MTA Renames Subway Stations for Halloween

Two stations in each of New York City's five boroughs will receive temporary name changes this Halloween weekend.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced the promotion on Wednesday, confirming that the novelty signs will be visible to riders starting Thursday and remaining in place through Saturday. The event marks the third year the MTA has coordinated a citywide Halloween display, a tradition the agency has maintained for over a decade.

Shanifah Rieara, the MTA’s chief customer officer, stated that the initiative targets families planning to travel for the Village Halloween Parade in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. She noted that the agency has long incorporated seasonal events into its operations. Rieara explained that the selection process involved picking specific locations in the city and along the commuter rail lines to ensure wide coverage.

The physical signage will replace standard station names with thematic alternatives. In the subway system, Times Square-42 St will be labeled as Slime Sq-42 Street, while Chambers St will become Chambers St of Horrors. Brighton Beach will appear as Frighton Beach on the temporary decals. The Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad will see similar changes, including a renaming of Grand Central Terminal to Ghoul Central Terminal and Valley Stream to Valley Scream.

Riders will also receive physical memorabilia during the event. The MTA is distributing stickers that replicate the novelty station signs, along with two distinct collectors maps. One map covers the subway network, and the other covers the commuter rail lines. Both maps feature an orange and black color scheme and include illustrations of ghosts and bats. The stickers also modify standard line logos with Halloween imagery, such as pumpkins and bats.

The MTA is launching the promotion one day earlier than the holiday itself. Rieara indicated that the agency anticipates increased ridership on Thursday evening and Friday as trick-or-treating begins. She stated that the early start allows commuters to engage with the displays throughout the weekend, rather than limiting the experience to Saturday alone.