Traffic Alert: What to Expect on Match Day
This Saturday marks a significant event in New York City as it designates a Gridlock Alert Day coinciding with the highly anticipated FIFA Men's World Cup match between Brazil and Morocco, held in New Jersey. As fans flock to MetLife Stadium, officially referred to as New York New Jersey Stadium by FIFA, the bustling streets of Midtown Manhattan are set to experience major traffic disruptions. City officials have laid out plans to manage the influx of soccer enthusiasts by implementing shuttle bus corridors and closing off specific streets around Penn Station, which will be a hub for fans traveling to the game.
In a bid to streamline transportation, NJ Transit service at Penn Station will exclusively cater to ticketholders for several hours before and after the match. From 1:25 p.m. to 5:14 p.m., access will be restricted to only those holding tickets for the Brazil-Morocco game, necessitating that non-ticketholders seek alternate routes. For those without tickets, the PATH train from 33rd Street to Hoboken or Newark Penn Station will serve as a viable option to reach other destinations during this time frame.
Street Closures and Shuttle Services
Post-match, Penn Station will again limit access to accommodate returning fans, with NJ Transit indicating that certain eastbound trains heading towards Manhattan will instead terminate at Newark Penn Station or Newark Broad Street from 8:10 p.m. until approximately 11:22 p.m. Despite these changes, PATH and NJ Transit bus services will remain available for all other riders, ensuring that essential transit options are not entirely hindered.
In preparation for the expected crowd, street closures around Penn Station will commence no later than 12 p.m., as noted by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's office. Brazil-Morocco ticketholders will also have designated shuttle buses operating from three pick-up locations in Midtown, and special shuttle bus corridors will be established, leading to additional street and lane closures for regular traffic.
Moreover, Mayor Mamdani has announced restrictions on truck deliveries in the Midtown area from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, affecting the stretch between 30th Street and 60th Street. However, smaller delivery vehicles, including cars, vans, and bikes, will be exempt from these restrictions, as will emergency vehicles and essential service providers operating within the designated zone.
As reported by cbsnews.com.
