Port Authority issues guidance for potential NJ TRANSIT rail suspension starting May 16; agency deploys extra staff at bus terminals, PATH stations to manage increased crowds

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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced the following guidance in the event of a suspension of NJ TRANSIT rail service beginning Friday, May 16:

Midtown Bus Terminal:

• NJ TRANSIT has provided a rail service disruption plan that includes supplemental bus service to the Midtown Bus Terminal.  Click here for more information. 

• Some private commuter carriers are planning to add or modify service to accommodate additional passengers.  Contact bus carriers for more information. A full list of carriers operating at the terminal and contact information can be found here. 

• 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.   

o   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. 

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. 

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:

o   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:

o   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.

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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state agency that builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. For over a century, the agency’s network of major airports; critical bridges, tunnels and bus terminals; a commuter rail line; and the busiest seaport on the East Coast has been among the most vital in the country – transporting hundreds of millions of people and moving essential goods into and out of the region. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center campus, which today welcomes tens of thousands of office workers and millions of annual visitors. The agency’s historic $37 billion 10-year capital plan includes unprecedented transformation of the region’s three major airports – LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and JFK – as well as an array of other new and upgraded assets, including the $2 billion renovation of the 93-year-old George Washington Bridge. The Port Authority’s annual budget of $9.4 billion includes no tax revenue from either the states of New York or New Jersey or from the city of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit. For more information, visit www.panynj.gov or check out the Now Arriving blog.