New York Waterway is ready to increase their ferry service if NJ Transit workers strike this week after Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLET) membership voted down a tentative agreement.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We’re closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to increase capacity and frequency of our ferry service between New Jersey and Manhattan based on demand,” NY Waterway President and CEO Armand Pohan said in a statement.
“The ferry, which is fast, comfortable and reliable, can provide the best alternative commuting option into and out of the city for many New Jersey rail commuters.”
Passengers are encouraged to monitor and sign up for announcements, advisories and route-specific alerts through their website.
NY Waterway provides service to both Midtown (W. 39th Street) and Downtown Manhattan (Pier 11/Wall Street and Brookfield Place/Battery Park City) from nine New Jersey terminals in Edgewater, Weehawken, Hoboken, Jersey City, and South Amboy.
NJ Transit has estimated that a strike, which could happen as early as Friday, would impact over 35,000 New Jersey commuters, and therefore are urging them to work at home for the duration of the strike if possible.
“NJ Transit strongly encourages all those who can work from home to do so and limit traveling on the NJ Transit system to essential purposes only. This contingency plan includes adding very limited capacity to existing New York commuter bus routes in close proximity to rail stations and contracting with private carriers to operate bus service from key regional Park & Ride locations during weekday peak periods,” their website says.
“In developing its contingency plan, NJ Transit focused available resources on the largest segment of its rail customer base—the more than 70,000 New York-bound customers, including customers who transfer from NJ Transit rail to PATH trains at Hoboken Terminal and Newark Penn Station.”