Patch Partners With WNYC To Ease Your 'Summer Of Hell' Commute

NEW YORK CITY, NY – Ready for Hell?

Monday sees the start of what's expected to be eight weeks of commuting chaos. As Amtrak carries out extensive repairs at Penn Station, tens of thousands of NJ Transit, Long Island Railroad and Amtrak customers face major upheaval – so bad that New York's governor called it the "Summer of Hell."

It's bound to have effects on the city's subways and roads.

Here's a look at how bad commuting in New York City has been, and how much worse it's going to get.

Commuting in New York and New Jersey is rough. With rising ridership and deteriorating infrastructure, it’s only getting worse. We can’t fix Penn Station or update the subway’s signal systems. But we can give voice to your frustration, hold those in charge accountable and find creative ways to make commuting more pleasant.

Patch is partnering with WNYC and Gothamist to do just that. Join "We the Commuters" and you’ll receive tips, inspiration and a megaphone for your voice.

And keep up to date with news from your neighborhood by signing up for Patch's free daily newsletters.

Here's what you need to know:

Amtrak Service Changes

• Acela Express, which runs between Boston and Washington D.C.
  • No service changes
• Empire, which runs between Albany-Rensselaer and Penn Station
  • Six trains will run to and depart from Grand Central Terminal
  • One weekend train will depart from Penn each day
• Crescent, which runs between New York City and New Orleans
  • Two Friday trains have been canceled
  • Service will terminate and commence in Washington DC
• Keystone, which runs between Harrisburg, PA, and Penn Station
  • Six trains will start and end in Philadelphia
  • Two trains will run between Harrisburg and Newark.
  • Service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg will not be changed
• Northeast Regional, which runs between Washington, D.C. and Boston
  • Six trains that run between New York City and Washington, DC have been cancelled
  • Service between New York and Boston will not be changed

New Jersey Transit Service Changes

• Atlantic City
  • No service changes
• Main/Bergen County,
  • Minor changes
• Montclair-Boonton
  • No service changes
• Morris and Essex
  • Midtown Direct trains from Dover and Gladstone that arrive after 7 a.m. will operate to Hoboken, where passengers can transfer to PATH trains or New York Waterway ferries
  • Midtown Direct trains from Montclair will continue to operate to New York.
  • Midtown Direct trains will continue to operate between Dover and New York on weekends.
• Northeast Corridor
  • Minor Changes
• North Jersey Coast Line
  • The North Jersey Coast Line trains that normally would go to Hoboken will terminate at Newark, where commuters will have to switch to a train to Secaucus and then to Hoboken.
• Pascack Valley
  • Minor changes
• Raritan Valley
  • Minor changes

Supplemental Service at Hoboken Terminal: New
York Waterway will provide ferry service between Hoboken and W. 39th
Street in Midtown and PATH will add extra cars to its Hoboken trains to
accommodate about 7,000 more passengers.

Long Island Railroad Service Changes

• Babylon Branch
  • An extra train will arrive at Penn Station before morning rush hour
  • Four morning trains to Penn Station will be rerouted to Atlantic Terminal, one will terminate at Jamaica and one will be cancelled
  • An extra train will depart from Penn Station before evening rush hour
  • Three evening trains from Penn Station are cancelled
• Far Rockaway Branch:
  • One morning train will terminate at Jamaica
  • One evening train from Penn Station will originate at Atlantic Terminal, two will originate at Jamaica
  • One extra train will depart from Penn Station after evening rush hour
• Hempstead Branch:
  • An extra train will arrive at Atlantic Terminal before morning rush hour.
  • Two morning train to Penn Station will terminate at Jamaica
  • Two evening trains from Penn Station will originate at Atlantic Terminal and two will originate at Jamaica
  • An extra train will depart from Penn Station after evening rush hour
• Long Beach Branch
  • One morning train to Penn Station will be rerouted to Hunterspoint Avenue
• Montauk Branch
  • Minor schedule change
• Port Jefferson Branch
  • One morning train to Penn Station will be rerouted to Atlantic Terminal
  • One evening train from Penn Station is cancelled
• Port Washington Branch
  • One extra train will arrive at Penn Station before morning rush hour
  • One morning train to Penn Station is cancelled
  • One extra train will depart from Penn Station before evening rush hour
  • Three evening trains from Penn Station will originate at Hunterspoint Avenue and two others are cancelled
• Ronkonkoma Branch
  • One extra train will arrive at Penn Station before morning rush hour
  • One morning train to Penn Station will terminate in Jamaica
• West Hempstead Branch
  • One morning train to Penn Station will be rerouted to Hunterspoint Avenue

Supplemental Service: All LIRR trains will get
at least two extra cars to accommodate extra passengers. The MTA will
provide ferry service to West 34th Street from Long Island City and from Glen Cove, eight new park-and-ride bus routes in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and free subway transfers and discounts to all LIRR ticket-holders.

Patch is partnering with WNYC to get your voice heard. Sign up for the We The Commuters project here.

By Adam Nichols (Patch Staff)