For the last month I’ve been commuting from Sunset Park to Union Square, which means D/N/R up to Atlantic then the 4/5, or occasionally the Q if I feel like staying outside. The transfer at Atlantic Avenue-Barclays shouldn’t be hard, but at 8:15–8:35 it turns into a slow-moving scrum, and I’m still not convinced people take the fastest path.

From the D/N/R platform, the most signed route seems to be the underpass toward the 2/3/4/5. It dumps you at the base of the Eastern Pkwy stairs, but the tunnel itself is narrow, the curve at the bottom then funnels everyone into one staircase, and even when the train empties there are people coming the opposite direction from the north end of the 4th Ave platform who don’t notice it. If you miss the first crowd wave, you end up behind someone wheeling a carry-on or standing still at the bottom.

The alternative is to stay on the mezzanine level, walk toward the Hanson Place exit, and take the main stairs up to the 2/3/4/5. It’s longer on paper, but you’re not in the same crush, and there’s a wider landing where you can actually pass people. There’s also the far south staircase from the D/N/R platform that brings you out near the LIRR concourse; if you loop back, it can be less crowded but it feels like a lot of walking for a transfer that should take ninety seconds.

My current routine is to board the D/N/R near the rear of the train at 36th Street so I land at the south end of the Atlantic platform. Then I go straight for the mezzanine stairs, not the underpass, and catch the 4/5 on the middle staircase. It’s calmer but not always faster.

What are other people doing? Is there a secret route through the LIRR waiting area, or a particular stairwell that’s clear? I’m also curious if the underpass is better after 9:00 when the first wave dissipates, or if it’s just always a bad deal.

astoria_arch I’m with you on skipping the underpass. I used to do that transfer every day and the underpass is only fine if you catch the D/N/R right when the doors open and nobody’s in front of you. The rest of the time it’s a chokepoint.

I do the Hanson mezzanine walk too. It’s longer but at least you’re moving. Just keep your head up for people sprinting down from the 2/3 stairs.

One thing I’d add: follow the signs for the LIRR concourse if the mezzanine is packed, but don’t go all the way to the LIRR gates—there’s a cutback near the elevators where you can get to the 4/5 without re-entering. I don’t know how to describe it as an official route, but it’s saved me a few times.

That underpass has a hidden rhythm!! If you get off the D/N/R at the north end, the underpass is actually fine because you skip the main crush at the bottom—most people bunch up at the middle staircase. But only if you’re first out. Otherwise stay upstairs. I’ve timed it mentally and the mezzanine route is consistently less rage-inducing.

The other thing nobody mentions: the 4/5 stairs at the far east end are way less crowded than the first stairwell, but you need to walk all the way down the Eastern Pkwy platform. Same energy as standing on a train that won’t leave the platform, see What’s your cutoff for walking off a train that won’t leave the platform? — there’s a point where you just commit to moving instead of waiting.

I just started this commute two weeks ago and got so turned around trying to follow the signs. I accidentally ended up outside at Hanson Place and had to re-enter—annoying but still faster than the first time I tried the underpass and just stood there.

Do you need a MetroCard swipe to get from the D/N/R to the 2/3/4/5 if you follow the LIRR concourse? I wasn’t sure if it’s inside the fare zone or not. Also which end of the D/N/R is the rear when you come from 36th? Is there an easy rule for that? Thanks!