Hints to get from New York Penn Train Station, to New York City Port Authority Bus Terminal to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York, USA (valid on Sunday, 6th May, 2001) (this takes you from the 34th Street subway station to the 42nd Street subway station (one uptown station away).) Getting from New York Penn train station to New York City Port Authority Bus Terminal via the New York Subway/Underground/Tube (one uptown station away) Map Around Times Square (and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bus Station) New York, USA: http://www.timessquarebid.org/Map/ Extra info: George Washington Bridge (9A bus supposedly leaves from Platform 20) links to several subway lines: http://www.panynj.gov/tbt/localconnections.htm Keep eye on luggage (and if possible) hand in wallet pocket at all times. At Penn Station (This is where the 34th Street subway station is located), follow the Metro signs for the A Train / A Line subway. (don't panic if you seem to be going in circles or take wrong turns - just keep following the Metro A signs and you will eventually get there) Either join the queue for the US $1.50 ticket/token or use the automatic machine to purchase a single journey US $1.50 swipe card/ticket. Depending on the entrance you use - there may not be an obvious way to directly get onto the A line Local/all stops platform. So go on the A Express platform (Do not catch the A Express train)- then go down the centre platform stairs then up another set of stairs to the A Local Platform Take either a local uptown A Train or C Train (and "in theory" the E Train - have not tried this one) (this subway train will be travelling "north") Get off at 42nd street - one station away from 34th street (where you entered the train) (don't panic if it seems to be skipping the station - 42nd street has a big series of platforms) Follow the signs to the New York City Port Authority Bus Terminal complex. New York Metro webpage: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/ New York Metro Maps: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mta/maps.htm New York Subway map: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/nyct/maps/submap.htm Schematic of New York City Tunnels and Bridges: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/bandt/html/btmap.htm Metro North Rail-road map: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/mnr/html/mnrmap.htm Long Island Rail-road map: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr/html/lirrmap.htm Subway Fares and MetroCard (daily and weekly travel cards for subway and bus): http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/metrocard/mcgtreng.htm Getting to Newark International Airport from New York City Public Transport to EWR - Newark International Airport: http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/ewrpubtransmain.htm EWR Ground Transportation Services - Newark International Airport: http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/egtsfram.htm Airtrain from New York Penn Station - Newark International Airport: http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/egtsfram.htm Olympia Trails Homepage - Providing Express Bus Service Between Newark Airport & Manhattan Every 5 to 10 Minutes.: http://www.olympiabus.com/ Olympia Airport Express between Newark Airport & NYC : http://www.olympiabus.com/nycewr.htm Newark Airport & Penn Station, NYC : http://www.olympiabus.com/penngcs.htm Newark Airport & Grand Central Station, NYC : http://www.olympiabus.com/penngcs.htm Newark Airport & Port Authority Bus Terminal, NYC (42nd Street & 8th Avenue) : http://www.olympiabus.com/pabthtm.htm Newark Airport & Midtown Hotels, etc. : http://www.olympiabus.com/midtnhotels.htm Getting From Brookhaven National Lab to New York Penn Station Brookhaven National Lab transport page: http://www.bnl.gov/bnlweb/transportation.html "The closest Long Island Railroad Station to BNL is in Mastic/Shirley; however, trains arrive and depart more frequently at Patchogue and Ronkonkoma." Long Island Rail Road: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr/ Long Island Rail Road Map: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr/html/lirrmap.htm Long Island Rail Road timetables: http://www.mta.nyc.ny.us/lirr/html/ttn/lirrtt.htm

Navigating the New York City Port Authority Bus Terminal to catch the 9T / 9AT / 9A / 9W Bus (they are all the same bus called different things at different times) It tends to be labelled the "9A - New City" bus (to Nyack via 9W). (Note: if getting to the George Washington Bridge bus station is more convenient than the New York City Port Authority Bus Terminal, the 9W Red and Tan "New City" bus for Palisades leaves from Platform 20 of the George Washington Bridge bus station) If starting off from the subway, follow the signs to the New York City Port Authority Bus Terminal by following the signs. This can be done blind by those with a good sense of direction ("go south young man!") by (as inferred/implied from the previous comment) heading south on the platform (opposite direction of the up-town train that dropped you off) and up the stairs to enter the New York City Port Authority Bus Terminal complex. Ask several information booths about the departure gate of the bus - and average out the result (gates for the bus change from weekday to weekend - e.g., Saturday 29th April 2001 and Sunday 6th May 2001, it left from Gate 220). Do not accept un-solicited advice by complete strangers and use the information booths. Follow signs to the required gate. This should take you near the Central Control Area (this is one/two floors down from the Gate 220 level) As of typing (6th May 2001), the ticket counters were labelled with Coach USA / Rockland Coaches Inc.; and were ticket counters 11 to 13. (If you cannot find the Red and Tan ticket counter, the bus will sell tickets (~$4.80 to get from New York to Palisades/Oak Tree Rd and 9W (Lamont is one stop before this) - as of Apr 2001). These images may give you some visual clues if minorly lost and trying to find the ticket counter. You may enter the relevant area on the level above but the level below should be visible and implied/inferred from the following image. . . . . After purchasing the tickets, go to the required gate. While waiting in line, query fellow passengers where they think they are going to. If no-one is there, you may have just missed a bus or hit a 2 hour gap (there is no 1:22pm bus on Sundays - at least there wasn't on Sunday 7th May 2001). There will be opportunity for social interaction with other bus travellers and it seems very common for nearly everyone to be confused about bus, door, gate; and what is going where (even by experienced weekday commuters). As different buses depart from different doors of the gate, ask people on the bus queue which and where they think the bus is going to - then ask the bus driver as the person in front/beside and behind you could all be wrong. On the weekends that this was tried out, gate 220 and Door 4 (labelled 9T - 9AT) (Stairs to go down from the Gate 220 doors are at one of the far ends. Time tables and other information are located at the other far end.) The following images may give you some visual clues on what is going on and the right door to use. (Warning, these images could be misleading and are only slightly relevant for weekend users of the bus service) . . The required bus has been observed in the past as being labelled as 9A - New City. Again confirm with all concerned that this is going to Palisades. It is advised that you sit on the right hand side of the bus as this is where some of the visual clues that you are getting close or have passed the Lamont-Earth Observatory are going to happen) The bus should then leave and go via the Lincon Tunnel to New Jersey. Don't panic if the bus later goes back to New York City via the George Washington Bridge. This can be natural for most bus times. It will pick up passengers at the George Washington Bridge terminal; then go back over the bridge towards Palisades. Be happy until you get near the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (on the right). For first time traveller on the bus - this can be highly non-obvious. Around 100 to 200 meters before the lab, there is a T-junction leading into route 9W (on which you are travelling). This would be a good time to push the please stop the bus next stop and go the front of the bus. The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory stop does not seem to be a standard stop so you may have to tell the bus driver that is where you wish to disembark. Visual cues that you are almost at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory . . . . Visual cue that you have passed (on your right) the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory If you end up travelling past the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and down the hill - do not panic! A webpage describes this experience and how to recover and get to the lab with the minimum possibility of getting run over by tradition American pedestrian hating traffic. For this refer to: (Part 3 of 3): Some images relevant to getting from Palisades 9W, Oak Tree Road Bus stop to to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York - Sunday, 6th May 2001 with minimum chance of dieing as a result. Pages of adventures in travelling to Lamont via public transport with lots of pictures (in 3 parts) Part 1 of 3: Some images relevant to getting from New York Penn Station, to the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal then on to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York - Sunday, 6th May 2001 Part 2 of 3: Some images relevant to getting from New York Penn Station, to the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal then on to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York - travelling through New Jersey and getting off at the right bus stop - Sunday, 6th May 2001 For those who get off one stop too late: Part 3 of 3: Some images relevant to getting from Palisades 9W, Oak Tree Road Bus stop to to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York - Sunday, 6th May 2001 (Summary: the safer way is to go via the back streets so you don't get run over by walking up Route 9W. The following pictures show you how.) Red and Tan bus lines links Schedule: 9A - 9W Southbound Red and Tan to New York City 9A - 9W Bus timetable New York to Palisades to Nyack- Red and Tan, Coach USA, Rockland Coaches Inc

New York Airports to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York La Guardia Airport to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York (2.5 hours min) Bus from La Guardia Airport to Jackson Heights Subway, number 7 to Times Square Subway A to George Washington Bridge Red and Tan bus to Palisades/Piermont/Nyack (9T - 9A - 9AT New City bus that goes down Route 9W). Lachlan's comments re getting from New York airports to Lamont Earth Observatory: It might be easier to get airport buses directly to the New York City Port Authority bus terminal - then take the Red and Tan bus to Palisades (9T - 9A - 9AT New City bus that goes down Route 9W). Columbia University New York, USA/Lamont Shuttle Bus Schedule: http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/shuttle_schedule.html