UN General Assembly Brings Midtown Bus Detours and Delays Sept. 22–28; MTA Urges Riders to Take Subway, With 4, 5, 6 Trains Every 3 Minutes at Rush Hour

The high-level General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly runs from Tuesday, Sept. 22 to Monday, Sept. 28. The MTA says buses and Access-A-Ride service through Midtown and Lower Manhattan may be detoured or delayed by security restrictions and congestion, and it is encouraging riders to take the subway. On the East Side of Manhattan, 4, 5 and 6 trains will run every 4 minutes midday and every 2 minutes 30 seconds to 3 minutes during rush hour.

The high-level General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly will be held at UN Headquarters in Manhattan from Tuesday, Sept. 22 to Monday, Sept. 28. While leaders from the 193 member states gather, security restrictions and road closures will continue across Midtown and Lower Manhattan. The MTA says several bus routes passing through the area may be detoured or delayed during this period, and it is advising riders to take the subway.

Bus and Access-A-Ride customers should allow extra travel time and check the MTA app for route-by-route changes. Subway service will run normally. On the East Side of Manhattan, 4, 5 and 6 trains will run every 4 minutes midday and every 2 minutes 30 seconds to 3 minutes during rush hour, with the trip from 59th Street to Wall Street taking 15 minutes.

The 7 train will run every 4 to 5 minutes 30 seconds midday and every 2 to 2 minutes 30 seconds during rush hour, connecting Times Square-42nd St and Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av in Long Island City in 9 minutes. E and F trains through 53rd Street will run every 3 to 4 minutes midday and every 2 to 3 minutes during rush hour, with the trip from Forest Hills to Lexington Avenue taking 17 minutes. N and Q trains will run between 34th St-Herald Square and Canal Street in 8 minutes.

Travelers coming from Long Island and Westchester can avoid road congestion into East Midtown by taking LIRR trains to Grand Central Madison or Metro-North trains to Grand Central Terminal. According to the MTA, this year's on-time performance is 97% for the LIRR and 98% for Metro-North. Real-time service information is available at mta.info, on the MTA app and by calling 511.

The New York City Department of Transportation has designated Monday, Sept. 21 through Friday, Sept. 25, the week of the General Assembly, as "Gridlock Alert Days." Vehicle access will be restricted around UN Headquarters, including First and Second avenues and the area between 42nd and 48th streets.