Short Notice: Work On Pascack Valley Line Starts Sunday

PEARL RIVER, NY — Commuters on Metro-North's Pascack Valley Line must seek alternative ways of getting back and forth to work starting Sunday, as Metro-North begins six weeks of work on the tracks. And riders only got a week's notice. As residents complained about with lack of lead time and limited options, Rockland officials negotiated accommodations from NJ Transit and Metro-North.

Those who decide to use the railroad's bus alternative must board at a different location from where riders board their train, and in some cases, at a different time.

However, while busing is in effect:

• Metro-North has agreed to cross-honor monthly and weekly Pascack Valley Line passes on the Hudson Line at Tarrytown Station for travel to/from Grand Central.
• NJ Transit has agreed to honor Pascack Valley Line passes on Main/Bergen line trains.
• Rockland County will cross honor Pascack Valley Line tickets on its TAPPAN ZEExpress buses for commuters who wish to access the Hudson Line at Tarrytown.

"Due to our efforts, Rockland commuters who use the rails will now have more options during this maintenance project," County Executive Ed Day said. "We hope that the actions we took make it a little easier for Rockland commuters to get where they need to go."

NJ Transit and Metro-North have agreed to cross-honor Pascack Valley Line monthly and weekly passes on both weekdays and weekends on both the Hudson Line and the Main/Bergen line, the County Executive said. (Get neighborhood stories like these: sign up for Patch’s Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts.)

Commuters on the Pascack Valley Line were notified late last week that rail service would be interrupted for six weeks starting a week later on Sunday, Sept. 17.They were told that substitute buses would run in place of trains from station between Spring Valley and Secaucus.

"It was unacceptable to us that customers were only given a week's notice and were only told after they had purchased their monthly passes," Day said.

Now NJ Transit has apologized for the short notice and stated that they will make sure the transition is as smooth as possible. Day said that while he understands that grade crossing repair, signal and track maintenance work must be done, the commuter lines have a responsibility to riders.

"NJ Transit must do better to notify customers and the County in a timely manner, and Metro-North must do more to oversee its operating contract with NJ Transit, to ensure that Rockland County commuters are properly served," he said.

Day directed the Rockland County Department of Public Transportation to reach out to NJ Transit and Metro-North to express the County's frustration with the short notice and lack of communication for Rockland commuters who use the Pascack Valley Line.

While they were at it, they pointed out the absurdity of calling the 8:50 am train a "midday" train. And they told the agencies about rider fury over lack of ticket cross-honoring.

"We are pleased to report that both NJ Transit and Metro-North were very responsive and have agreed to the County's requests," Day said. "We requested assurance that information about the Temporary Busing Plan be promptly communicated to eliminate confusion. We made it clear that customers must not only be made fully aware of the busing plan in advance, but they must be made aware that the bus must be boarded at a different location from where they board the train, and in some cases, at a different time."

All Pascack Valley Line ticket cross-honoring arrangements requested of both Metro-North and NJ Transit are now in place and the information NJ Transit is providing to customers has been updated.

Saturday and Sunday:

• No trains will operate.
• See the Substitute Bus Service
• Spring Valley bus pickup: In front of station
• Nanuet pickup: Corner of Prospect Street and Middletown Road (after light)
• Pearl River pickup: South Pearl Street and West Jefferson Avenue (in front of JVH building)
• Schedule: http://www.njtransit.com/AdminTemp/pvlbuswknd092017.pdf

Monday through Friday:

• No trains will operate from Spring Valley to Secaucus between 8:50 am & 2:45 pm.
• No trains will operate from Secaucus to Spring Valley between 9:05 am & 2:00 pm.
• See the Substitute Bus Service Schedule: http://www.njtransit.com/AdminTemp/pvlbuswkday092017.pdf

Cross-Honoring Pascack Valley Line Passes:
On both weekdays and weekends, while busing is in effect:

• Metro-North will cross-honor monthly and weekly Pascack Valley Line passes on the Hudson Line at Tarrytown Station for travel to/from Grand Central.
• Rockland County will cross-honor Pascack Valley Line passes on TAPPAN ZEExpress buses.
• NJ TRANSIT will cross-honor Pascack Valley Line passes on Main/Bergen line trains and some NJ TRANSIT buses.

The Public Transportation Department has also posted information on the County website to ensure Pascack Valley Line commuters have the information they need.

"We will continue to stay in touch with both agencies to ensure our Rockland commuters are impacted as little as possible during the Pascack Valley Line service interruption," Day said.

For TAPPAN ZEExpress bus schedules or links to other transit schedules and information, go here.