You can take the shuttle and then the subway. $5 one-way, or $7 one way I think.
it is fairly safe.
it does take a while to get to the City -1.5-2 hours one-way.
it would take nearly the same amount by bus - (?) (there are $15/ one-way buses, I forget the name of the companies, they go to Midtown - Grand Central Station and maybe somewhere else).
You can take the shuttle and