NEW YORK (WABC) — The MTA is urging New Yorkers to plan ahead as the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon brings major road closures, transit changes and additional rail service across the city on Sunday, Nov. 1.
The biggest impact will be the closure of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to all non-emergency traffic from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The bridge’s upper level will also close in both directions beginning at 11 p.m. Saturday for race preparations. The Bay Street and Lily Pond Avenue exits on Staten Island will close at 3 a.m. Sunday and are expected to reopen by 4 p.m.
Drivers traveling between Brooklyn and Staten Island will need to use alternate routes.
Marathon-related street closures and bus diversions will also affect travel throughout the city. The Central Park transverse roads at 65th, 79th and 96th streets will be closed for most of the day, and buses will not be permitted to cross Fifth Avenue during the race.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said hundreds of blocker vehicles and more than 10,000 metal barricades will be positioned along the route to protect runners and spectators.
For runners, the MTA said subway service will connect to the Staten Island Ferry, where shuttle buses will take participants to the starting area. Additional Metro-North trains will operate on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines to accommodate marathon runners and spectators.
The MTA said it will deploy extra personnel near the finish line and other popular viewing locations to help manage crowds and keep passengers moving. Some station stairways may be designated as entrance-only or exit-only to prevent overcrowding.
Customers can check mta.info, the MTA app, email and text alerts, or call 511 for the latest travel updates throughout marathon weekend.
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 1. Coverage on Channel 7 and wherever you stream ABC 7 New York begins with pre-race coverage, Marathon Sunday, at 7:00 a.m. Live coverage of Sunday’s marathon begins at 8:00 a.m. only on Channel 7 and ESPN2.
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