Public transportation is at the heart of many Fordham University students’ weekend outings, daily commutes and adventures around New York City. The Metro-North and the Fordham Road subway station are popular among those traversing the boroughs. Yet, looking at the respective prices, safety, commute times and more, there’s debate between which is the preferable ticket to purchase.

“I would never choose the D-train,” said Jada Deine Hebrado, FCRH ’29, who commutes to her classes from Queens each day. While there could be delays extending the already time-consuming ride from the Bronx down to Midtown using the local Fordham Road subway, often referred to as the D-Train, Hebrado explained how taking the Metro-North allows her to get to Grand Central Station and transfer onto another train back home in the shortest amount of time possible. 

“It’s safer, it’s comfy and it’s only 20 minutes long to get to Grand Central,” she added, listing the factors most important to her when deciding how to get back home after a day of classes. The last thing she wants is to leave campus late in the evening and board a packed D-train after a tiring day of classes.

While the comfort and convenience of the Metro-North are enticing to many, Vincent Brandi, FCRH ’27, emphasized the benefit  of the subway’s wide array of stops when justifying his preference of the D-train. “The subway gets you anywhere you want,” he reasoned. “I can go from the North Bronx all the way to Brooklyn without ever seeing the light of day.”

Other than the directness of the subway’s extensive lines, Brandi also found the unpredictability and culture of the subway an intriguing factor. He described how on past rides he had seen musicians perform in subway cars and watched locals sell products in between stops. “I’ve heard people yell at each other and others propose to each other,” he said. The subway for Brandi is not just a means to get from place to place, but a rollercoaster of emotions.

Both the Metro-North and the subway have their merits and disadvantages. The subway proves much more direct in getting to many parts of New York City like Brooklyn or Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus. Additionally, recent pricing increases enacted in the new year have impacted students’ preferences. As of February 2026, the price of the subway sits at $3, while the fare for the Metro-North from Fordham to Grand Central can reach $7.25 at peak hours of the day. The gap seems small, but these payments add up.

The Metro-North is my go-to for downtown commutes. The quick ride to Manhattan’s many stores, venues and attractions often makes up for the pricey fare. Especially when planning on staying in the city after dark or going on an evening outing with friends, being able to take the Metro-North ensures we all have places to sit and don’t have to worry about a potentially dangerous or long commute back to campus.

With all the changing prices, commute times and weather conditions, it is near impossible for any Fordham student to stay loyal to exclusively one train, no matter how committed they may feel to their preferred mode. The Metro-North and the Fordham Road subway make up only a fragment of New York’s public transportation system, and students should feel comfortable enough to take advantage of all of it.