New York Life

Life in New York state is exciting and fun, but can be rather challenging to navigate.
Here are a few lists and tips for how to take advantage of everything New York has to offer.

Transportation

The New York metropolitan area has excellent public transportation, but it can be a little complicated for new residents. Here are some helpful tips:

There is a commuter train line, the Metro North Line, which connects us to New York City at Grand Central Station. The local Crestwood train station is 10-15 minutes walking distance from the seminary, through a pleasant neighborhood. There are also buses that connect south to New York City or north to White Plains.

1. Parking
Parking can be tricky. Read parking signs extra carefully. It is usually best to avoid parking on the side of a street if other cars are not parked there. Keep 15 feet between your car and fire hydrants. Be especially careful when you are driving and parking in New York City. Make sure you always have quarters in your car and download the following apps: Pango, Park White Plains, ParkMobile, and Park Smarter. For on-campus parking, please be aware of others’ assigned parking spots.  Feel free to park in any unmarked spot.

2. Driver’s License, Registration, and Plates

New York Department of Motor Vehicles

White Plains Office
White Plains Mall
2nd Floor, 200 Hamilton Ave White Plains, NY 10601

Yonkers Office
1 Larkin Plaza, Yonkers, NY 10701

Midtown Manhattan Office (recommended for international students)
366 W 31st St, New York, NY 10001

3. EZ Pass
Every bridge and some highways have tolls - get an EZ Pass to save money:
Website

4. Metro Train Stations
Trains are a great way to travel around the New York metropolitan area and get to the city. Download the “MTA eTix” and “Train Time” apps on your phone–they will allow you to look up the train schedules and pay for tickets. The closest train station within walking distance is Crestwood Station at 1 Columbus Avenue, Tuckahoe, NY 10707. The schedule for the Metro-North Railroad is available online. When coming to or from Crestwood Station, you will need to take a train on the Metro-North Harlem Line.

5. Bee-Line Bus (Westchester County)
Bee-Line Bus is the public bus system serving Westchester County, where Yonkers is located. The system is owned by the county's Department of Public Works and Transportation. Please visit this page for maps and schedules.

6. Subway
In the city, subways are the fastest and cheapest way to get around.  In order to ride the subway, you will have to purchase or reload a MetroCard, which can be done at any subway station.

The New York City subway has 472 stations serving 27 subway lines - more than any other system in the world. Routes are identified by letters or numbers. These routes serve Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens.

7. NYC Bus
In addition to the subway, you can always take a bus in the city. You can use your MetroCard (described above), or pay cash. Bus stops are located at street corners and have a tall, round sign with a bus emblem and route number. Some stops have bus shelters. Most stops also include a "Guide-A-Ride," which is a rectangular box attached to the bus sign pole that displays a route map and bus schedule.

Pro Tip: If you want to get anywhere in NYC by public transportation, simply put the end location in Google Maps on your phone, and click on the “transit” option at the bottom of the screen. This will give you detailed directions on which trains, subways, or buses to take to get to your destination in the shortest amount of time.