NJ Transit Has Cross-Honoring System Today for Storm

With a blast of winter weather expected to hit New Jersey Friday, NJ TRANSIT today announced that system wide cross-honoring will be in effect for the entire service day Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday, Feb. 9.

Cross-honoring enables customers to use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode, including rail, bus or light rail. 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, for example. 

The latest estimate for Central New Jersey from the National Weather Service (NWS) calls for snowfall in the five to ten inch range.

Additionally, NJ TRANSIT is encouraging customers to consider traveling early on Friday due to the expected impact of the storm on the evening commute. 

With the potential for near-blizzard conditions that may impact portions of the area starting tomorrow afternoon, NJ TRANSIT said rail and light rail crews with equipment are on standby to quickly respond to downed trees, power outages or other issues that may arise.  The company said they will also 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.

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. 

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