Visitors' Information
Travel Within Manhattan
Subway
NASA's Goddard Institue for Space Studies (GISS) is located along the 1 train of the NYC Transit subway system. The closest station on the line is the "Cathedral Parkway" stop at the corner of Broadway and West 110th St., just two short blocks south of GISS. (Careful, there is another station on the B and C lines a half mile away also labeled "Cathedral Parkway" on the official subway map (PDF).) Also nearby on the 1 train route is the "Columbia University" station at Broadway and West 116th St. Upon exiting the station, just walk north or south on Broadway as appropriate until you reach West 112th St.
As of August 2023, the base subway fare is $2.90. Individual tokens are no longer sold and you must instead purchase an electronic MetroCard from a vending machine at any subway station, or else use an OMNY compliant phone, card or device at the turnstile. MetroCards may be purchased on a pay-per-ride basis or for unlimited use during a set timespan. MetroCards can also be used on NYC Transit buses.
If you arrive in Midtown Manhattan by train or airport bus and wish to take a subway directly to GISS, you would:
- From Grand Central Terminal:
- Take the 7 train or the S shuttle across town to Times Square and transfer to the 1, 2, or 3 uptown. If you take the 2 or 3, you must then transfer to the 1 train at either West 72nd or West 96th St.
- From Penn Station:
- From the east end of the station, take the 1, 2, or 3 train uptown. Again, if you take the 2 or 3 you must then transfer to the 1. Or...
- From the west side of the station, take the A or C train uptown, and transfer to the 1 train at Columbus Circle (West 59th St.).
- From the Port Authority Bus Terminal:
- Take the underground pedestrian tunnel to Times Square, from whence you can take a 1, 2, or 3 train uptown; or...
- Take the A or C uptown, and transfer to the 1 at Columbus Circle.
The 1 train is a local and shares part of its route with the 2 and 3 express trains. If you are heading uptown to GISS on the 2 or 3 express train, you must transfer to a 1 train at either West 72nd or West 96th St. Above West 96th St., the 2 and 3 trains veer off to the east and go far away from GISS. Likewise, if starting with the A or C train, you must switch to the 1 train at Columbus Circle, as the closest A/C station to GISS is a half mile away.
When catching any of the above-mentioned trains on your way from Midtown to GISS, you want to take the Uptown train.
If you have never visited New York before and your subway route to GISS includes a transfer at Times Square, allot yourself some extra time. And due to its size and several levels, Penn Station is probably worse. Signs pointing the way to the various subway platforms are prominent, but these stations nevertheless can seem like a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
Taxi and Car Service
You'll find that yellow taxi cabs are ubiquitous in Manhattan, especially south of 110th St. To hail one, just step to a clear space along the curb, look for a cab with a lit dome light, and raise an arm above your head. Cab fare is metered, but there are surcharges for rides during evening rush hour and at night, as well as for rides to/from south of 96th St. Consequently, a cab between Midtown and GISS could cost well over $20 during the day.
In 2013, the city also added new "street hail livery" cabs to the mix. Officially called Boro Cabs and less officially "green cabs", these vehicles are marked much like taxis but are painted an apple green color. Fares are the same as with yellow cabs. The only effective difference is that the Boro Cabs may not pick up street hails south of 110th St. in Manhattan.
Other livery cabs — once commonly painted black or other dark color and hence called "black cars" — are not legally allowed to pick up hails on the street. Most of these vehicles now operate in conjunction with rideshare services and can be summoned using an app on your phone.
When giving a driver a destination that is not a well-known location, you will likely minimize confusion if you specify an intersection. In other words, if you are headed to GISS, you would request "northeast corner of Broadway and West 112th St." rather than "2880 Broadway".
Bus
If you have just arrived in Midtown Manhattan and wish to take a bus to GISS, it is possible, but it will be much slower than the subway, as buses usually stop every other block and are subject to traffic conditions. Options include the M104, M11 and M4 buses.
The M104 and M11 buses travel up and down Manhattan's Upper West Side, the large neighborhood immediately south of GISS, and connect to the west side of Midtown Manhattan. The M104 (PDF) travels along Broadway and has stops near GISS at West 110th St. and at West 113th St. The M11 (PDF) travels downtown via Columbus Ave. and up Amsterdam Ave.; its closest stop to GISS is one block east at the corner of 112th St. and Amsterdam Ave., in front of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Also passing right by GISS is the M4 (PDF), with stops on Broadway at West 110th St. and West 113th St. However, it travels across town on West 110th St. and Central Park North, and then passes through the Upper East Side to reach the east side of Midtown.
The M60 Select bus connects the GISS neighborhood with LaGuardia airport. The closest stop to GISS is on Broadway at West 116th St., adjacent to the Columbia University campus. The M60's Manhattan terminus is at Broadway and West 106th St.
Bus fare is the same as subway fare. You must pay either using a MetroCard, exact change (no dollar bills), or OMNY-compliant card or device. Note that making use of a MetroCard means that free transfers between the bus and subway, or between bus routes, should be automatic and easy. However, the M60 Select requires that you pay the fare at the Select Bus Service kiosk at the bus stop rather than on the bus.
Bicycle
Citi Bike is a bike share system with hundreds of docking stations throughout Manhattan, as well as in the southern Bronx, western Queens, and northern and western Brooklyn. There are two Citi Bike docking stations very near GISS on Broadway at West 110th St. and at West 113th St. as well as a half dozen others within easy walking distance.
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