Penn Station to Soho (Roundtrip) (home, high school, universities)

[chefnyc83]

I'm attending culinary school beginning April 4, 2008 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5:45 pm to 10:45 pm for a total of 9 months. I was hoping to hear some commuting tips from people who know the city well. I will be arriving at Penn Station from NJ at or around 5:20pm. That leaves 25 minutes tops to get to Soho.

I checked a couple maps and it seems that the most direct route is the W subway southbound off of Herald Sq. to the schools location on Broadway and Grand (Soho), then the R subway northbound from that location back to Herald Sq. towards Penn Station.

Concerns:

1) Is this the best itinerary/route?
2) Would the M6 bus be a better choice?
3) Which is the most cost efficient and convenient choice?
4) How do I receive a student discount?

Thank you for your input.

[SilkCity0416]

The Subway would be your best bet. You will be in Soho in about 10 minuets (if that). Penn Station only serves the 8th and 7th Ave lines (A,C,E-1,2,3) the R and W is along Herald Sq. Which is down 34th towards B'way. Just get a Metro Card and take the trains downtown.

[009]

Originally Posted by chefnyc83

1) Is this the best itinerary/route?

Seems to be the best so far being that the R/W platform at Canal St. leaves you below the Canal, as opposed to the N/Q express trains. FYI, it does not matter if you take either the R or the W, they both make the same stops in Manhattan. Herald Sq. is 1 block east of Penn, if you don't know.

Originally Posted by chefnyc83

2) Would the M6 bus be a better choice?

If you want to take your time, so be it.

Originally Posted by chefnyc83

3) Which is the most cost efficient and convenient choice?

It's all the same, by bus or subway, you'll still pay the $2 flat fare.

Originally Posted by chefnyc83

4) How do I receive a student discount?

As far as getting a student discount, it depends on you're school if they offer such program. There's no discount Metrocard for students continuing their education after high school, but I believe if you meet a certain max. income limit, i.e. poor, some schools offer a free monthly Metrocards to those eligible students. I know this only works for CUNY schools, but since you're not heading there, check more info at the place you're heading. If you work, see if your employer offers TransitChek® Commuter Benefit Programs from TransitCenter®.

As far as NJ Transit trains goes, they do offer reduced fare, but you must be a full time student, holding no job, and go to one of the selected universities inside NJ.

Originally Posted by chefnyc83

Thank you for your input.

You're welcome.

[chefnyc83]

Thank you for your replies. To the previous poster, the reason I said I might have to take the W southbound and the R northbound is because of their different schedules. I checked the timetables and the R train stops going downtown around 5pm, whereas the W train still heads that direction. Alternately, the W train stops its uptown trips by the time I get out of class, therefore I must take the R train back to Penn Station.

The only problem is I heard the R train is the worst in nyc...and the W isn't far behind. I am hoping you're right about the 10 minute trip, I was thinking it would be more like 25 min.

W SOUTHBOUND = 5:11pm, 5:21pm, 5:33 pm
R NORTHBOUND = 10:48pm, 11:00pm, 11:12pm

[SilkCity0416]

^^^ The R means "Rarely" trust me. That is why you should see how far is your school from the Spring St. Station The A,C,E lines stop there. It's is just a small hop from Penn Station. Just a word of warning: The A line run local late nights and weekends.

[chefnyc83]

Weekends shouldn't be a problem since my classes fall on Mon. Wed & Fri

The A C E trains are six blocks from my school, but on the same block as Penn Station while the R W trains are one block from Penn Station and one block from my school.

I will be arriving at Penn Station on or around 5:20pm, so as long as I make it in 25 min. taking the A C E versus taking the R W should be negligible.... right?

[009]

Originally Posted by chefnyc83

I checked the timetables and the R train stops going downtown around 5pm, whereas the W train still heads that direction.

Wrong about the R train, right about the W. Whatever show up on the local track will get you to your destination.

Originally Posted by chefnyc83

The only problem is I heard the R train is the worst in nyc...and the W isn't far behind.

There shouldn't be a problem regardless. Having both the R and W on the same track means you should have more than a
5 minute wait. Going back home around 11ish at Canal St. should be the same, instead the N, which normally runs on the lower platform of that station via express, will arrive on the R/W track, so again, your wait should be short.

If you were more subway and street navigation savvy(as far as I know) around that area, I would've recommend taking either the N,Q,R,W(towards school) to Canal. Difference is if you take the N,Q(express trains) it will leave you on the lower leave, about 1.5 blocks from your destination. Going back home I would stay on the upper level platform as you'll have 2 trains going to your direction instead of 1(the Q) around the time you leave.

Originally Posted by chefnyc83

I will be arriving at Penn Station on or around 5:20pm, so as long as I make it in 25 min. taking the A C E versus taking the R W should be negligible.... right?

Not much of a difference.

[Colokev]

I would take A,C, E to Spring...only because getting out of Penn Station takes time..especially if you're arriving at rush hour time. It's really crowded and you would need to then get to the street and get to the N, R.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by Colokev

I would take A,C, E to Spring...only because getting out of Penn Station takes time..especially if you're arriving at rush hour time. It's really crowded and you would need to then get to the street and get to the N, R.

I think it would take less time to get out of Penn Station and over to 6th Ave for the N/R/Q/W than to walk from 6th Av and Spring to Broadway and Grand.

If you are going to Broadway and Grand you can take the N or Q express to Canal, which is closer to that corner than the Prince St. station on the local. The walk from Grand back up to Prince is more scenic so you could go back on the local from Prince St if you're not as pressed for time after class.

[chefnyc83]

009... to find that information about the R/W, I went here --> MTA NYC Transit Subway Line Information if you compare the weekday service between the R/W northbound & southbound, the times differ. It shows the W as having more pickups to get to Soho before 5:45pm while the R has more pickups going back to Penn Station after 10:45pm

Colokev... I checked and the A C E trains are not an option for me. It would take much longer walking 6-7 blocks from Spring St. than being dropped off right in front of the school on Broadway & Grand.

Again... thank you all for your input.