5 Things To Know About The Port Authority Bus Gate Changes

On Tuesday, Sept. 8 – the day after Labor Day – about one-third of the Port Authority Bus Terminal’s afternoon and evening weekday commuters will find their bus routes assigned to new departure gates.

Port Authority officials estimate that the changes will affect up to 30 percent of the 110,000 passengers that use the bus terminal every day.

Here are five things you should know about the switch.

WHY THE CHANGES?

According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the changes are designed to “enhance the experience for the passengers who use the bus terminal each day by improving commutes, providing bus carriers more flexibility to respond to traffic disruptions and reducing crowding at the platforms.”

WILL MY BUS GATE BE AFFECTED?

Customers of NJ Transit, Lakeland, DeCamp, or one of the Coach USA carriers - Rockland, Shortline and Community Coach – should use the Port Authority’s online gate relocation chart to see if their bus will be affected on Tuesday.

Is your bus carrier missing from the above list? Then you’re one of the lucky 70 percent of commuters whose rides won’t be affected.

“Of the twenty-one carriers that serve the bus terminal, routes have changed for only these six carriers,” Port Authority states on its website. “If you do not see your route listed in the chart, your gate remains the same.”

Access the online chart here.

STAYING ALERT

Port Authority offers a free subscription service that notifies customers when incidents or events may delay their trip.

Sign up for online alerts here.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Tuesday’s gate changes are part of a $90 million campaign, the Quality of Commute Improvement Program, which the Port Authority launched in 2014.

Designed to “to enhance the customer experience at the 64-year-old terminal and improve passenger commutes,” the ongoing program also includes:

• Building a bypass lane on the terminal ramp system for inbound bus traffic
• Rehabilitating public restrooms
• Implementing a bus tracking system in cooperation with bus carriers
• Adding bus staging areas
• Upgrading vestibules, elevators and escalators

LAST MINUTE QUESTIONS

If you’re the kind of person who likes to ask questions face to face, don’t panic.

According to a release, from Sept. 8 to “the end of the week,” gate change ambassadors from Port Authority and NJ Transit will be present at the bus terminal to provide commuters with information.

File photo of the Port Authority building via Wikimedia