New Jersey (WABC) – Friday, agencies in the region are preparing for a possible New Jersey transit strike which could cause big problems for shuttles.
The union which represents engineers who drive trains threatens to leave work on Friday if a contract is not concluded.
It would be the first transit strike in 42 years and has potentially an impact on 350,000 people.
Governor Phil Murphy said the state was preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best when approaching the deadline.
“I hope and pray to be able to find the common ground to avoid a strike,” said Murphy.
Discussions have been underway in Washington, DC between the brotherhood of local engineers and the trainmens and the chief of the New Jersey Transit.
Monday negotiations were called productive, the only major bonding point being the wages of the 450 members of the union.
The New York and New Jersey port authority announced the following directives in the event of suspension of the Transit Rail Service NJ.
Here are the alternative routes that passengers must know:
Midtown bus station
NJ Transit has provided a railway services disruption plan which includes an additional bus service at the Midtown bus station.
Some private suburban carriers plan to add or modify services to accommodate additional passengers.
As a precaution, some carriers will temporarily move to provide space for additional arrivals and transit bus departures.
Passengers should carefully examine the starting doors by bus.
From Monday, May 12, all trailway departures will start from doors 64-68 at the lower level of the north wing.
The exclusive bus route of the Lincoln tunnel, currently in force on weekdays, starting at 6 am, will have widened the hours if necessary.
Expect crowded conditions during peak hours in the bus station, because NJ Transit has a limited capacity to accommodate the busy passengers in bus.
Passengers should allow additional journey time.
The port authority will provide additional staff to help the navigation of passengers and the management of crowds.
Rail of the way
During the week, the path service will operate on a normal schedule.
As always, Path will monitor stations and add the service if necessary to resolve all dangerous overcrowding conditions.
During peak hours, customers could undergo temporary overcrowding conditions.
Those who do not need to drive during rush hour are invited to avoid the system during this period.
Additional path staff will be available to help navigation of passengers and crowd management.
Mass transit existing to / from Newark Liberty International Airport:
In the event of suspension of the NJ Transit Rail Service, NJ transit trains will not serve the Newark Liberty international airport train station.
Select the Amtrak trains will continue to serve the station. Passengers will need an Amtrak ticket to get on an Amtrak train. AirTrain Newark will continue to operate to / from the airport station for Amtrak passengers.
Travelers are invited to use bus lines serving Newark Liberty International Airport. These include NJ Transit Bus Got 28 (Bloomfield-Newark), 37 (Maplewood-Irvington-Newark), 62 (Newark-Elizabeth), 67 (Ocean-Monmouth-Middlesex-Newark) and USA Express Service coach from Manhattan.
Drivers should allow additional journey time and expect crowded conditions on airport roads.
New travel option provided by the port authority between Newark-Penn Station and Newark Liberty International Airport:
Update: from May 16, the port authority will work free of charge and the direct shuttle bus service between Newark-Penn Station and the P4 station of AirTrain Newark every 20 minutes. Free shuttles will not work between 2 hours and 5 a.m., traditionally, when NJ Transit does not use rail service. Travelers should allow additional journey time and expect overcrowded conditions on buses and stations
Additional Port Authority will be available to help passenger navigate and crowd management at Newark-Penn station and the airport.
Go to Newark Airport from Newark-Penn station:
Update: at Newark-Penn station, passengers must follow the panels and the staff management to the pickup / deposit point of Raymond Plaza West. The shuttle will go directly to AirTrain Newark P4 station. There, travelers can climb on board AirTrain Newark to access all airport terminals.
Go from Newark airport to Newark-Penn station:
Take AirTrain Newark to P4 station. There, travelers should go to the ground level and follow the management of the personnel of the port authority to the pickup point / deposit of the shuttle. The shuttle will go directly to Newark-Penn station.
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