New York City – NYPD Urges Mass Transit For Times Square Ball Drop As Closures Start Early Today

New York City, N.Y. — New Yorkers and tourists heading to Times Square for New Year’s Eve should expect heavier police staffing, earlier street closures, and added screening inside the viewing pens as the city prepares for crowds that can top 1 million people.

City officials said Tuesday that they have no known “specific credible threats” tied to the celebration, while stressing that New York continues to operate in a heightened threat environment.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said thousands of NYPD officers will deploy across Times Square and nearby blocks, including emergency service, K-9, bomb squad, counterterrorism, and harbor teams. The operation also includes helicopters, drones, fixed and mobile cameras, and intelligence teams monitoring for potential threats.

For families planning to attend, officials again urged mass transit and warned that large bags and other bulky items won’t make it through screening. The Times Square viewing areas open in the afternoon with entry points on the east and west sides of the event footprint, and once spectators enter a pen, there is no re-entry.

This year, the NYPD plans new “secondary screening” teams that can move through pens and re-check people or items if something looks suspicious, Tisch said.

Street closures begin early tomorrow and expand through the day, including 7th Avenue closures in the Times Square core and broader shutdowns later in the morning.

Officials said they will share updates as conditions change; visitors can check the Times Square Alliance’s New Year’s Eve information page and city alerts before traveling.

This article was produced by an education parenting today journalist with the assistance of AI. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.

Source: https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2025/12/transcript–mayor-adams-briefs-new-yorkers-on-new-year-s-eve-saf