Passenger Trains > Emergency Trans-Hudson Access Plan Starting Monday

Trenton, NJ – Coming on the heels of NJ TRANSIT’s restoration of rail and bus service to
New York and utilizing federal and regional transportation resources to ease traffic congestion,
improve trans-Hudson access and further help New Jersey residents navigate around the state,
the Christie Administration today announced an emergency bus plan designed to transport
New Jersey residents back to their jobs starting Monday morning.

The emergency bus service will provide transportation options for NJ TRANSIT customers,
with access to ferries, light rail and employment in Hoboken, Weehawken, Jersey City and
Manhattan. This temporary emergency service is anticipated to provide approximately 50%
of NJ TRANSIT’s normal rail rush hour service.

While NJ TRANSIT system restoration progress continues, NJ TRANSIT is still several
weeks away from full service restoration. Emergency conditions still exist across the
NJ TRANSIT system and will continue for some time for regular commuters. For instance,
NJ TRANSIT normally operates 63 trains into New York Penn Station during the morning
peak. Tomorrow, NJ TRANSIT will only be able to operate 13 trains into New York
during the peak – pending critically needed repairs to be completed by Amtrak.
Customers are advised to start their commute outside of the 6:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
peak period to avoid overcrowding.

“The emergency bus plan utilizes federal, regional and statewide resources to
help the Garden State return to work,” said Transportation Commissioner and
NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman James Simpson. “Led by Governor Christie and incorporating
assets made available by the federal government, regional transportation partners
and our statewide transit system, the resulting collaborative approach has
resulted in a plan which will help New Jersey residents return to work on Monday.”

Utilizing the regional transportation network with a base of operations out of
park-and-ride locations in central and northern sections of New Jersey, emergency
buses will transport customers to light rail and ferry services in Hoboken,
Weehawken, and HBLR’s Liberty State Park Station as well as providing limited,
direct service to several boarding locations in lower Manhattan. The busing
plan will remain in effect until further notice and operate on weekdays during
the peak travel periods of 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. In addition,
free ferry service will be available from Liberty State Park Marina to Battery Park.

The resumption of limited Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service between Tonnelle Avenue
in North Bergen and Hoboken Terminal in Hoboken in 20 minute intervals starting at
6 a.m. The launch of emergency service continues the statewide agency’s service
restoration efforts following the significant damage incurred by Hurricane Sandy
earlier this week. NJ TRANSIT will also be operating a shuttle service from Hoboken
Terminal south to Marin Blvd in Jersey City to further offer additional access for
customers seeking to return to work.

Emergency bus service to Lower Manhattan has been coordinated following the
approval of, and collaboration with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
as well as the New York City Department of Transportation. Pick-up and drop off
locations will take place at the following, designated Suburban Transportation bus stops:

• Greenwich Street between Battery Place & Morris Street.
• Trinity Place between Rector & Thames Streets
• Church St. between Warren & Chambers Streets
• Church St. between Reade & Duane Streets



“While the hard working men and women of NJ TRANSIT have made substantial progress,
the full restoration of service is still several weeks away,” said NJ TRANSIT
Executive Director James Weinstein. “Our rail infrastructure is still heavily
damaged and our rail capacity into New York Penn Station can only transport a
fraction of our weekday customers. These are extraordinary times, the busing
plan announced today will help bring our customers back to work – and just a
little bit closer to resuming their everyday lives.”

Customers utilizing the emergency bus service plan can ride the buses at no cost.
Customers utilizing ferry and light rail services will still be responsible for
paying normal light rail and ferry fares.

Buses will operate to and from the following limited-capacity transportation hubs:

A. Hoboken Service

Bridgewater (Patriots Stadium)

• NJ TRANSIT to operate 15 buses from Patriots Stadium to Hoboken Terminal from
6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for light rail/ferry connections.
• NJ TRANSIT to operate 15 buses from Hoboken Terminal to Patriots Stadium from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.



Woodbridge (Woodbridge Center Mall)

• Academy Bus to operate 20 buses from Woodbridge Center Mall to Hoboken Terminal
from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for light rail/ferry connections.
• Academy Bus to operate 20 buses from Hoboken Ferry Terminal to Woodbridge Center
Mall from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.



Wayne (Willowbrook Mall Annex)

• NJ TRANSIT to operate 16 buses from Willowbrook Mall to Weehawken/Port Imperial
from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for light rail/ferry connections.
• NJ TRANSIT to operate 16 buses from Weehawken/Port Imperial to Willowbrook Mall
from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.



Ramsey (Ramsey/Rt 17 Station Park and Ride)

• Suburban Transit/Coach USA to operate 40 buses from Ramsey/Rt. 17 Station Park
and Ride to Weehawken/Port Imperial from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for light rail/ferry
connections and Meadowland MetLife Stadium (Lots J & K).
• Suburban Transit/Coach USA to operate 40 buses from Weehawken/Port Imperial to
Ramsey/Rt. 17 Station Park and Ride and to the Meadowlands MetLife Stadium from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.



Holmdel, Garden State Parkway Exit 116 (PNC Arts Center)

• Academy Bus to operate 130 buses from the PNC Arts Center from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. to:
• Lower Manhattan
• Port Authority Bus Terminal
• Newark Penn Station
• Academy Bus to operate 130 buses between 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. from:
• Lower Manhattan
• Port Authority Bus Terminal
• Newark Penn Station



Elizabeth, Newark Liberty International Airport (Next to Dollar Rent-A-Car)

• Coach USA to operate 5 buses to Lower Manhattan from the adjacent lot of Newark
Liberty’s Dollar Rent-A-Car from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Coach USA to operate 5 buses from Lower Manhattan the adjacent lot of Newark
Liberty’s Dollar Rent-A-Car from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.




Jersey City (Liberty State Park)

• Community/Coach USA to operate 5 buses from Liberty State Park to Lower
Manhattan from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Community/Coach USA to operate 5 buses from Lower Manhattan to Liberty State
Park from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.



NOTE : Statue Cruises will also begin temporary operations from Liberty State Park Marina to Lower
Manhattan from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., and from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. Ferry service
from this location will be offered free of charge.

Since the landfall of Hurricane Sandy Monday evening, the Christie Administration has been
working to restore transit access along the NJ TRANSIT system, while providing additional
options for New Jersey residents to get back to work. The following milestones were achieved
within the first week of recovery:

• Monday: Hurricane Sandy makes landfall in New Jersey
• Tuesday: Bus service restored to Camden
• Wednesday: RiverLINE light rail service restored; bus service restored to 80% of all routes
• Thursday: Northeast Corridor rail service restored to New York Penn Station
• Saturday: Four additional rail lines restored; bus service restored to 90% of all routes
• Sunday: Restoration of limited Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service; implementation of
emergency trans-Hudson access plan for the Monday commute.



Customer Tips

The following tips are offered for customers traveling on Monday:

• Customers utilizing NJ TRANSIT rail or regular NJ TRANSIT bus service are encouraged to
consider traveling during off-peak periods to avoid crowds and potential delays.
• Delays, detours and other challenges can continue to be expected by customers during
system restoration and recovery.
• For the latest travel information, customers should listen to broadcast traffic reports,
visit njtransit.com, or access NJ TRANSIT’s Twitter feed at @NJ_TRANSIT.
• Additionally, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via the My
Transit alert system ( www.njtransit.com/mytransit ), which delivers travel advisories
for your specific trip to your cell phone, PDA or pager.
• Automated service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555.

http://www.njtransit.com/tm/tm_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=PressReleaseTo&PRESS_RELEASE_ID=2806

Even we transit pros would have trouble understanding all that gibberish!

There are a lot of things to like in this plan.

The express bus service through the Holland Tunnel (open for buses only) has been a big success, from what I've heard. No delays on the NJ side, buses zip through to lower Manhattan. It hould give serious impetus for a dedicated bus lane there after the crisis is over.

Service from Liberty State Park via ferry is another big plus. Putting a suburban bus connection is a great idea. An even better idea would be running a few Raritan Valley trains through Oak Island, over the Greenville Bridge, turning north, and then using 2000 feet of new track to access the ferry terminal. There's even a railroad station waiting for them.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> An even better idea
> would be running a few Raritan Valley trains
> through Oak Island, over the Greenville Bridge,
> turning north, and then using 2000 feet of new
> track to access the ferry terminal. There's even a
> railroad station waiting for them.

Now that is original thinking! E-mail it to the governor.

stone23 Wrote:
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> Even we transit pros would have trouble
> understanding all that gibberish!


Whatever.

darkcloud Wrote:
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> stone23 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Even we transit pros would have trouble
> > understanding all that gibberish!
>
>
> Whatever.


Very valuable post....

My first commute since Sandy, Port Jervis Main line into Secaucus Jct to Penn Station. The first leg was ok little crowded heard we had 839 passengers not bad for the first train down. When I got to Secaucus the platform was already full like 5 deep, did I mention I was on the first train, yep all those folks who had driven. Didnt matter the first 3 trains thru were too full to accept any resonable amount of passengers. Finally NJT made a wise move and sent one of the arrow sets back to Sec empty and we all piled on. My commute usually is little over 1 hour depending on my connection in Sec, this am just under 3 hrs. They have a monumental task in front of them and I really cant complain all considered. But I will comment that this lasts much longer tempers will flare. This post is helpful in such it gives me options maybe Bus to the Ferry tomorrow.

The original state directive is very specific, but it makes a lot of sense to anybody who commutes from northern and central NJ into New York City. It's also helpful because it describes several new commuting routes, like Woodbridge Mall to New York City, or Willowbrook Mall to Port Liberty ferry. That's very convenient for people who are unable to take the North Jersey Coast Line, or the Montclair Boonton Line or western Morristown line and will drive part of the way.

I can absolutely understand why somebody who doesn't use the network would have trouble understanding what's going on. It's not laid out in a traditional railroad / railfan mode. But the relevant parts would make sense to most commuters, I think.