Thanksgiving is in a few days and most of us are already making plans. Whether you plan a short trip to the store or a longer trip to visit family, be prepared for busy roads. According to the AAA forecast, a lot of people will be travelling this year. AAA estimates that 54.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving, a 4.8 percent increase over last year. AAA also estimates that travel times can be as much as four times longer than a normal trip. With so many people on the road, remember to stay safe, whether you are driving or taking public transit. And here are our annual tips and transit schedules to help you plan.
Public transit
NJ Transit RAIL
November 21 – Early getaway service
Thanksgiving Day – Weekend service
Riverline – Will operate on a Sunday schedule
NJ Transit BUS
Day before Thanksgiving, November 21 – weekday schedule
Thanksgiving Day
600, 601, 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 613 – Sunday schedule;
603, 610, 611, 619, 624 – No service
Day after Thanksgiving, November 23
600, 607, 608, 624 – Holiday schedule;
409, 601, 603, 605, 606, 609, 613, 619 – Saturday schedule;
610 – no service;
418, 611, 612 – weekday service
November 22
Thursday | Thanksgiving Day – Thanksgiving Parade: Buses, Trains, and Trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule due to the holiday
November 23
Friday: City Transit Routes will operate on a Modified Weekday schedule
Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 22, 2018
- Saturday Schedule
- Journal Square-33 Street (via Hoboken) and Newark-World Trade Center lines in service.
Day after Thanksgiving – Friday, November 23, 2018
- Modified Weekday Schedule*
- All 4 lines operate on a 10-minute schedule during daytime and early evening hours.
AIRPORT INFO – status reports and delays info
COACHBUS – will operate on a Sunday schedule
ROUTE 130 – no service on Thanksgiving Day
FREEB – no service on Thanksgiving Day
MEGABUS – operates on Thanksgiving Day
Mercer County TRADE – not operating on Thanksgiving Day
ZLine – schedule available here
Tiger Transit – operates on a modified schedule from Nov. 21 to Nov. 25
East Windsor Shuttle – no service on Thanksgiving Day
OCEAN RIDE
No service on Thursday, November 22 Thanksgiving Day
DRIVING
If you will be driving, here are a few safety tips:
- Get plenty of rest before you start your trip
- Make sure that everyone is buckled up
- Keep your focus on the road, and don’t drive distracted
- Expect traffic and be patient
- Make sure your car is ready, tires inflated, windshield wipers work, have a tune-up before you plan to travel
- Check the weather, road and traffic conditions
- Keep a first aid kit in your car
- Carry an emergency kit in case of inclement weather, flashlight, bottled water, blankets, food, flares, snow shovel, jumper cables, ice scraper
Whatever you choose we hope you will be safe and from all of us at GMTMA – Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones!