If you're planning to take a car or a taxi to a show in the Times Square area on New Year's Eve, keep in mind that most of the streets will be closed for the annual ball-drop extravaganza starting earlier in the day.
The New York Police Department, which is mounting a massive security operation around the event, released this advisory of what will be closed and when that day, and are urging all visitors to use subways, buses, and other public transportation instead of driving anywhere near midtown Manhattan.
All Broadway shows have canceled Saturday evening shows, but many have matinees that day.
Here are the scheduled street closings for all vehicles:
Starting 4 AM December 31: Seventh Avenue from 43rd to 48th Streets; Broadway from 47th to 48th Streets; 46th and 47th Streets from Sixth to Eighth Avenues.
Starting 1:30 PM December 31: Seventh Avenue from 41st to 59th Streets; Broadway from 47th to 59th Streets; 43rd to 47th Streets from Sixth to Eighth Avenues.
Starting 5 PM December 31: 42nd Street from Sixth to Eighth Avenues.
Starting 6:30 PM December 31: All crosstown streets from 37th to 41st Streets from Sixth to Eighth Avenues; all crosstown streets from 49th to 59th Streets from Sixth to Eighth Avenues; 48th Street from Fifth to Ninth Avenues.
On-street parking is banned in most of midtown from 12:01 AM December 31 until 1 AM January 1, 2017.
Some subway access around Times Square will also be limited. Starting at noon December 31: Southbound and northbound N/R/W lines will bypass the 49th Street station. The northbound #1 train will bypass the 50th Street station.
However, the S shuttle from Times Square to Grand Central Terminal will run all night.
Those who wish to take part in the midnight festivities will be allowed to enter Times Square starting at 11 AM December 31, and will be assigned a viewing area. Forbidden items includes packs, umbrellas, large bags of any kind, and containers of alcohol.
