NJ Transit strike ends, but contingency plan applies for Monday commute; trains return on Tuesday

NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- A deal was reached to end the New Jersey Transit rail strike on Sunday, but some 350,000 commuters will still have to get through a tricky commute on Monday.

Normal rail service will not resume until Tuesday, because it takes time to get the shuttered rail system back into service and properly inspected, so the contingency plans prepared in the event of the strike's continuation will still apply on Monday.

NJ Transit developed this contingency plan to accommodate an extremely limited number of rail customers. NJ Transit strongly encourages all those who can work from home to do so and limit traveling on the NJ Transit system to essential purposes only.

Commuter options:

Limited added capacity on existing NJ TRANSIT bus routes to/from NYC

The routes are as follows:

Northeast Corridor: 108, 112, 115 and 129 bus routes

• Route 108 Newark Penn Station to New York, boards at Newark Penn Station Raymond Boulevard Bus Lane 2B - Bus Stop ID No. 18835 - Departs Newark from 5:30 AM to 9:30 AM, and NY PABT from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Gate 34. This is an express bus and will not make any stops between Newark and NY PABT.

• Route 112 Elizabeth to New York, boards at Broad Street and Jersey Street (one block from Elizabeth Station) - Bus Stop ID No. 28544 - Bus Stop ID No. 28544 - Departs Elizabeth from 5:20 AM to 9:30 AM, and NY PABT from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Gate 26. This is an express bus and will not make any stops between Elizabeth and NY PABT.

• Route 115 Linden to New York, boards at Wood Avenue and Linden Station - Bus Stop ID No. 29114 - Departs Linden from 5:30 AM to 8:30 AM, and NY PABT from 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Gate 30. This is an express bus and will not make any stops between Linden and NY PABT.
  

North Jersey Coast Line: 116 and 133/135 bus routes

• Route 116 Woodbridge to New York, boards at Main Street and Pearl Street (Woodbridge Station) - Bus Stop ID No. 24178 - Departs Woodbridge from 5:25 AM to 9:25 AM, and NY PABT from 3:05 PM to 8:00 PM at Gate 22. This is an express bus and will not make any stops between Woodbridge and NY PABT.

Raritan Valley Line: 112 and 113 bus routes

• Route 112 Elizabeth to New York, boards at Broad Street and Jersey Street (one block from Elizabeth Station) - Bus Stop ID No. 28544 - Departs Elizabeth from 5:20 AM to 9:30 AM, and NY PABT from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Gate 26. This is an express bus and will not make any stops between Elizabeth and NY PABT.

• Route 113 Cranford to New York, boards at North Avenue and Alden Street (Cranford Station) - Bus Stop ID No. 28515 - Departs Cranford from 5:10 AM to 8:55 AM, and NY PABT from 3:30 PM to 7:54 PM at Gate 28. This is an express bus and will not make any stops between Cranford and NY PABT.

Morris & Essex Lines: 107 bus routes

• Route 107 South Orange to New York, boards at Sloan Street and 2nd Street (South Orange Station) - Bus Stop ID No. 19338 - Departs South Orange from 5:30 AM to 9:30 AM, and NY PABT from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Gate 32. This is an express bus and will not make any stops between South Orange and NY PABT.

Montclair-Boonton Lines: 193 and 324 bus routes

Main/Bergen County Lines: 145, 163, 164 and 190 bus routes

Pascack Valley Line: 163, 164 and 165 bus routes

Other NJ Transit Services

• Bus: All other NJ TRANSIT bus routes will continue to operate on regular schedules.

• Light Rail: Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line service will operate regular weekday schedules.

• Access Link: Service will operate normally, however customers should anticipate longer travel times as a result of anticipated increases in traffic, and additional passengers in vehicles.

Park & Ride Options (beginning Monday, May 19)

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced the following guidance.

Midtown Bus Terminal

• NJ TRANSIT has provided a rail service disruption plan that includes supplemental bus service to the Midtown Bus Terminal that would begin on MONDAY.

Park & Ride service will operate on a first come, first served basis beginning on Monday, May 19, from four key regional Park & Ride lots, weekdays only, during AM peak period inbound and PM peak period outbound:

1) Secaucus Junction to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York
2) PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York (Operated by Academy Bus) Customers should visit academybus.com for ticket purchase information Note: NJ TRANSIT tickets, including Monthly Passes, will not be accepted on Academy buses.
3) Hamilton Rail Station to Newark Penn Station PATH
4) Woodbridge Center Mall to Harrison PATH Station

• Some private commuter carriers are planning to add or modify service to accommodate additional passengers.

• As a precaution, some carriers will be moving temporarily to provide space for additional NJ TRANSIT bus arrivals and departures. Passengers should review bus departure gates carefully.

• Beginning Monday, May 12, all Trailways departures will depart out of gates 64-68 on the lower level of the north wing.

• The Lincoln Tunnel's Exclusive Bus Lane, currently in effect weekdays beginning at 6 a.m., will have expanded hours if needed.

• Expect crowded conditions during peak hours in the bus terminal as NJ TRANSIT has limited capacity to accommodate displaced rail passengers by bus. Passengers should allow extra travel time.

• The Port Authority will be providing additional staff to assist with passenger navigation and crowd management.

Other Travel Options

PATH Commuter Rail

• On weekdays, PATH service will operate on a normal schedule. As always, PATH will monitor stations and add service as necessary to address any unsafe crowding conditions. During peak hours customers could experience temporary crowding conditions. Those who do not need to ride during peak hours are urged to avoid the system during that time.

• Additional PATH staff will be available to assist with passenger navigation and crowd management.

Ferries

• NY Waterway -- which operates the largest ferry fleet between New Jersey and New York - is making preparations to increase service for New Jersey rail commuters, including deploying additional ferry boats and crew as needed, in the event of a rail service disruption.

• Passengers can catch the Staten Island Ferry at two locations: at the St. George Terminal located at 1 Bay Street on Staten Island, and at the Whitehall Terminal located at 4 South Street in Manhattan.

Existing mass transit to/from Newark Liberty International Airport:

• In the event of a suspension of NJ TRANSIT rail service, NJ TRANSIT trains will not serve the Newark Liberty International Airport rail station.

• Select Amtrak trains will continue to serve the station. Passengers will need an Amtrak ticket to board an Amtrak train. AirTrain Newark will continue operating to/from the Airport Train Station for Amtrak passengers.

• Travelers are urged to make use of bus lines serving Newark Liberty International Airport. Those include NJ TRANSIT buses GO 28 (Bloomfield-Newark), 37 (Maplewood-Irvington-Newark), 62 (Newark-Elizabeth), 67 (Ocean-Monmouth-Middlesex-Newark), and Coach USA express service to/from Manhattan.

• Drivers should allow additional travel time and expect crowded conditions on airport roadways.

New travel option provided by the Port Authority between Newark-Penn Station and Newark Liberty International Airport:

• UPDATE: Beginning May 16, the Port Authority will operate free, direct shuttle bus service between Newark-Penn Station and AirTrain Newark's P4 station every 20 minutes. The free shuttle buses will not operate between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., traditionally when NJ TRANSIT does not operate rail service. Travelers should allow additional travel time and expect crowded conditions on buses and at stations

• Additional Port Authority staff will be available to assist with passenger navigation and crowd management at Newark-Penn Station and the airport.

Getting to Newark Airport from Newark-Penn Station:

• UPDATE: At Newark-Penn Station, passengers should follow signs and staff direction to the pickup/drop-off point at Raymond Plaza West. The shuttle bus will travel directly to AirTrain Newark's P4 station. There, travelers can board AirTrain Newark to access all airport terminals.

Getting from Newark Airport to Newark-Penn Station:

• Take AirTrain Newark to the P4 Station. There, travelers should proceed to the ground level and follow the direction of Port Authority staff to the shuttle bus pickup/drop-off point. The shuttle bus will travel directly to Newark-Penn Station.

Getting to/from MetLife Stadium for Shakira and Beyonce

Service to Shakira's concerts at MetLife Stadium on Thursday and Friday was canceled ahead of the potential rail stoppage.

Both Murphy and Kolluri went out to MetLife last night to see how things went for the Shakira concert. The incoming and outgoing traffic went well, and officials are hoping for a similar experience for tonight's Shakira concert, especially with Pitbull with her tonight. With Beyonce coming to town next week for 5 days, officials are hoping to learn things from yesterday and tonight's Shakira concert to prepare for the next set of concerts.

NJ Transit encourages customers to familiarize themselves with their Alternate, Back-up and Contingency plans at www.njtransit.com/abc.

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