Penn Station NJ TRANSIT delays on Thursday, October 4, 2012. (credit: Eileen Lehpamer, 1010 WINS)
New Jersey Transit has been working hard to get its rail system back up and running normally after Hurricane Sandy, but schedules are still reduced. And they’re doing it with ridership up 15 percent. NJ Transit spokesperson Nancy Snyder told Transportation Nation her agency carried 150,000 people Monday into New York City during the morning rush. (The normal weekday ridership into Manhattan is 136,000.)
Things are slowly getting back to normal, but it’s still difficult to get around, and today’s nor’easter will probably not help. Ongoing limited rail capacity means commuters should continue to expect delays and avoid traveling during peak hours. Check panynj.gov or www.njtransit.com for updates.
According to nj.com, the following are expected to be open or in service today:
• Outerbridge Crossing, Goethals, Bayonne and George Washington bridges and the Lincoln Tunnel. The Holland Tunnel, which had been open for buses only, reopens to commuter traffic at 5 Wednesday morning.
• NJ Transit’s Northeast Corridor and Atlantic City lines, plus the Raritan Valley Line from Raritan Borough east and the Main/Port Jervis Line between Port Jervis and the Hoboken Terminal. Service on Princeton University’s “Dinky” shuttle train resumes Wednesday, after substitute buses had been used to handle those commuters.
• PATH service continues Wednesday between Journal Square in Jersey City and 33rd Street in Manhattan starting at 5 a.m. and in the return direction until 10 p.m. Stops include Journal Square, Grove Street, Newport, 14th Street, 23rd Street and 33rd Street. No stops at Christopher and 9th streets in Manhattan. The Port Authority waived the fares for Tuesday, but not Wednesday.
• NJ Transit’s River Line and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail between Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen and the Hoboken Terminal. The Newark Light Rail is scheduled to reopen Wednesday between Grove Street and Newark Penn Station.
• Amtrak Acela Express and Northeast Regional service on the Northeast Corridor line, with reduced frequency
• 95 percent of NJ Transit bus service
• NY Waterway ferries and buses
The following are expected to be out of service:
• PATH trains between Newark Penn Station and Journal Square, Hoboken, Exchange Place and World Trade Center.
• NJ Transit’s Morris & Essex, Montclair-Boonton and North Jersey Coast lines and the Raritan Valley Line west of Raritan Borough
• 5 percent of NJ Transit bus service
EMERGENCY BUS PLAN
Customers utilizing the emergency bus service plan can ride buses at no cost. Customers utilizing ferry and light rail services will still be responsible for paying normal light rail and ferry fares except Statue Cruise Lines in Liberty State Park.
Buses will operate to and from the following transportation hubs:
Ramsey (Ramsey/Rt. 17 Station)
• Suburban Transit/Coach USA to operate 15 buses from Ramsey/Route 17 Station to Weehawken/Port Imperial from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for light rail/ferry connections.
• Suburban Transit/Coach USA to operate 15 buses from Weehawken/Port Imperial to Ramsey/Route 17 Station from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Meadowlands, MetLife Stadium, Lots J&K (1 MetLife Stadium)
• Suburban Transit/Coach USA to operate 25 buses from Meadowlands MetLife Stadium to Weehawken/Port Imperial from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for light rail/ ferry connections.
• Suburban Transit/Coach USA to operate 25 buses from Weehawken/Port Imperial to the Meadowlands MetLife Stadium from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Holmdel, Garden State Parkway Exit 116 (PNC Arts Center)
• Academy Bus to operate 130 buses from the PNC Arts Center from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to:
Lower Manhattan / Port Authority Bus Terminal / Newark Penn Station
Academy Bus to operate 130 buses between 4 to 8 p.m. from:
• Lower Manhattan, Port Authority Bus Terminal — 41st between 8th and 9th
• Newark Penn Station — Greyhound Bus Stop
Jersey City (Liberty State Park, Liberty Science Center)
• Community/Coach USA to operate 10 buses from Liberty State Park to shuttle customers to Statue Cruise Lines Ferry Service to Battery Park from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., and from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. Ferry service from this location will be offered free of charge.
Bus service to Lower Manhattan
Pick-up and drop-off locations will take place at the following Suburban Transportation stops:
• Greenwich Street between Battery Place & Morris Street
• Trinity Place between Rector and Thames streets
• Church Street between Warren and Chambers streets
• Church Street between Reade and Duane streets
We are still encouraging people to travel as little as possible and stay off the roads if you can, both to reduce congestion on the roads and to conserve gas, which is still scarce. GMTMA can help you figure out how to make this happen. Check out our information and programs that can help you find a vanpool or carpool, ride your bike more, encourage your kids to walk and bike to school, help your employer start up a telecommute policy, ride the bus or train, and get around easier if you’re a senior. Contact GMTMA — we can help you, your office, or your school figure out alternative ways to get around.