Women’s March 2019: NYC street closures, route, and time

Today, thousands of demonstrators will take to the street for the third annual Women’s March in New York City. The event began in 2017 as a way to show support for women’s rights after the inauguration of President Donald Trump; last year, an estimated 200,000 people took to the streets for the event.

This year, there is a slight quirk: There are two events planned, although only one is permitted to actually march through the city. That one, organized by a group called Women’s March Alliance (which also organized the 2017 and 2018 marches in New York), will happen on the Upper West Side and in Midtown. The other, organized by the group Women’s March NYC, will actually be a rally in Foley Square in lower Manhattan. (Curious how there ended up being two? The New York Times is on it.)

Marchers should also plan for it to be cold, with an expected high temperature in the mid-30s. The winter storm that’s moving into the New York area isn’t expected to begin until Saturday afternoon but it’s best to be prepared.

On the most basic, non-political level, this means street closures, which means traffic in Manhattan will be a bit of a mess on Saturday. Whether you plan to participate in one of the events, or just want to know how it’ll impact your commute this weekend, we’ve got you covered.

When will the 2019 Women’s March on NYC take place?

Both events happen on Saturday, January 19. For the Upper West Side march, demonstrators will begin lining up at Central Park West and 72nd Street at 10 a.m., and following a rally, will march through Midtown down to 44th Street and Sixth Avenue. Marchers with disabilities or those who need an ASL interpreter should enter at 61st Street and Broadway.

The lower Manhattan event will take place at Foley Square, located where Centre and Lafayette streets meet, across from the New York state Supreme Court building. It starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.

What’s the route for the Women’s March on NYC?

It will begin at Central Park West and 72nd Street, then head south along the park, turn onto Central Park South, and then head down Sixth Avenue to 43rd Street. Here’s a handy map from the organizers themselves:

Which streets will be closed for the Women’s March on NYC?

For the Upper West Side one, straight from the DOT:

Formation

• Central Park West between 61st Street and 77th Street

Route

• Columbus Circle between Central Park West and 59th Street
• 59th Street between Columbus Circle and 6th Avenue
• 6th Avenue between 59th Street and 45th Street

Dispersal

• 6th Avenue between 45th Street and 43rd Street
• 45th Street between Broadway and 5th Avenue
• 44th Street between Broadway and 5th Avenue
• 43rd Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue

And for the Foley Square march:

Formation

• Lafayette Street between Reade Street and White Street
• Thomas Paine Park (Foley Square)

What’s the best way to get to the Women’s March on NYC, and what will the subway be like on Saturday?

Public transportation will be your best bet: The closest subways to the start of the march are the 1/2/3 and the C to 72nd Street; for lower Manhattan, the 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall and the J to Chambers Street are the closest stops. Check the MTA’s Weekender site or the MyMTA app for any potential snags on Saturday.

Additionally, Metro-North will run additional trains on its Hudson and New Haven lines to accommodate marchers who may be coming to the city from out of town.