(The Associated Press circulated the following article by Janet Frankston on December 21.)
NEWARK, N.J. — As New York’s transit workers strike continues, New Jersey commuters are turning to PATH trains to get into Manhattan.
Ridership has spiked in the two days of the strike.
During Wednesday’s morning commute, 71,263 passengers boarded the train in New Jersey, said Steve Coleman, a spokesman for the Port Authority, which runs the train service and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels. On Tuesday, 70,520 passengers _ an 8 percent increase from a normal day _ rode from New Jersey into the city.
Nearly 54,810 people _ 76 percent more than a normal day _ boarded PATH trains at the 33rd Street station in Manhattan on Tuesday. Coleman said 267,835 passengers overall used the PATH system on Tuesday, the highest number since before the Sept. 11 attacks. Comparable numbers weren’t available for Wednesday.
While PATH train ridership has increased, fewer commuters are driving from New Jersey. Drivers are restricted to four in a car below 96th Street from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m.
On Wednesday, 6,169 cars passed through the Lincoln Tunnel into Manhattan between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. That’s still 311 more than on Tuesday, but far below the normal traffic of 26,402 cars, Coleman said.
The number of cars at the Holland Tunnel _ 3,182 _ decreased by 773 on Wednesday. Wednesday’s figures are 81 percent less than a regular day.
Ridership remained steady on NJ Transit, although new customers are trying the commuter rail and bus service, said spokeswoman Penny Bassett Hackett.
She said some passengers were not able to get inside Penn Station Tuesday because of the crush of riders. She advised customers to use the 8th Avenue and 31st Street entrance.
Customer service agents have been deployed to help new passengers, and the transit system is cross-honoring tickets for rail and buses, Bassett Hackett said.