Pope’s Visit Will Test New York Area Transit

For months, city and transportation officials have been planning how to handle the crush of visitors

By
ANDREW TANGEL
Aug. 28, 2015 8:21 p.m. ET

New Yorkers expect transit delays and traffic jams when the president visits or world leaders gather at the United Nations.

But in late September, the region’s transportation network could face an even bigger challenge as Pope Francis barnstorms the East Coast, with a visit to the Big Apple during weekday commutes.

For months, city and transportation officials have been planning how to handle the potential for tens or hundreds of thousands of visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis between the events on his itinerary.

While encouraging riders to take mass transit instead of driving into the city, transportation officials are also urging riders to plan ahead and expect packed trains, delays and added security.

“Patience will be required,” said Ronnie Hakim, executive director of NJ Transit, the operator of commuter trains, light rail and buses. “We think it will be crowded.”

While NJ Transit expects to run more buses into and out of the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on Friday, Sept. 25, Amtrak’s two Hudson River rail tunnels lack the capacity to handle additional rush-hour commuter trains, she said.

By the time the pope arrives, Amtrak expects to have finished work to repair the aging tunnels’ electrical system, whose malfunctions caused several days of long delays for commuters last month.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/popes-visit-will-test-new-york-area-transit-1440807664