Columbia University operates no fewer than six shuttle services to transport students between campuses and neighborhoods. We even provide an On-Demand Evening Shuttle as a free and safe alternative to walking alone at night. This ride-share service can take you anywhere within the coverage area, seven nights a week until 4 am. You can see shuttle routes and download the shuttle tracking app on the Columbia Transportation website.
New York’s bus and subway system is called the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). The closest subway station to campus is the 116th Street – Columbia University stop on the ⓵ train.
The flat fare for most riders on subways and buses is $2.75. Tap to pay your fare using OMNY or pay with a MetroCard. To use OMNY, tap your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, or wearable device – the screen will confirm if your tap was successful. Transfers within subway stations and from subways to buses are free.
MetroCards can be purchased at the MetroCard vending machines located in most subway stations. There is a $1 fee for purchasing a new card. Whether you use OMNY or MetroCard, you pay the fare when entering a station turnstile or boarding a bus. You don’t have to do anything when leaving a station or exiting a bus.
Information about the MTA, including up-to-the-minute service updates and maps, is available at mta.info. For help figuring out the best public transportation route to your destination, we recommend using mobile apps like CityMapper.