Port Authority Bus Terminal to The Cooper Union by subway and bus
Quick answer: Take a downtown A, C or E train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to W 4 St-Wash Sq, then take the M8 bus from W 8 St/6 Av to Astor Pl/Cooper Sq East. The trip takes about 26 minutes door to door on a weekday. The A, C or E train comes every few minutes during the day. The M8 bus doesn't run from W 8 St/6 Av to Astor Pl/Cooper Sq East between about 1 and 5 am; then the trip uses another line.
Port Authority Bus Terminal to The Cooper Union
- A / C / E
- M8
- A / C / E A, C or E trainFrom 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal, downtown4 stops, about 6 min
- Change at W 4 St-Wash SqWalk about 5 min
- M8 M8 busFrom W 8 St/6 Av5 stops, about 6 min
- Get off at Astor Pl/Cooper Sq East
- The Cooper UnionWalk about 1 min
Weekdays, fall 2026 MTA schedule · First and last trips
Step by step
- Take a downtown A, C or E train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to W 4 St-Wash Sq. It's 4 stops, about 6 minutes.
- At W 4 St-Wash Sq, walk about 5 minutes to W 8 St/6 Av for the M8 bus.
- Take the M8 bus from W 8 St/6 Av to Astor Pl/Cooper Sq East. It's 5 stops, about 6 minutes.
- From Astor Pl/Cooper Sq East, walk about 1 minute to The Cooper Union.
Times and frequency
From the MTA's fall 2026 schedule. Typical trip is the door to door time in the middle of the day.
| Day | First trip | Last trip | Typical trip | A, C or E train in the daytime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 27 min | Every few minutes | |
| Saturday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 24 min | Every few minutes | |
| Sunday | Around the clock (another line late at night) | 26 min | Every few minutes | |
Late at night
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 23 minutes. No C service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no C trips then on weeknights. Cobblehop routes you on another line then.
Tips for this trip
- Take the first train that comes. The A, C and E trains all stop at both 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal and W 4 St-Wash Sq.
- Know your stop. Get ready after E 8 St/Lafayette St. The next stop is Astor Pl/Cooper Sq East. Start a live trip in Cobblehop and it alerts you before your stop.
Step-free access
For the subway part of this trip: Times Sq-42 St/Port Authority Bus Terminal (E platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations; W 4 St-Wash Sq (E platform) is on the MTA's list of accessible stations. Elevators can be out of service, so check elevator status on mta.info before you go.
What it costs
- Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included.
Fares as of November 2026. Check the official fares page before you ride.
Port Authority Bus Terminal to The Cooper Union: common questions
How do I get from Port Authority Bus Terminal to The Cooper Union by public transit?
Take a downtown A, C or E train from 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal to W 4 St-Wash Sq, then take the M8 bus from W 8 St/6 Av to Astor Pl/Cooper Sq East.
How long does it take?
About 26 minutes door to door on a weekday. On weekends it's about 24 minutes.
Do I have to change along the way?
Yes, once: at W 4 St-Wash Sq.
Does it run all night?
This trip works around the clock. Between about 1 and 5 am the trip takes about 23 minutes. No C service late nights (about 1 to 5 am): GTFS has no C trips then on weeknights. Cobblehop routes you on another line then.
How much does it cost?
Subway and local bus: $3 per ride with OMNY (tap a contactless card or phone) or a MetroCard. One transfer within 2 hours to the subway or a local bus is included.
Related routes
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Empire State Building
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Port Authority Bus Terminal to Statue of Liberty ferry at Battery Park
- Penn Station to The Cooper Union
- Grand Central Terminal to The Cooper Union
- All New York routes
Sources
Cobblehop is independent. It is not affiliated with the MTA or any transit agency. Schedules on this page come from the MTA's public GTFS data; check these pages for the latest service:
- MTA: developer data (the GTFS schedules used on this page)
- MTA: subway and bus fares
- MTA subway stations, with accessibility (data.ny.gov)
Transit data: Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Cobblehop is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MTA.
Published November 7, 2026. Times were computed from the MTA fall 2026 schedules for 2026-11-18 (weekday), 2026-11-21 and 2026-11-22. Planned work and holidays change service, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.
Leaving now? Cobblehop gives you one clear plan with live times and alerts you before your stop.