Ticket prices lowered for NJ Transit, NYC bus going to World Cup games
Several new plans have been announced to help fans get to the FIFA World Cup matches cheaper and faster.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said late Tuesday that round-trip tickets on NJ Transit will now cost $98, which is well below the original $150 price tag. The initial pricing plan caused outrage from local leaders because the same 18-mile trip typically costs $12.90.
Sherrill and NJ Transit leaders repeatedly explained they were not content to have taxpayers subsidize FIFA game ticketholders' rides to the game.
The governor announced that the price cut happened "without New Jersey taxpayer money." She thanked partners such as DoorDash, Audible, FanDuel, DraftKings, PSE&G, South Jersey Industries and American Water for helping.
"I think, locally, you're seeing, I think, around 30% of ticket holders being from the New York-New Jersey market, which is great," said Alex Lasry, CEO of the New York-New Jersey Host Committee. "You're then looking at another 20% from people around the country and then another 50% international."
Last week, transportation officials announced a price reduction to $105.
Gov. Kathy Hochul slashes bus price
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also said on Tuesday that the round-trip price of bus tickets from Manhattan to matches will be $20 instead of $80.
The buses will transport up to 18,000 people on non-school match days and 12,000 people on school match days.
"Getting to the World Cup should be as accessible as possible," she said on social media. "And because New Yorkers are helping host the world, 20% of those tickets will be reserved exclusively for New Yorkers."
Buses will depart from the Port Authority, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and locations in Midtown East and North. The exact locations will be announced to ticketholders in the coming weeks, according to a news release.
Former New York City Traffic Commissioner "Gridlock Sam" Schwartz said it's a bad idea.
"Of course it's going to be an issue for traffic. Grand Central is already as busy as could be. Add a herd of buses -- it's not going to be one bus -- they will wait and the buses will line up," Schwartz said. "I think once you go west of Central Park, almost everywhere is residential, and it's also a very active community board that will have a lot to say if somebody is staging buses."
Fans who already purchased a shuttle ticket will receive a $60 refund.
Hochul said the price decrease was "made possible through support from New York State and sponsors."
Tickets for NJ Transit and the shuttle are on sale and need to be booked in advance.
New bus lane to speed up service to LaGuardia
Meanwhile, in Queens, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is rolling out a new dedicated bus lane on Broadway to speed up service to LaGuardia Airport ahead of the tournament.
Right now, Q70 buses on that corridor crawl at less than 3 mph during the evening rush.
The new eastbound lane is designed to help travelers, airport workers and Queens residents beat that gridlock.
"The World Cup may come and go, but the investments we made to our streets and public transit must serve New Yorkers for decades to come," Mamdani said in a statement. "Arriving in New York City should be fast, affordable and reliable all year round -- not just during major events. This new bus lane will help welcome visitors from around the world this summer while delivering faster commutes every day for the thousands of working-class New Yorkers who rely on the Q70."
The city's Department of Transportation will present the proposal to the local community board later this month and expects to complete the project before the first match begins.
