Bloomfield Commuters Beware: NJ Transit Strike Survival Guide

If a NJ Transit strike happens, how will you be making your daily commute?

One thing is for certain… it won’t be via NJ Transit train.

Commuters in the Essex and Hudson County areas are joining others around the state and preparing for a possible NJ Transit railway worker strike that may wreak havoc on thousands of riders’ daily schedules and routines.

• See related article: N.J. Transit Strike: 23-Mile Backups, 10K More Cars Per Hour, NJT Officials Say

It’s been more than 30 years since the last work stoppage at New Jersey Transit. But if union workers and the organization can’t come to terms on a new contract before March 13, a strike will likely occur.

New Jersey Transit and its 11 unions, made up of more than 4,000 employees, have not had a new contract since 2011.

According to NJT officials, approximately 105,000 customers use the rail lines daily just to head into New York City. In 2015, NJT had its highest annual ridership ever, with more than 135,000 customers using the rail lines daily for intra and interstate travel.

Commuters should consider traveling before or after the rush hour peak times, during off-peak hours, carpooling, and using added bus, light rail and ferry services, particularly to downtown and midtown Manhattan.

CARS AND TRAFFIC

Motorists planning to travel to New York from 6 to 10 a.m. and to New Jersey from 4 to 8 p.m. should allow additional travel time and expect significant delays and crowded conditions, Port Authority officials say.

NJ Transit officials say in the event of a strike, highway backups of more than 20 miles heading into Manhattan are possible.

More than 10,000 cars per hour will be on the roadways during peak travel times, NJ Transit officials said.

Roadways near the Northeast Corridor and Morris/Essex Lines will be hit hardest, according to NJ Transit officials.

One solution may be carpooling, authorities recommend.

Carpool seekers may be able to hook up with like-minded commuters via EZRide (Formerly Meadowlink Commuter Services), which covers Bergen County and western portions of Hudson County, eastern portions of Passaic, Union and Essex and Monmouth Counties.

Learn more about EZRide here.

BUS LINES

For those who don’t mind hopping on a bus, NJ Transit plans to add five park and ride locations that will offer shuttle service between some New York-bound transportation hubs:

• 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, NJ Transit stated.

NJ TRANSIT will also enhance peak period service on 29 existing New York bus routes in close proximity to rail stations.

Local routes include:

• 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 and 192X bus routes
• Pascack Valley Line: 151, 162, 163L, 165P, 165R and 165T bus routes

In addition, 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:

• The 156R, 158 and 159R bus routes serving the River Road corridor will terminate at the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken on weekdays, enabling cross honoring with connecting NY Waterway ferry service. Weekend service will operate on its regular route to/from New York.
• The 126 bus route in Hoboken will operate on a reverse routing on weekday mornings, beginning at Willow Avenue and 19th Street and operating south to Hoboken Terminal for cross honoring with PATH and ferry service. In the evening, the 126 bus route will operate from Hoboken Terminal back to Willow Avenue and 19th Street. Weekend service will operate on its regular route to/from New York.

AIRPORT

With no rail service along the Northeast Corridor line, travelers should expect delays and seek alternative transportation to and from Newark Liberty International Airport.

With anticipated road congestion, air travelers also should allow extra travel time to John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports.

One solution for local commuters may be Amtrak service; travelers can check with Amtrak here for information on its service to Newark Airport.

PATH TRAIN AND LIGHT RAIL

One viable option for Essex and Hudson County residents may be the PATH train, which will be cross-honoring NJ Transit rail passengers on its system and will be unaffected by a possible strike.

On the PATH rail system, efforts will be made to maximize utilization of capacity during the peak weekday morning and evening hours on the Newark to World Trade Center, Journal Square to 33rd Street and the Hoboken to 33rd Street and Hoboken to World Trade Center lines, Port Authority officials stated.

PATH riders needing to switch to uptown subway lines can travel to the PATH World Trade Center Station, which offers access to the MTA subway system, to minimize congestion at the Journal Square and Newport stations, Port Authority officials stated.

In addition, Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line service will operate regular weekday schedules with extended peak hour service, according to NJ Transit.

All existing rail passes – bought before March 13 – will also be cross-honored on the PATH light rail trains, which operates service from Newark Penn Station, Harrison, Hoboken and in Jersey City to midtown and lower Manhattan.

FERRY

Port Authority officials are also urging commuters to consider ferries as an alternate means of travel between New Jersey and New York.

Thousands of ferry seats are expected to be available to passengers using ferries as a commuting option, officials stated.

Commuters can access ferry service near the Hoboken PATH station.

In addition, the NJ Transit #126 bus route in Hoboken will operate on a reverse routing system on weekday mornings, beginning at Willow Avenue and 19th Street and running south to Hoboken Terminal, for cross-honoring with PATH and nearby ferry service. During evening commutes, the bus route will go from Hoboken Terminal back to Willow and 19th. Weekend service will operate on its regular route, to and from New York.

For more information about ferry lines in the area, click here.

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