train operator has announced the deal will stay in place through March 31.
 The sale offers one-way fares from New York to Boston or Washington D.C. for as low as $49. Philadelphia goes as low as $34.
“There’s nothing like traveling in the northeast during this time of year, and with Amtrak’s low fares, that shopping trip to New York can be even more affordable,” Emmett Fremaux, Amtrak’s vice president of marketing and product development, said in announcing the low-fare extension.
The deal — which adds up to 25 percent off the lowest published fares on those routes — is not available on all trains and dates are blacked-out for Dec. 17-23; Dec. 26-30; Jan. 3-4; Feb. 12 and Feb. 15.
During Thanksgiving Week, Amtrak’s Northeast Regional trains carried 180,109 passengers, an 8.2 percent increase over the 166,532 in 2008, according to Amtrak’s records. Its high-speed Acela trains carried 55,240 passengers during that same period, a 2.3 percent decline from last year’s 56,551 Thanksgiving week ridership.
Earlier: Amtrak sale extends to Dec. 16; $49 to D.C. or Boston
December 10, 2009 9:02 AM Comments (0)
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LimoLiner cuts Boston fare to $69, ends Hartford route
 It’s not quite a cut-rate $1 advanced fare, but the luxury bus between New York and Boston, LimoLiner, will reduce its one-way fares to as low as $69, the company announced late Tuesday.
The fare is available for new reservations for travel after Nov. 20. While it will apply to “many seats on many trips” other seats will be priced at $79 each way, and $89 for peak travel.
Earlier this year, Limoliner added service to Hartford in April, but quietly abandoned the route in September.
LimoLiner buses, which seat only 28 passengers, offer plush leather seats, high-speed Internet, to-your-seat beverage service, and other amenities.
Earlier: Amtrak plans to offer free wi-fi on Acela trains by 2010
Amtrak sale extends to Dec. 16; $49 to D.C. or Boston
LimoLiner bus adds Hartford with $39 one-way fare
November 11, 2009 7:24 AM Comments (0)
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New 50-cent taxi tax jacks up JFK flat-rate to $45.50
When New York state last week added a 50-cent tax to all cab fares in NYC, among the things it’s messed up is the $45 flat-rate price for the trip between JFK Airport and Manhattan.
The 50-cent “MTA Tax,” which went into effect Nov. 1, was approved by state lawmakers and the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission.
The full taxi rules are online (in pdf format.)
November 8, 2009 8:16 PM Comments (0)
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Amtrak plans to offer free wi-fi on Acela trains by 2010
Amtrak’s high-speed Acela trains are on track to get wi-fi in 2010 and at least initally, the service will be free, according to the five-year fiscal plan issued Thursday by the railroad.
“Launch is anticipated in the second quarter of FY10. This service will initially be offered at no cost to our customers, though pricing may change depending on customer response, system performance, and costs,” the Amtrak document states. “The goal for this offering is to drive competitive advantage that will result in additional ridership and revenue on Acela trains. As of the end of FY09 the company will have just begun deployment.”
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November 2, 2009 9:23 AM Comments (0)
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