France vs Senegal tickets holders and regular commuters will face a different Penn Station on Tuesday, when access is temporarily restricted beginning at 10:30 a.m. because of the World Cup match at MetLife Stadium. The first weekday FIFA World Cup match at the stadium is set to push rail riders, bus users and drivers onto separate routes through Midtown.
Penn Station at 10:30 a.m.
The match between France and Senegal is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but the disruption starts hours earlier. NJ Transit is set to suspend regular rail service from Penn Station from 10:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m., while trains leaving Penn Station during that window will carry World Cup ticket holders to the stadium.
World Cup ticket holders are to use designated NJ Transit loading zones on Sixth Avenue at West 32nd and West 33rd streets. Commuters using the Long Island Rail Road, Amtrak or the subway system can still reach Penn Station through entrances on West 34th Street at Seventh and Eighth avenues.
Midtown streets and shuttle lanes
The rerouting goes beyond the station. A bus and shuttle corridor is to run along 42nd Street from First Avenue to 12th Avenue, and the two easternmost lanes of Sixth Avenue between West 42nd and West 59th streets are to be reserved for buses and shuttles. Additional street closures and restrictions are set for portions of West 40th and West 41st streets near the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
New York state is also offering a $20 shuttle bus service from Port Authority Bus Terminal to MetLife Stadium. Regular NJ Transit riders heading into New Jersey are to use PATH service, Hoboken Terminal or Newark Penn Station instead.
Justin Brannan on travel
Justin Brannan, director of major event operations for New York state, said travel to MetLife Stadium will not be routine. “It’s not going to be your normal Sunday Jets game.”
He also urged riders to choose rail or bus options over driving. “We want to make sure people are ready for it, and we want to impress upon people to buy a bus or train ticket to get to MetLife. You do not want to drive to MetLife.”
For commuters, the practical move is simple: allow extra time, follow service alerts and pick the route that matches the destination. For ticket holders, the day runs through the Penn Station restrictions first, then the special loading zones and shuttle options that are built around the 3 p.m. kickoff.
