N.J. Transit Outages Anger Riders, Spur Epic NYC Commutes

(Bloomberg) New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says it’s time to “get back to normal and back to work” after Hurricane Sandy. For commuters who depend on the state’s rail system to reach Manhattan, that’s easier said than done.

Two weeks after the storm slammed into the East Coast, New Jersey Transit isn’t sure when it will resume full service. The agency, the nation’s largest statewide mass-transit network, is running reduced schedules on 10 of 12 commuter-rail lines as the other two remain suspended for repairs.

The Oct. 29 storm washed out some of the system’s 500 miles of track, brought down overhead wires and flooded control points. That created a commuting nightmare as managers jury- rigged a collection of buses and ferries. James Weinstein, the agency’s executive director, said yesterday that he hopes to have the full system functioning within two weeks.

“That’s a realistic assessment,” he said. “I wouldn’t bet my life on it, but we’re pretty confident.” ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-12/n-j-transit-rail-outages-anger-commuters-spur-epic-commutes.html