Commute for Residency in NYC

[drphysicianMD]

Couples matching. Not too familiar with NYC.

-I like Columbia.
-Spouse likes Cornell, NYU, Mt. Sinai, Einstein. Prefers Cornell. Unfortunately didn't get an interview at Columbia.

We are wondering where is the optimal place to live if we are trying to minimize the commute for either of us. We may give up Cornell's subsidized housing to try to live someplace in the middle....???

Any advice will be appreciated, as a long daily commute (>20-30minutes) may significantly lower these programs on our rank list.

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[MediumDef]

Couples matching. Not too familiar with NYC.

-I like Columbia.
-Spouse likes Cornell, NYU, Mt. Sinai, Einstein. Prefers Cornell. Unfortunately didn't get an interview at Columbia.

We are wondering where is the optimal place to live if we are trying to minimize the commute for either of us. We may give up Cornell's subsidized housing to try to live someplace in the middle....???

Any advice will be appreciated, as a long daily commute (>20-30minutes) may significantly lower these programs on our rank list.

Sadly it is hard to live anywhere in the City that is 30 min from both Columbia and Cornell and definitely not for the price of subsidized housing. This kind of has to do with the way public transportation is set up more than how far away they are from each other. Both google maps and the NYC Transit site are able to plot the public transportation routes for you if you want to fool around and see what might work.

Basically if you have to take both the bus and the train in a single trip your starting to stretch yourself thin.

If your set on making it work with you at Columbia your best bet for Sinai, Cornell, or NYU would probably be to live on the west side approximately in line with wherever your spouse is and they can take the cross town bus while you take the subway north. In these cases your ideally looking at about 20-30 min for each of you but that's assuming ideal geographic situation.

I know an express bus runs to Einstein from Manhattan but I don't know too much about it. There are areas in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx (Riverdale) That are fairly near Columbia but again I don't know the feasibility of getting to Einstein from there.

 

[LadyGrey]

The Google Maps idea is a good one for figuring out locations of subways and buses. Hopstop.com is another way to map out transit routes in the NYC area.

Unsubsidized housing within Manhattan is going to be crazy expensive.

 

[paradiselost]

Couples matching. Not too familiar with NYC.

-I like Columbia.
-Spouse likes Cornell, NYU, Mt. Sinai, Einstein. Prefers Cornell. Unfortunately didn't get an interview at Columbia.

We are wondering where is the optimal place to live if we are trying to minimize the commute for either of us. We may give up Cornell's subsidized housing to try to live someplace in the middle....???

Any advice will be appreciated, as a long daily commute (>20-30minutes) may significantly lower these programs on our rank list.

There is an hourly shuttle that runs directly between Cornell and Columbia, which are both technically part of the same hospital (New York-Presbyterian). I think you get to use it if you have the NYP ID rather than just the Cornell or Columbia ID.

 

[MediumDef]

There is an hourly shuttle that runs directly between Cornell and Columbia, which are both technically part of the same hospital (New York-Presbyterian). I think you get to use it if you have the NYP ID rather than just the Cornell or Columbia ID.

Unfortunately that shuttle is really designed for people who have meetings at the other campus so it's not really conducive to trying to get to the hospital at 5am regularly or home after midnight. Secondly they only let Columbia and Cornell ID's on during off peak hours (I think the first two and last two shuttles of the day are considered peak). Otherwise your right, only NYPH ID's.

 

[BlondeDocteur]

DEFINITELY live in the beautiful subsidized Cornell housing. The NYP shuttle starts at 5:45 AM (gets you there by 6) and the last run is at 7:15 PM (home by 8). I take it daily.

If you need to be there earlier/later, then by all means take an unlicensed gypsy cab for $15. Even if you did this daily, you would be spending an extra $300 a month one-way ($15 x5 x4 = $300). Trust me, the price of any apartment anywhere else in the city would be way more than $300 higher than the subsidized housing cost. It makes financial sense, and lets you live in comfortable, decent housing in an otherwise inaccessible neighborhood.

 

[Cirrus83]

I will say that if I were going to Cornell I would probably just take the subsidized housing since it's a pretty great deal.

The problem with Cornell is that it's like 5 avenues from the nearest subway line. I used to try to commute there from Queens and it was hilariously bad because I had to use 2 metrocard rides (as in bus, subway, then another bus) to get there without walking the 5 avenues.

At any rate, if you're wondering, Columbus Circle would actually put you approximately 30 minutes from both Columbia and Cornell (with more walking for Cornell, or you could take a bus when the weather's bad). Of course, rent around those parts isn't exactly cheap, so I don't know how practical such a plan really is unless money isn't a problem for you guys (like if you have 4 doctor parents combined or something )

It'd also be very convenient for Mount Sinai and decent enough for NYU.

I don't think there's a place in NYC that'll let you both get to Columbia Presbyterian and Einstein in 30 minutes though, unless you helicopter it, lol.

 

[BlondeDocteur]

Columbia-Mt Sinai would be easy as well-- live in Harlem (which is affordable) and you take the A uptown, spouse takes the bus to the NE corner of the Park. Would be 20 min for both of you.

NYU-Columbia would be nearly impossible, as the hospital is on the East River in the 30s. Splitting the difference, you would be hard pressed to drive that far in 20 min, let alone take public transport.

Einstein is tough, since it's much more spread out and in the Bronx (which is less densely served by public transport). But you could live around W 125th street and take the A up (10 min) and spouse could take the D (25 min)... some of the hospitals would require a bus transfer after that, though. The MetroNorth would be faster from Harlem.

Here's the NYC subway map:
http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

And the bus maps (early morning hours (<6 AM) would make the bus a viable option):
http://www.mta.info/mta/maps.htm

Edit: An extremely useful site in planning NYC travel is www.hopstop.com

 

[dragonfly99]

Ergh.
Just reading this gives me a headache...NYC is awesome but I don't think I could cope with living there.

 

[bjackrian]

Ergh.
Just reading this gives me a headache...NYC is awesome but I don't think I could cope with living there.

That's what my wife and I say everytime we go visit. Great to have. Great to visit. Will never live there.

 

[firecoins]

I can't imagine not living in NYC. Of course I have lived in the area my whole life.

 

[paradiselost]

The problem with Cornell is that it's like 5 avenues from the nearest subway line. I used to try to commute there from Queens and it was hilariously bad because I had to use 2 metrocard rides (as in bus, subway, then another bus) to get there without walking the 5 avenues.

I used to walk from 68th/Lex to Cornell, and would sometimes beat the crosstown bus. It's not a bad walk - 10 minutes, give or take, and it's slightly downhill to the hospital. 😀 It's a free subway-bus transfer in any case. Good for bad-weather days or sprained-ankle months.

Another option for NYC commuting is living in the Bronx/Westchester county. That way, you can keep a car and drive to more accessible places (Montefiore/Einstein, Columbia, maybe even Sinai) or take either Metronorth or the subway to the other programs. The living's a whole lot cheaper in the Bronx/Westchester than Manhattan, if you're willing to put up with a slightly longer commute.

 

[Raggaman]

This reminds me of Seinfeld and their parking/traveling issues. Ofcourse I am just an NYC visitor and would never want to live there.

 

[jsimny]

for columbia-Einstein , I would take einstein housing (very nice and cheap) at Riverdale (NW bronx), 20 min subway ride (1/9) to columbia, 10 min drive to montefiore. Heard columbia is trying to get housing at riverdale as well.

Columbia-Mt Sinai would be easy as well-- live in Harlem (which is affordable) and you take the A uptown, spouse takes the bus to the NE corner of the Park. Would be 20 min for both of you.

NYU-Columbia would be nearly impossible, as the hospital is on the East River in the 30s. Splitting the difference, you would be hard pressed to drive that far in 20 min, let alone take public transport.

Einstein is tough, since it's much more spread out and in the Bronx (which is less densely served by public transport). But you could live around W 125th street and take the A up (10 min) and spouse could take the D (25 min)... some of the hospitals would require a bus transfer after that, though. The MetroNorth would be faster from Harlem.

Here's the NYC subway map:
http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm

And the bus maps (early morning hours (<6 AM) would make the bus a viable option):
http://www.mta.info/mta/maps.htm

Edit: An extremely useful site in planning NYC travel is www.hopstop.com

 

[PhakeDoc]

Out of curiosity, how much does this famed subsidized Cornell housing cost for 1 person? Can 1 person only get a 1br place, or does it depend on how much you are willing to spend?

 

[gutonc]

Out of curiosity, how much does this famed subsidized Cornell housing cost for 1 person? Can 1 person only get a 1br place, or does it depend on how much you are willing to spend?

A couple of years ago when I looked into it a 2br apt was going for ~$1300-1700 depending on the building. That's about 1/2 of the market rate in the neighborhood and they deduct it from your pre-tax income (or at least they used to). And they tell you how much apt you can have based on your family size. You can have a roommate and a bigger place if you want but I think single folks can't get more than a 1br.

 

[PhakeDoc]

A couple of years ago when I looked into it a 2br apt was going for ~$1300-1700 depending on the building. That's about 1/2 of the market rate in the neighborhood and they deduct it from your pre-tax income (or at least they used to). And they tell you how much apt you can have based on your family size. You can have a roommate and a bigger place if you want but I think single folks can't get more than a 1br.

Thank you for the info. I guess we're not talking about huge 1br! And, I should stop complaining about having to pay $750 for a 2br townhome if I consider a future in NYC!

 

[BlondeDocteur]

The Cornell housing comes in three price points. A 1 BR can run from $1300 to $2200, roughly. All much below market rate for the neighborhood, even in this economy.

 

[drphysicianMD]

There is an hourly shuttle that runs directly between Cornell and Columbia, which are both technically part of the same hospital (New York-Presbyterian). I think you get to use it if you have the NYP ID rather than just the Cornell or Columbia ID.

Unfortunately that shuttle is really designed for people who have meetings at the other campus so it's not really conducive to trying to get to the hospital at 5am regularly or home after midnight. Secondly they only let Columbia and Cornell ID's on during off peak hours (I think the first two and last two shuttles of the day are considered peak). Otherwise your right, only NYPH ID's.

These are all great suggestions, thank you.

Seems like the drive between Cornell and Columbia is only 15minutes. What about during traffic? Does anybody have additional information about the NYPH shuttle?

 

[gutonc]

These are all great suggestions, thank you.

Seems like the drive between Cornell and Columbia is only 15minutes. What about during traffic? Does anybody have additional information about the NYPH shuttle?

That trip could easily take an hour during rush hour.

 

[BlondeDocteur]

Here's how it goes:

5:45 shuttle gets you there at 6.
6:15 shuttle gets you there at 6:35.
7:15 shuttle --> 7:45
8:15 --> 9.
9:15 --> 9:45
10:15 --> 10:40.

And in the evening,
5:15 --> 6
6:15 --> 6:45
7:15 --> 7:40

It's all based on whether or not the FDR is moving. At 8:15 AM and 5:15 PM you can't use it at all, but instead go local.