New Jersey Transit commuters should prepare for potential disruptions to their daily travel as construction work began on Sunday, impacting service after Presidents’ Day. The upgrades to the Portal Bridge are expected to cause temporary service changes for at least a month.
Changes to Expect
The impacts will primarily affect rail lines operating through the Portal Bridge corridor, including services into and out of New York Penn Station. NJ Transit states these changes are necessary for a safe transition to the new bridge infrastructure.
- Customers are encouraged to check schedules, allow extra travel time, and be aware that alternate service options for Midtown Direct customers on the Morristown, Gladstone, and Montclair-Boonton Lines—diverted to Hoboken—have limited capacity and may be crowded during peak hours.
- Traveling before 7 a.m. Or after 9 a.m. On weekday mornings, or before 4 p.m. Or after 7 p.m. On weekday evenings is recommended if travel is essential.
- Customers who can work from home are encouraged to do so during this period.
Regular service is currently scheduled to resume on March 15th. Customers should check the NJ Transit website for updates: https://www.njtransit.com/portalcutover.
What is Being Done?
The cutover work includes deactivation of the old bridge’s infrastructure, reconfiguration and activation of new track alignments, and integration of new signaling, power, and communications systems. Testing and commissioning of safety systems are also key elements.
What to Expect During the Next Month
NJ Transit riders can anticipate modified train schedules with earlier departures, reduced service frequencies, longer travel times, and potential train consolidations or cancellations.
Customer support measures include cross-honoring with PATH and New York Waterway Ferry, enhanced peak ferry service, cross-honoring of NJ Transit rail tickets on bus service (for example, Perth Amboy to Port Authority Bus Terminal), advance service impact notices, real-time alerts, station signage, a FLEXPASS ticket option (20-trips with a 15% discount, on sale February 15th), and additional NJ Transit staff in Hoboken and Secaucus.
Currently, only one track is in service between Newark and Secaucus, which reduces capacity to half the usual number of trains per hour, potentially causing delays and cancellations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is causing these disruptions?
Construction work to transfer rail traffic to the newly constructed Portal North Bridge is causing the disruptions.
When is regular service expected to resume?
Regular service is currently scheduled to resume on March 15th.
What options are available if my train is cancelled or delayed?
NJ Transit is cross-honoring tickets with PATH and New York Waterway Ferry, and rail tickets are also being honored on NJ Transit bus service.
As this work progresses, how will these changes impact your daily commute?
