NJ Transit vs. Boxcar Bus: Which commute is faster and cheaper during Portal Bridge work?

Alright, it's 7 o'clock in the morning. We are here at the Watchung Avenue Station. I just left Tom. He's got a two-minute head start on the boxcar bus to get him into Midtown Manhattan. I'm taking NJ Transit in during Phase 2 of the Portal Bridge Cutover Project. Once we get into the city, we're meeting at the corner of 38th and 6th. So let's see who gets in a little bit faster. My 702 train pulled up a few minutes late. The ride was quiet, but things slowed as we approached Hoboken Terminal. That's because Phase 2 of the Portal North Bridge Cutover is underway. way. Crews are moving the remaining track onto the new bridge, forcing weekday commuters on affected Midtown direct lines to transfer in Hoboken. So instead of riding directly into New York Penn Station, I have to stop here at Hoboken and make a connection. The next train, the path. And I believe a lot of the people that we're seeing here right now are going to be headed on it, too. At Hoboken Terminal, Signage and New Jersey Transit employees help point commuters in the right direction. All tickets out, please. I don't know if we are going to be able to get on this one. So long, first train. We'll wait for the next. Luckily, the wait wasn't long. Once I got on, it was five quick stops, then I was off the path and walking five blocks to our meeting spot. The bus was faster than the train. Got there first. Comfy seats, only took about an hour of the usual traffic on the Helix, but apparently that was nothing compared to the train transfers you dealt with. No, an hour and 30 to get in. Of course, we were slow rolling into Hoboken Terminal, Then there was the transfer at the PATH station, so again, just lots of, I'll say, morning chaos. While Tom's commute was quicker, mine came with a lower price tag, just $6.60 one way, with New Jersey Transit tickets cross-honored on the PATH. In Midtown Manhattan, Amanda Eustace, News 12, New Jersey.