By Kevin Coughlin
Morris Township has arranged for four morning commuter buses from Convent Station if NJ Transit rail employees go on strike on March 14, 2016.
Below are details from Township Administrator Tim Quinn.
And below that, we have statewide contingency plans from NJ Transit. The agency will establish five regional park/ride centers with extra bus service to Manhattan. The 107X and 114X bus routes serving the Morris & Essex Line area will enhance service, as well.
Bottom line: Morristown rail commuters, who now have just over an hour-long commute to midtown, can expect a commute of more than two hours if they have to drive to Metlife Stadium and catch a bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Extra bus service only will accommodate about 40,000 of the state’s approximately 105,000 New York-bound rail commuters, leaving 65,000 who may have to fend for themselves, according to NJ Transit projections. Anticipating traffic nightmares, the agency is urging businesses to allow employees to work from home if the rail stoppage occurs.
Letter to Convent Station Commuters:
Dear Convent Train Station Commuter,
In anticipation of a possible New Jersey Transit rail strike, the Mayor, Township Committee, and staff have been working on a contingency plan to offer first-class bus transportation to and from New York City starting Monday, March 14, 2016.
The current plan is to run four (4) buses weekdays only (holiday excluded) starting at6:00 AM from Convent Train Station parking lot. Buses would leave when full. Last bus to leave promptly at 7:00 AM. Drop-off in New York City would be at 34th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. Pick-up would be at the same location starting at 5:00 PM with the last bus leaving promptly at 6:00 PM.
The round trip cost would be $25.00 per day (CASH ONLY) which covers the cost of the bus rental. Tickets will be sold to parking permit holders at the Church parking lot utilized by the Township on a daily first come, first served basis. Parking permits must be presented to Township personnel. Morris Township Police personnel will also be on site to maintain order in the event of picket lines. If seats are available, they will be open to the general public.
It would be helpful for us to determine the correct number of buses if you could confirm by return e-mail to clerk@morristwp.com whether you have an interest in participating.
Hopefully, the labor issues will be resolved and train service will continue uninterrupted.
Please call 973-326-7430 if you have any questions or suggestions.
Thank you.
Timothy F. Quinn
Township Administrator
STATEMENT FROM NJ TRANSIT:
NJ TRANSIT ANNOUNCES ALTERNATE SERVICE PLAN FOR POSSIBLE RAIL STOPPAGE
Commuters advised to expect unusual congestion and delays on all travel modes
NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT Rail Operations faces the prospect of a systemwide shutdown should the membership of its rail union opt to participate in a work stoppage. This would result in the complete suspension of NJ TRANSIT rail service, affecting more than 160,000 customers who ride the system on a typical weekday. In the event of such a stoppage, NJ TRANSIT has developed a contingency plan that would accommodate up to about 38 percent, or about 40,000 seats, of the existing New York-bound customer base.
This contingency plan includes adding capacity to existing New York commuter bus routes in close proximity to rail stations, contracting with private carriers to operate bus service from key regional park-ride locations during weekday peak periods, increasing capacity on its three light rail systems, and maximizing use of the available capacity on PATH and ferry service.
“A rail stoppage would have a severe impact on travel in the entire region, as capacity constraints on both our public transportation system and our road network limit our ability to accommodate every displaced rail customer,” said NJ TRANSIT Interim Executive Director Dennis Martin.
“NJ TRANSIT will operate a plan that the overall system and region can safely handle to accommodate as many customers as possible who absolutely must travel into and out of New York, bearing in mind that bus service cannot replicate the railroad.”
In developing its contingency plan, NJ TRANSIT focused available resources on the largest segment of its rail customer base—the New York-bound customer. Approximately 105,000 customers make up the total rail-based interstate market, including customers who transfer from NJ TRANSIT rail to PATH trains at Hoboken Terminal and Newark Penn Station.
Through a combination of added capacity to existing New York bus routes, operation of a regional park/ride service, and private carriers adding capacity where possible to their own bus routes that parallel rail corridors, NJ TRANSIT estimates that it can carry approximately 40,000 New York customers.
“If a rail stoppage occurs, NJ TRANSIT customers as well as people who normally drive to work should understand that this will not be a normal commute for anyone— particularly with the potential for more than 10,000 additional cars on the road per peak hour,” said Martin.
“As part of our contingency planning, we have reached out to a broad range of employers and business organizations in New Jersey and New York to alert them to the potential stoppage, and we have strongly encouraged them to allow their employees to telecommute if possible.”
Regional Park-Ride Service
Park-ride service will operate on a first come, first served basis from five key regional park-ride lots, weekdays only, during four-hour AM inbound (6 a.m. to 10 a.m.) and four- hour PM outbound (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) peak periods.
- MetLife Stadium to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York
- PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel to New York City (Academy)
- Hamilton Rail Station to Newark Penn Station PATH
- Metropark Rail Station to Harrison PATH Station
- Ramsey/Route 17 Rail Station to Lincoln Harbor Ferry, Weehawken
No midday, evening, weekend or reverse commute service will operate on these park- ride routes.
The park-ride locations were selected based on their size/parking capacity, access to regional highways, and geographical distribution. Access to area PATH stations and ferry service was also analyzed in an effort to minimize congestion at Hudson River crossings.
Enhanced NJ TRANSIT New York Bus Service
NJ TRANSIT will enhance peak period service on 29 existing New York bus routes in close proximity to rail stations. The routes are as follows:
- Northeast Corridor: 108, 112, 115 and 129 bus routes
- North Jersey Coast Line: 116 and 133/135 bus routes
- Raritan Valley Line: 113 and 114X bus routes
- Morris & Essex Lines: 107X and 114X bus routes
- Montclair-Boonton Lines: 191X and 324 bus routes
- Main/Bergen County Lines: 145, 160L, 160T, 160P, 163P, 164SX, 190P/D, 190R, 190X, 192X
- Pascack Valley Line: 151, 162, 163L, 165P, 165R, 165T
In addition, to accommodate Atlantic City Rail Line customers, NJ TRANSIT will enhance service on the 554 bus route, which operates between Atlantic City and Lindenwold. Please note: PATCO will only cross honor Atlantic City Rail Line tickets and passes to/from Philadelphia.
Other NJ TRANSIT Services
Rail: In the event of a stoppage, no rail service will be provided on the Northeast Corridor (including the Princeton Branch/Dinky), North Jersey Coast, Morris & Essex (including Gladstone), Main/Bergen County, Montclair-Boonton, Raritan Valley, Pascack Valley, Atlantic City, and Port Jervis lines.
Bus: To lessen traffic congestion and delays at the Lincoln Tunnel and to take advantage of the proximity to connecting PATH and ferry service, NJ TRANSIT will make the following service adjustments in the event of a rail stoppage:
The 156R, 158 and 159R bus routes serving the River Road corridor will terminate at the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken on weekdays, for cross honoring with connecting NY Waterway ferry service. Weekend service will operate on its regular route to/from New York.
The 126 bus route in Hoboken will operate on a reverse routing on weekday mornings, beginning at Willow Avenue and 19th Street and operating south to Hoboken Terminal, for cross honoring with PATH and ferry service. In the evening, the bus route will operate from Hoboken Terminal back to Willow Avenue and 19th Street. Weekend service will operate on its regular route to/from New York.
Light Rail: Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line service will operate regular weekday schedules with extended peak hour service.
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.
Ticketing
All existing valid rail tickets and passes with an origin or destination of New York will be accepted for travel on all park-ride service, and will be cross-honored on NJ TRANSIT buses and light rail lines, private carrier buses, PATH and NY Waterway.
Customers who do not already have a ticket or pass may purchase round-trip tickets to/from New York during morning hours on site from the park-ride locations. Round-trip tickets for regional park-ride service will also be available via MyTix, NJ TRANSIT’s mobile ticketing app.
Fares from regional park-rides are based on the existing fares from those locations. Adult, senior/disabled, and child fares will be available, as follows:
ORIGIN / DESTINATION / ADULT ROUND TRIP FARE /SENIOR & DISABLED ROUND TRIP FARE / CHILD ROUND TRIP FARE
MetLife Stadium
Port Authority Bus Terminal
$11.00
$4.90
$4.90
Ramsey/Rt 17
Lincoln Harbor Ferry Terminal
$24.50
$11.40
$11.40
Metropark
Harrison PATH Station
$21.50
$9.80
$9.80
Hamilton
Newark Penn Station for PATH connection
$32.50
$14.70
$14.70
PNC Arts Ctr.
New York
$36.00
$18.00
$18.00
Cross-Honoring
NJ TRANSIT rail tickets and passes will be cross-honored on all NJ TRANSIT bus and light rail lines as well as on private carrier buses and PATH trains. Passes also will be cross-honored on all NY Waterway service including Weehawken, Hoboken and North Hoboken, as well as Seastreak services into Manhattan and PATCO service to/from Philadelphia.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation’s largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 938,500 weekday trips on 257 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 165 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.
NJ Transit Contingency Plans: Click to enlarge
More NJT contingency plans. Click to enlarge.
