By Allison Perrine
NEW JERSEY – As the state continues its second phase of reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, some commuters are returning to their typical workday routines.
Businesses are slowly bringing employees back to the office, increasing the number of passengers on New Jersey trains, buses and ferries. Popular transportation services in the Two River area like NJ Transit, Academy Bus and Seastreak are up and running at or near pre-lockdown schedules with safety protocols in place to protect commuters from the virus.
Seastreak Ferries
Seastreak services shut down at the end of March once the pandemic spread in New Jersey, but weekday service reopened in April to carry essential workers to and from New York City, free of charge, so they could help combat COVID-19. Weekend services resumed mid-May. By June 22, services increased and departures were handled by the Seastreak Commodore, “the largest capacity high-speed vessel in the United States,” according to the company. It can accommodate 600 passengers on three decks, with seven restrooms and indoor and outdoor seating, which means more room to social distance.
“For most if not all of us, our day to day routines have been turned upside down by COVID-19 for the past several weeks,” the company posted March 25. “We appreciate all of the kind notes and comments that our customers are sending us, and we look forward to the day when you all return to work and our docks and vessels are bustling again.”
Proper safety protocols have since been enacted for commuters. Vessel capacities have been reduced to allow for social distancing. Face coverings are required inside the terminals, during the boarding process, inside the main cabins of the ferries and while exiting the vessel. Doors are kept open so commuters can avoid touching door handles. All passengers are asked to drop paper tickets in an envelope while boarding, rather than handing them to a Seastreak staff member. Surfaces on the ferries are routinely cleaned between and during trips, with hand sanitizer available outside of the restrooms.
Additionally, the company partnered with Moran Environmental Recovery (MER) – a specialized environmental, industrial, mechanical and emergency response service – to provide a customized cleaning and disinfecting training program on board with guidelines from the CDC, according to Seastreak.
James D. Barker and Jack Bevins, representatives of Seastreak, told The Two River Times that, while commuter ridership is down about 95 percent compared to this time last year – when the vessel would typically hold about 2,500 passengers – those who are on board are following the social distancing protocols properly and are wearing masks. Riders going to and from New York know what to do, they said.
Other areas are thriving for the company, however, like scenic trips to Martha’s Vineyard. The company has introduced a fun new trip, the Seastreak Whale Watching Cruise, during which riders can enjoy sightseeing and maybe spot local marine life like whales, dolphins, sea turtles and more. The cruise leaves from Highlands every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. According to the Barker and Bevins, whales have been spotted in the waters nearly every time the vessels have gone out lately.
NJ Transit
NJ Transit has established a “Ride to Recovery” guideline as it resumes increased ridership services while combating the novel coronavirus. The guideline includes six key components: cleanliness, distancing, service, communication, protective equipment and public safety, and testing, according to president and CEO Kevin Corbett.
“As we begin to transition to the recovery phase, it’s critical that we continue with the same aggressive approach we’ve taken since the onset of the pandemic,” said Corbett. “It’s our mission to have NJ TRANSIT viewed as New Jersey’s ‘Ride to Recovery.’ ”
To maintain cleanliness, transit vehicles and station areas are disinfected daily, especially high-touch and high-traffic areas. That includes ticket machines, turnstiles, handrails and more. The company has commissioned Rutgers University to study the use of ultraviolet light for disinfecting its bus fleet, according to Corbett. Other hygiene and cleaning protocols will be followed in accordance with recommendations from the CDC and state Department of Health.
The workforce presence is now limited to only the essential employees needed to operate the vehicle, he continued. Transit stations remind customers to social distance as much as possible. The full weekday schedule of rail and light rail services resumed July 6, and ridership is monitored daily to make adjustments to manage capacity whenever possible.
The company’s “Safe NJ” campaign is up and running, with prominent graphics and signs posted throughout train stations and vehicles featuring simple instructions on “ideal transit behaviors” during the pandemic. Those same messages are posted routinely on the company’s website, social media platforms buses and light rail vehicles and other locations.
Face coverings are required while on public transit vehicles throughout the entire journey and in NJ Transit-owned public spaces, like stairways, platforms and stations – even if social distancing is viable. Employees who deal with the public must also wear face coverings and gloves at all times. And all NJ Transit employees have access to testing at several locations throughout the state.
“We will maintain current, stringent protocols and policies for employees seeking to return to work after a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 or after the employee had direct, close or prolonged contact with a person with COVID-19,” said Corbett. Employees “will not be allowed to return to work after testing positive” until cleared by a medical professional.
Additionally, the company is now offering its customers a “more contactless” experience on the railroad system. Announced July 9, the company is using mobile devices to scan and validate paper and electronic tickets to create a more contactless experience with improved ridership data, according to the company.
“This is another way in which we continue to modernize NJ TRANSIT to fully utilize all of the digital technology available today,” said Corbett. “The data collected by scanning tickets and passes will provide us with faster insights into ridership trends and revenue streams allowing us to more efficiently adjust service when needed. The mobile devices also have the ability for crew members to easily see information about potential service disruptions and improve onboard communications to customers.”
As more customers return to work, NJ Transit representatives ask that riders avoid talking loudly and avoid phone use until after their trip. Traveling during nonpeak hours is encouraged when possible. And stay home when feeling sick.
Corbett thanked all NJ Transit users for their “patience and understanding” during what he called “unprecedented times.”
“The bottom line is, we’re all in this together. If we each commit to doing our part, we’ll avoid further spread of the virus, improve your experience on our system, and help New Jersey and our region come back stronger than ever,” said Corbett.
An NJ Transit employee who asked to have their name withheld told The Two River Times that ridership is down, but “definitely getting busier” as more people get back to work. The parking lots are noticeably emptier “whereas they used to be packed” before the pandemic, the employee said. “I haven’t seen anyone not following protocol and everyone has been wearing masks, social distancing, etc.,” and the employee has not received any complaints.
Academy Bus
In response to the pandemic, Academy Bus is now mandating that passengers wear masks at all times and maintain social distancing while on board, entering and exiting the vehicles, according to the company. Capacities have been limited to about 50 percent on the buses, and the first row behind the driver is not open for passengers. Sanitizing wipes are available on all buses.
Additionally, buses are cleaned daily, especially high-touch surfaces. The floors are mopped and restrooms wiped down routinely, according to the company.
Middletown resident Brian Kyne currently commutes to his job by bus. At the beginning of the pandemic he started driving, but there were certain days when that wasn’t feasible and he would take the bus, he said.
“There’s not many people on the bus so social distancing is kind of just happening, honestly,” Kyne said. “You have to wear a mask and they have cleaning supplies on the bus, so I’m hoping they cleaned it – I just never saw it.” He added that traffic has been a bit worse than usual on the bus because most people he knows are driving, adding more vehicles to the road.
Red Bank resident Daniel Doyle said as a frequent rider of the bus to and from New York City for work, he decided to start driving his vehicle instead of commuting due to the pandemic. He made the decision in March, but plans to return to the bus or ferry in the “very near future,” he said.
“Traffic is light, which is amazing,” Doyle told The Two River Times.
Ben Martin, a spokesperson for Academy Bus, told The Two River Times that as the state’s COVID-19 data maintains relative stability, the company is seeing “small, incremental growth in ridership” throughout the state and the region, compared to the lows during the height of the pandemic.
“The riding public can feel safe returning to bus service for their commuting needs. Academy Bus is taking extensive precautions to safeguard the health of our drivers and passengers, including adhering to CDC health recommendations for masking and social distancing. We also look forward to debuting additional ‘contactless’ services in the coming months,” said Martin.
The article originally appeared in the July 23 – 29, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
