Commuters Plan Ahead To Avoid Transit Nightmare During Pope's Visit
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- Commuter alert, gridlock alert, whatever you call it, be ready.
The Pope's visit means travel will be an extraordinary challenge and traffic will be a mess.
As CBS2's Christine Sloan reported, it was a summer of headaches for New Jersey Transit riders who dealt with delays and cancellations caused by electrical problems.
Now, Pope Francis is coming to Manhattan. He's addressing the United Nations on Thursday and leading mass at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
There's also a Giants game at Met Life Stadium just hours after his Holy Father lands.
Stressed out commuters have been planning ahead.
"Fortunately, I am able to work at home a few days a week, and I think I am going to pick Thursday or Friday to do that. That's my plan," Jeff Dearie said.
It's what NJ transit has told riders to do, despite adding extra trains and buses.
Once you get into Manhattan officials advise that you try not to get into cabs or buses because there are going to be a lot of road closures. Your best bet might just be walking.
Commuters who can't stay home were worried about getting to the city.
"Maybe I'll take Amtrak if it's going to be that bad," Ryan Weston said.
Amtrak may be the way to go. NJ Transit uses Amtrak tracks, but Amtrak trains get priority when there's an issue.
Security will be tight.
"Make sure you have your photo ID with you and are prepared to show it to the conductor," Amtrak Spokesman Craig Schulz, said.
You can drive to Newark's Penn Station to catch an Amtrak train, other stops in New Jersey include Newark Liberty International Airport, Metropark, Princeton Junction, and Trenton.
If you're going to the Pope's main event in Philadelphia over the weekend, Amtrak into Trenton. It's where you can get on NJ Transit's River Line to Camden, then walk over the Ben Franklin Bridge which will be open to pedestrians, but closed to drivers starting Friday night.
"The best advice I can give folks, number one to be patient, be prepared for the possibility of some crowding conditions," Schulz said.
Bring comfortable shoes because waiting and walking are inevitable.
Riders should also buy train tickets in advance to avoid waiting on potential lines at vending machines.
CBS2 will have complete coverage of the papal visit to New York including his address to the United nations General Assembly, his visits to the 9/11 Memorial Museum, and an East Harlem school, as well as the procession through Central Park, and mass at Madison Square Garden.