The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that a potential NJ TRANSIT work stoppage starting on or after Sunday, March 13, could mean some transportation changes for New Yorkers. Customers should stay informed throughout the duration of any event by signing up for service alerts at MyMTAAlerts.com, monitoring Service Status on MTA.info, or following the MTA’s social media feeds listed at web.mta.info/social.
Because NJ TRANSIT operates the trains that serve Metro-North Railroad’s Port Jervis Line and Pascack Valley Line in Orange and Rockland Counties, N.Y., those lines would not operate during a work stoppage. Metro-North has arranged service options for its customers that could begin 24 hours after a strike is announced. Details are below.
MTA New York City Transit will evaluate road conditions on a daily basis and to avoid traffic congestion could reroute express buses that normally travel through New Jersey between Staten Island and Manhattan. The following routes could instead travel through Brooklyn in the mornings and evenings: X17J, X21, X22, X22A, X30. Also the X31 could be rerouted through Brooklyn in the evenings only.
New York City Transit also will add additional station personnel at subway stations near PATH train stations and the Port Authority Bus Terminal, including 14 St-6 Av, 34 St-Herald Sq, 42 St-Times Square, 42 St-8 Av and World Trade Center. The MTA advises customers to expect longer lines at MetroCard vending machines and urges customers to purchase MetroCards in advance.
As a precaution, MTA Bridges and Tunnels is preparing staff and equipment to handle additional traffic if it should materialize at any of the MTA’s nine crossings.
Options for Metro-North’s Port Jervis Line and Pascack Valley Line Customers
Metro-North’s customers from west of the Hudson River should anticipate crowded conditions and long commute times. Metro-North strongly urges customers to consider the following options:
- Discuss telecommuting or flex time options with your employer
- Stay with family or friends in New York for access to available public transportation services
- Connect with others willing to carpool by using New York State’s Rideshare tool at www.511ny.org/rideshare
- Use existing bus services
For those Port Jervis Line and Pascack Valley Line customers who do wish to travel, Metro-North would provide limited service options.
Shuttle Bus Service to Metro-North’s Hudson Line
In the event of an NJTRANSIT rail work stoppage, Metro-North would provide limited, peak-direction shuttle bus service between Rockland and Orange Counties and the Hudson Line during rush hours only. There will be no off-peak, weekend or reverse commute service.
Shuttle bus service will operate from three locations:
- Middletown-Town of Wallkill Metro-North Station. This bus will travel to Metro-North’s Beacon Station.
- Harriman Metro-North Station. This bus will travel to Metro-North’s Tarrytown Station.
- Palisades Center in West Nyack. This bus will also travel to Metro-North’s Tarrytown Station.
MTA employees will be at all three shuttle bus locations to assist customers; Metro-North will post additional temporary signs to help direct customers as well.
Metro-North’s Cross-Hudson Ferries & Limited Parking Opportunities
The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry and the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry, which are operated by New York Waterway under contract to Metro-North, will operate on their regular schedules. Both ferries offer departures that are timed to connect with specific trains on Metro-North’s Hudson Line. Schedules are available at these links:
- Newburgh-Beacon Ferry: http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/raillink/schedules/Newburgh_1015.pdf
- Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry: http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/raillink/schedules/Haverstraw_1015.pdf
Metro-North cannot guarantee the availability of parking at the Newburgh Ferry Dock or the Haverstraw Ferry Dock, and recommends that customers carpool or get dropped off.
Some parking may also be available at two Metro-North stations in Westchester County.
- Cortlandt, on the Hudson Line, which under good traffic conditions is a 15-minute drive via U.S. Route 202 and U.S. Route 9 from the Bear Mountain Bridge
- North White Plains, on the Harlem Line, not far from Interstate 287 Exit 6
Metro-North to Cross-Honor Port Jervis Line and Pascack Valley Line Tickets
Conductors on Metro-North’s east of Hudson lines – the Hudson Line, Harlem Line and New Haven Line – will cross-honor Port Jervis Line and Pascack Valley Line tickets. Valid tickets for Port Jervis Line or Pascack Valley Line trains will be required to board the shuttle buses. Metro-North urges customers to plan ahead, because ticket vending machines at West-of-Hudson stations will not operate during the strike.
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