NJ Transit Paints Dire Picture of Possible Rail Strike

New Jersey Transit officials say the agency won't be able to get all commuters into New York if rail workers strike next weekend.

About 105,000 people commute into New York via trains, either on NJ Transit or in combination with PATH.

NJ Transit interim executive director Dennis Martin said Thursday beefed-up bus service, ferry and light rail service will accommodate a maximum of about 40,000 people. (See the plans below, or here.)

NJ Transit estimates that a 65-minute commute from Hamilton, Mercer County, or Morristown to New York City would take well over two hours via bus and PATH train.

Martin said five park-and-ride lots will be opened up to first-come, first-served parking. Buses would leave from MetLife Stadium, the PNC Arts Center, Hamilton train station, Metropark and Ramsey.

Transportation engineer Sam Schwartz, who is consulting for NJ Transit, predicted the roads would be jammed.

"We're talking about back-ups that could be as long as 23 miles that could extend on Route 78, or 25 miles on the turnpike," he said at the news conference.

PATH also is expected to extend peak service rail operations.

Here are details, from NJ Transit:

Regional Park-Ride Service

Park-ride service will operate on a first come, first served basis from five key regional park-ride lots, weekdays only, during four-hour AM inbound (6 a.m. to 10 a.m.) and four-hour PM outbound (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) peak periods.

• MetLife Stadium to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York
• PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel to New York City (Academy)
• Hamilton Rail Station to Newark Penn Station PATH
• Metropark Rail Station to Harrison PATH Station
• Ramsey/Route 17 Rail Station to Lincoln Harbor Ferry, Weehawken

No midday, evening, weekend or reverse commute service will operate on these park-ride routes.

The park-ride locations were selected based on their size/parking capacity, access to regional highways, and geographical distribution.  Access to area PATH stations and ferry service was also analyzed in an effort to minimize congestion at Hudson River crossings. 

Enhanced NJ TRANSIT New York Bus Service

NJ TRANSIT will enhance peak period service on 29 existing New York bus routes in close proximity to rail stations.  The routes are as follows:

• Northeast Corridor:  108, 112, 115 and 129 bus routes
• North Jersey Coast Line:  116 and 133/135 bus routes
• Raritan Valley Line:  113 and 114X bus routes
• Morris & Essex Lines:  107X and 114X bus routes
• Montclair-Boonton Lines:  191X and 324 bus routes
• Main/Bergen County Lines:  145, 160L, 160T, 160P, 163P, 164SX, 190P/D, 190R, 190X, 192X
• Pascack Valley Line:  151, 162, 163L, 165P, 165R, 165T

In addition, to accommodate Atlantic City Rail Line customers, NJ TRANSIT will enhance service on the 554 bus route, which operates between Atlantic City and Lindenwold. Please note:  PATCO will only cross honor Atlantic City Rail Line tickets and passes to/from Philadelphia.

Other NJ TRANSIT Services

• Rail:  In the event of a stoppage, no rail service will be provided on the Northeast Corridor (including the Princeton Branch/Dinky), North Jersey Coast, Morris & Essex (including Gladstone), Main/Bergen County, Montclair-Boonton, Raritan Valley, Pascack Valley, Atlantic City, and Port Jervis lines.

 Bus:  To lessen traffic congestion and delays at the Lincoln Tunnel and to take advantage of the proximity to connecting PATH and ferry service, NJ TRANSIT will make the following service adjustments in the event of a rail stoppage:

o   The 156R, 158 and 159R bus routes serving the River Road corridor will terminate at the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken on weekdays, for cross honoring with connecting NY Waterway ferry service. Weekend service will operate on its regular route to/from New York.

o   The 126 bus route in Hoboken will operate on a reverse routing on weekday mornings, beginning at Willow Avenue and 19^th Street and operating south to Hoboken Terminal, for cross honoring with PATH and ferry service.  In the evening, the bus route will operate from Hoboken Terminal back to Willow Avenue and 19^th Street. Weekend service will operate on its regular route to/from New York.

Light Rail:  Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line service will operate regular weekday schedules with extended peak hour service.

Access Link:  Service will operate normally, however customers should anticipate longer travel times as a result of anticipated increases in traffic, and additional passengers in vehicles.

Ticketing

All existing valid rail tickets and passes with an origin or destination of New York will be accepted for travel on all park-ride service, and will be cross-honored on NJ TRANSIT buses and light rail lines, private carrier buses, PATH and NY Waterway.

Customers who do not already have a ticket or pass may purchase round-trip tickets to/from New York during morning hours on site from the park-ride locations.  Round-trip tickets for regional park-ride service will also be available via MyTix, NJ TRANSIT’s mobile ticketing app. 

Fares from regional park-rides are based on the existing fares from those locations.  Adult, senior/disabled, and child fares will be available, as follows:

The Associated Press contributed to this report.