Subway & street

The automated airport rail system linking JFK terminals with airport facilities and public-transit connections at Jamaica and Howard Beach.

““Take AirTrain JFK from Jamaica to your terminal.””

New York’s posted street-cleaning parking rule requiring vehicles to move from one side of a street during specified days and times.

““I have to move the car before alternate-side parking starts.””

The Long Island Rail Road terminal in Downtown Brooklyn, connected with the Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center subway complex.

““Take the LIRR to Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn.””

A parkway running through southern Brooklyn and Queens, commonly shortened in conversation and traffic reports to the Belt.

““The Belt is slow near the airport exits.””

A neighborhood event held on a temporarily closed street, commonly featuring food, music, games, tables, family activities, and local organizations.

““The whole block came outside for the annual block party.””

The common abbreviation for the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway, a major limited-access roadway carrying local, regional, and truck traffic through parts of Brooklyn and Queens.

““Traffic is backed up on the BQE near downtown Brooklyn.””

A transit direction label indicating that a train or bus is traveling toward the Bronx or farther into the borough.

““Take the Bronx-bound train, but check which branch it follows.””

A transit direction label indicating that a train or bus is traveling toward Brooklyn or farther into Brooklyn.

““Take the Brooklyn-bound train two stops.””

A service pattern in which two or more buses on the same route arrive close together after delays disrupt their planned spacing.

““After a twenty-minute wait, three buses arrived together because of bunching.””

A marked street lane reserved primarily for buses during posted hours so they can bypass general traffic.

““The bus moved faster once it reached the red bus lane.””

A street corridor designed to give through-priority to buses and certain permitted vehicles while restricting ordinary private-car travel.

““Cars can use that block for local access, but the corridor operates as a busway.””

New York City’s large bike-share system, whose bicycles and e-bikes can be checked out from stations or designated parking locations.

““I’ll take a Citi Bike across town and meet you there.””

A licensed mobile food cart selling quick breakfast items such as coffee, tea, rolls, pastries, bagels, and egg sandwiches, especially near offices and transit stops.

““The coffee cart by the station already knows her morning order.””

A heavily traveled expressway crossing the Bronx and carrying I-95 traffic between major bridges, highways, and regional routes.

““The Cross Bronx is jammed near the interchange.””

A transfer between trains that stop on opposite sides of the same platform, avoiding stairs or a long walk through the station.

““At the next stop, make a cross-platform transfer to the express.””

Across Manhattan or another part of the city from east to west, rather than mainly uptown or downtown.

““Take the crosstown bus and transfer at Lexington.””

A small commuter van serving recurring neighborhood routes, especially where riders want an alternative or supplement to buses and subways.

““She caught the dollar van along Flatbush Avenue.””

To stop or leave a vehicle in the traffic lane beside a vehicle already parked at the curb, blocking part of the roadway.

““The delivery truck was double-parked and traffic backed up behind it.””

Toward the southern or lower-numbered-street direction in Manhattan; it can also refer to Lower Manhattan or other context-specific central areas.

““The downtown platform is across the station.””

A subway car with noticeably fewer riders than the surrounding cars, often treated by experienced riders as a reason to pause before boarding.

““Every other car was packed, so we checked why that subway car was empty.””

A premium commuter bus service connecting outer-borough or regional neighborhoods with major Manhattan destinations using fewer stops and longer-distance routing.

““She takes the express bus from Staten Island into Midtown.””

A subway train that skips selected local stations to serve a smaller set of major stops more quickly.

““The express skips our stop, so get off and take the local.””

A limited-access roadway along Manhattan’s East Side, commonly shortened in speech and traffic reports to the FDR.

““Take the FDR south if traffic is moving.””

The Long Island Rail Road terminal and concourse built beneath the Grand Central complex in Midtown Manhattan.

““Our LIRR train arrives at Grand Central Madison.””

The landmark Midtown Manhattan terminal used primarily by Metro-North Railroad and connected to subway service.

““Catch Metro-North at Grand Central Terminal.””

A green-painted borough taxi authorized for street hails in northern Manhattan and the outer boroughs, with specific pickup restrictions.

““They took a green cab from Queens to the restaurant.””

Severe traffic congestion in which vehicles block one another and movement becomes extremely slow or stops.

““Midtown was in gridlock after the street closures.””

Common shorthand for the George Washington Bridge, the Hudson River crossing between Upper Manhattan and Fort Lee, New Jersey.

““The GWB is backed up, so leave extra time.””

Understood, acknowledged, or message received.

““The downtown train is skipping the stop.” “Heard.””

A historic New Jersey transportation hub connecting NJ Transit rail, PATH, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, buses, and ferry services.

““Our train ends at Hoboken Terminal, then we’ll take PATH.””

The Hudson River vehicular tunnel connecting Jersey City, New Jersey, with Lower Manhattan.

““We took the Holland Tunnel into Lower Manhattan.””

A major Long Island Rail Road transfer hub in Queens with connections to AirTrain JFK and nearby subway service.

““Change at Jamaica for the AirTrain to JFK.””

A New York nickname for a fire hydrant, especially in neighborhood memories and summer conversations about cooling off in hydrant spray.

““The kids cooled off near the johnny pump on a hot afternoon.””

The common abbreviation for the Long Island Expressway, the I-495 corridor connecting Queens with communities across Long Island.

““We hit traffic on the LIE before the Queens line.””

A bus service that skips selected local stops to provide faster travel along part or all of a route.

““Take the limited-stop bus if it serves your cross street.””

The Hudson River vehicular tunnel connecting Weehawken, New Jersey, with Midtown Manhattan.

““The bus comes into Midtown through the Lincoln Tunnel.””

The common abbreviation for the Long Island Rail Road, the MTA commuter railroad serving Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan terminals.

““Take the LIRR to Jamaica and change for the AirTrain.””

A for-hire vehicle connected to a licensed car-service base and generally arranged in advance rather than hailed like a yellow taxi.

““The car service sent a livery cab for the airport trip.””

A subway train that stops at the local stations along its route rather than skipping them for faster service.

““Switch to the local for the next two stops.””

A transit direction label indicating that a train or bus is traveling toward Manhattan or farther into Manhattan from another borough.

““Use the Manhattan-bound platform for the train into the city.””

A twice-yearly visual effect in which the setting sun aligns closely with Manhattan’s east-west street grid and appears framed by buildings.

““Crowds gathered on 42nd Street for Manhattanhenge.””

The MTA commuter railroad linking New York City with communities north of the city and into Connecticut, with additional west-of-Hudson service.

““We’re taking Metro-North from Grand Central.””

The magnetic-stripe fare card introduced for New York City subways and buses in the 1990s and long associated with swiping through a turnstile.

““My MetroCard didn’t read on the first swipe.””

The modern train hall in the Farley building across Eighth Avenue from the older Penn Station concourses.

““Meet me under the skylight in Moynihan Train Hall.””

An informal apology that accepts responsibility for a mistake, interruption, collision, or misunderstanding.

““That was my stop—my fault, let me through.””

A major Newark, New Jersey rail hub served by NJ Transit, Amtrak, PATH, and Newark light rail connections.

““Transfer at Newark Penn Station for PATH.””

New Jersey’s statewide public-transportation provider for commuter rail, bus, and light-rail services.

““We’re taking NJ Transit into Penn Station.””

A curb restriction that prohibits leaving a vehicle parked but still allows brief stops to pick up or drop off passengers and to load or unload property, unless another rule applies.

““The sign said no parking, so the driver only stopped long enough to unload the boxes.””

A curb restriction that prohibits waiting and loading or unloading property but allows a brief stop to pick up or drop off passengers, unless another rule applies.

““He pulled into the no-standing zone only long enough for the passenger to get out.””

The most restrictive common curb rule, prohibiting waiting, passenger pickup or drop-off, and loading or unloading property during the posted time.

““The driver continued to the next block because the curb was marked no stopping.””

The city-sponsored passenger ferry network connecting waterfront landings in several New York City boroughs.

““We’re taking NYC Ferry from Astoria to Wall Street.””

New York’s contactless fare-payment system for tapping into subways and buses with an OMNY card, bank card, phone, or compatible device.

““Just tap your phone on the OMNY reader.””

Waiting in a queue; a well-known New York regional alternative to in line.

““I’m on line for coffee—what do you want?””

A recognized transit connection that requires leaving one fare-controlled station area and entering another separate station.

““That connection is an out-of-system transfer, so follow the street signs.””

The Port Authority Trans-Hudson rapid-transit railroad linking Manhattan with Jersey City, Hoboken, Harrison, and Newark.

““Take the PATH from the World Trade Center to Jersey City.””

New York’s major Midtown rail complex serving Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road, NJ Transit, and connecting subway lines.

““I’ll meet you at Penn Station by the Seventh Avenue concourse.””

The major Midtown Manhattan bus terminal serving many New Jersey commuter routes and intercity bus services.

““Meet me inside Port Authority near the bus gate.””

A bicycle lane separated from moving motor traffic by parking, barriers, islands, posts, or another physical buffer.

““Use the protected bike lane instead of riding in general traffic.””

A transit direction label indicating that a train or bus is traveling toward Queens or farther into Queens.

““Get the Queens-bound train to Jackson Heights.””

The East River bridge connecting Long Island City, Queens, with Manhattan near East 59th Street.

““Take the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan.””

The aerial tramway connecting Roosevelt Island with Manhattan near East 59th Street and Second Avenue.

““We took the Roosevelt Island Tram over the East River.””

The busiest commuting period, especially weekday mornings and late afternoons or evenings when transit and roads carry heavy peak-direction demand.

““The platform gets packed during the evening rush hour.””

A temporary elevated framework or platform used to support workers, tools, or materials while construction, repair, or façade work is performed.

““Workers were repairing the façade from the scaffolding.””

To carry or drag something awkwardly, or to make a tiring, inconvenient trip.

““I’m not schlepping that suitcase across three boroughs.””

To sweat heavily; as a noun, it can also refer to a steam bath or sauna-like session.

““This platform is so hot I’m already schvitzing.””

A major NJ Transit transfer station in New Jersey where several rail lines connect with trains serving Penn Station New York.

““Change at Secaucus Junction for New York Penn.””

An MTA bus-service category, commonly shortened to SBS, designed around faster boarding, bus-lane treatments, wider stop spacing, and other route improvements.

““The M15-SBS makes fewer stops than the local.””

A temporary alteration to a subway, bus, or rail route, schedule, stop pattern, platform, or operating plan.

““Check the service change before you head downtown this weekend.””

A call used by some subway performers to announce an acrobatic dance routine inside a train car, especially routines involving poles, flips, and coordinated movement.

““The performers called ‘Showtime’ before clearing space in the subway car.””

A bus used to replace, connect, or supplement train service when part of a subway or rail route is unavailable.

““The train ends here, so follow the signs for the shuttle bus.””

A temporary protective structure built over a sidewalk to shield pedestrians and property from overhead hazards during construction, demolition, or façade work.

““The storefront remained open under the sidewalk shed.””

A broad subway-delay explanation referring to trouble with equipment that detects, separates, routes, or controls train movement.

““Downtown service was delayed because of signal problems.””

The familiar New York subway warning telling riders to move away from train doors before they close.

““Stand clear of the closing doors, please.””

The city-operated passenger ferry route between Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and St. George Terminal on Staten Island.

““Take the Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall to St. George.””

A public-transit passenger, especially a regular subway or bus rider who may have to stand.

““Every straphanger checked the board when the delay was announced.””

To enter the subway by using a fare card at a turnstile; historically, it can also mean using a MetroCard to admit another rider.

““Swipe in at the next turnstile and meet me downstairs.””

Often Manhattan, especially when spoken by people in another borough or the surrounding metro area; in other contexts it can mean New York City as a whole.

““We’re taking the train into the city after work.””

The communities on the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, often discussed collectively in relation to beaches, neighborhoods, transit, and coastal life.

““They took the train to the Rockaways for the afternoon.””

The subway system or a particular subway service, referred to in ordinary conversation simply as the train.

““I’ll take the train and meet you downtown.””

The New York State Thruway, or more generally a major limited-access road identified by that regional name.

““Traffic was backed up on the Thruway.””

A transit explanation indicating that trains are closely spaced, queued, or moving slowly because other trains occupy the line ahead.

““We are being held momentarily because of train traffic ahead.””

A common written and spoken abbreviation for Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

““The appointment is on the UES near the 86th Street station.””

Toward the northern or higher-numbered-street direction in Manhattan; it can also name particular northern areas depending on context.

““Take the uptown train two stops.””

A common written and spoken abbreviation for Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

““They moved to the UWS near Riverside Park.””

The suspension bridge connecting Brooklyn and Staten Island across the Narrows.

““Traffic is slow approaching the Verrazzano.””

The common name for Manhattan’s major north–south roadway along the Hudson River side, including Route 9A segments.

““Take the West Side Highway downtown.””

A medallion taxi recognizable by its yellow color and authorized to accept street hails throughout New York City.

““We hailed a yellow cab outside the hotel.””