State Senators quizzed NJ transit officials about a plan to bar non-world cup ticket holders from accessing Penn Station for a four-hour window
NEW YORK (TIP): New Jersey Senators on Thursday questioned NJ Transit’s plan to restrict access to Penn Station for regular commuters for four hours in favor of World Cup soccer fans.
Legislators reacted to a media report that said NJ Transit will close parts of Penn Station New York to non-ticket holders on eight match days in June and July for four hours before a scheduled game.
“This seems to be an event that keeps getting more complicated,” said State Sen. Renee C. Burgess, D-Essex, during a hearing on the state budget. “Is there operational justification for restricting Penn Station?”
NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri confirmed there will be what he called a “temporary diversion” of non-World Cup riders at Penn Station. NJ Transit has to move 28,000 people to and from Penn Station on each of the eight days World Cup games are played, he said.
Of the eight World Cup games to be played at MetLife, four are on weekdays. Only one weekday game, scheduled at 8 p.m. on June 22, will affect the evening commute, he said.
“The concern is how it impacts commuters, it’s a very important question,” Kolluri said. “Of the four weekday games, three are at a time when this temporary diversion is at non-peak hours.” Penn Station is the first of three World Cup security areas; the others are at Secaucus Junction and MetLife Stadium, he said.
President Donald Trump and 14 other world leaders are expected to attend World Cup games, increasing security requirements, said State Sen. Paul Sarlo, Senate budget committee chairman. “We have an open (transit) system, that will not be the case for this,” Kolluri said. “We will detail it in the next week or so.” One security issue is that it’s customary for some soccer fans to carry flares to matches. But that’s not going to happen, Kolluri said.
“Equally important is safety, there is a limited capacity,” Kolluri said. “We have to make sure train sets are set aside at Penn Station…that they are secure and (fans) checked.”
Other transit options will be available for affected commuters, Kolluri said.
“The best part about New Jersey and the region is Amtrak is still functioning, PATH is still functioning, all New Jersey Transit buses are still functioning, the ferry system is still functioning outside the security perimeter,” he said.
A day before Thursday’s hearing, Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla and Assemblywoman Katie Brennan, D-Hudson, were the first lawmakers to demand NJ Transit clarify the World Cup plan for commuters.
“It’s not clear how people are supposed to get home from work or if there’s any sort of contingency plans in place. Riders deserve answers right now.” Brennan said in a statement.
“This will be a huge disruption for more than a hundred thousand NJ Transit riders,” said Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla. “The World Cup is only two months away. There’s been no public discussion about this or even a formal announcement. We need transparency and a real, detailed plan from NJ Transit and the Host Committee.”
While Kolluri said ticket prices have not been set for World Cup rail service he said commuters will not subsidize travelers to and from the soccer matches.
The plan, first reported by NorthJersey.com, would expand NJ Transit’s initial announcement that only FIFA World Cup match ticket holders will be allowed to ride trains to the MetLife Stadium rail station to include Penn Station, the world’s busiest rail station.
Amtrak and Long Island Railroad riders using Penn Station would not be affected.
Match-goers would take NJ Transit trains to Secaucus Junction where they would transfer either to trains or the under-construction Transitway bus rapid transit system to MetLife Stadium.
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