NJ TRANSIT ANNOUNCES FULL, SYSTEMWIDE CROSS-HONORING IN ADVANCE OF WINTER STORM

Additional Rail Service to Run Friday Afternoon; Customers advised to check njtransit.com before traveling

February 7, 2013
NJT-13-008.2

 ***NOTE: RELEASE UPDATED TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FRIDAY AFTERNOON RAIL SERVICE***

NEWARK, NJ - As the season's next winter storm moves toward the region, NJ TRANSIT operations, customer service and police personnel are taking steps to minimize delays and ensure service reliability and safety.  All customers are strongly advised to check njtransit.com before traveling for up-to-the-minute service information before starting their trip.

Systemwide Cross-Honoring in Effect:  To give customers additional travel options during expected winter weather conditions, NJ TRANSIT will offer full system wide cross-honoring for the entire service day Friday, February 8 and Saturday, February 9, enabling customers to use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode-rail, light rail or bus. For example, customers who normally take the bus from Rutherford to the Port Authority Bus Terminal may use their bus pass or ticket on the train from Rutherford to New York Penn Station.  Similarly, customers who normally take the bus between Atlantic City and Lindenwold may use the Atlantic City Rail Line instead at no additional charge.

Additionally, NJ TRANSIT bus, rail and light rail passes will be cross-honored on private carrier buses.

Extended Station Hours for Passenger Comfort:  All NJ TRANSIT-owned and operated rail station waiting rooms will remain open extended hours, including evenings and overnight, throughout the storm.

Additionally, NJ TRANSIT is encouraging customers to consider traveling early on Friday due to the expected impact of the storm on the evening commute.  Additional trains will run tomorrow afternoon on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line, Raritan Valley Line, Morris & Essex Lines as well as on the Port Jervis Line.  Visit the trip planner located at njtransit.com for further information. 

NJ TRANSIT will also continue to closely monitor the crowds at New York Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal and the Port Authority Bus Terminal and make adjustments to service as necessary.

The corporation is preparing to minimize disruptions and delays to the extent possible, particularly in light of the potential for near-blizzard conditions that may impact portions of the area starting tomorrow afternoon.  Rail and light rail crews and equipment are on standby to quickly respond to downed trees, power outages or other issues that may arise.  In addition, NJ TRANSIT will be positioning locomotives at strategic locations across the rail system to rapidly respond in the event of a disabled train. 

Customers are advised of the following:

  • Systemwide:  NJ TRANSIT plans to operate a regular weekday schedule on Friday, February 8, and a regular weekend schedule on Saturday, February 9.  Depending on the impact of the storm, it may be necessary for NJ TRANSIT to modify service as conditions change. 
  • Bus Service:  While every effort will be made to continue operating bus service throughout the state, customers may experience delays or detours on their routes in the event of extreme winter weather conditions.  Customers are advised to plan accordingly and anticipate disruptions to bus service.
  • Access Link:  Access Link paratransit service will be cancelled starting on Friday afternoon and continuing all day Saturday in Region 4 (Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and north Ocean counties), Region 5 (Essex, Union, Somerset and Morris counties) and Region 6 (Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and parts of Essex counties).  No new outbound trips in these regions will be provided after 3:30 p.m. on Friday, and all return trips will be accomplished as early as possible.  Full service will continue to operate in Region 2 (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties) and Region 3 (Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and south Ocean counties) unless conditions warrant otherwise.

Travel Advice:

  • For the latest travel information, visit njtransit.com or access our Twitter feed at @NJ_TRANSIT prior to starting your trip. In the event of delays or service adjustments, NJ TRANSIT will provide the most current service information via the My Transit alert system, which delivers travel advisories for your specific trip to your cell phone, PDA or pager. (If you are not yet a My Transit subscriber, we encourage you to sign up at www.njtransit.com/mytransit) Service information is also available by calling (973) 275-5555 or from broadcast traffic reports.
  • Listen closely to public address announcements at stations for late-breaking service information.
  • Build additional travel time into your trip to a station, terminal or bus stop.
  • Stairs, flooring and platforms can be slippery, so please use caution when walking along wet surfaces or any outdoor surface exposed to the weather. Use extra care when boarding or exiting buses and trains.
  • Report slippery or unsafe conditions to bus operators, train crews or NJ TRANSIT staff.
  • If you park, ensure your car is stocked with a snow brush and ice scraper so you can clear your car upon returning to the lot.

NJ TRANSIT is prepared to handle the impending winter weather:

  • Snow plows and salt spreaders are ready for service and snow-removal contracts are in place with outside vendors.
  • NJ TRANSIT is well-stocked with 16,000 bags of snow-melting supplies, and hundreds of shovels and snow blowers.
  • NJ TRANSIT has performed maintenance and testing on its two rail-mounted jet snow blowers in the event they are needed to help clear train tracks of snow and ice, particularly in rail yards.
  • More than 750 rail switches, switch heaters and overhead wires were inspected as part of NJ TRANSIT's preventative maintenance program.
  • Onboard heating systems, thermostats, weather stripping and electronic components have been inspected on NJ TRANSIT railcars, light rail cars and locomotives.
  • Bus maintenance personnel have inspected and performed necessary maintenance on a fleet of nearly 2,200 buses - from the heating and airbrake systems, to the engine fluids, tires, windshield wipers and doors.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 895,000 weekday trips on 261 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the second largest transit system in the country with 164 rail stations, 61 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.