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Message |
    
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1342
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 8:47 am: | 
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My husband is starting a job that is in the building at Grand Central Terminal. Is there any other option besides either walking or going up to 42nd via subway and transferring to the 7 or the S? Any Bus routes that go that way? Just curious if anyone has found the "perfect" route. |
darrensager
Citizen
Username: Darrensager
Post Number: 333
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 9:00 am: |
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After working at the Helmsley Builing at 230 Park Ave and commuting from here, I found the best way is to jump on the subway up to the Times Square Station (the next stop up from Penn on the 2 or 3 (Red Line)) so you can get on the Shuttle that provides a direct link between the Times Square Station and Grand Central Station. This is hands down the fastest way.
On nice days I would walk for many reasons: Saves you $$, better for your health, lots of things to see, etc. |
bmpsab
Citizen
Username: Bmpsab
Post Number: 197
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 9:22 am: |
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If there is a bus, your husband will not want to take a crosstown bus during rushhour. You can walk faster!
The other option would be to take the E train directly from Penn Station to 51st and Lexington and then walk down to Grand Central. Not sure whether that or (the 2/3 to the shuttle trian) is faster, but there would be no connections involved (so less time spent waiting for the subway to come). |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1343
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 9:22 am: |
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Darren - is the 2/3 pretty close to the transfer to the shuttle, or do you have to schlep underground for a while to get to the S? |
bmpsab
Citizen
Username: Bmpsab
Post Number: 198
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 9:24 am: |
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The distance between the 2/3 and the shuttle is not that far. It is up a flight of steps and then around a long corner if you make sure you are at the correct end of the platform. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1830
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 9:34 am: |
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Its a 15 - 20 minute walk. The weather is seldom so severe that I take the train.
/p |
Gatica™
Citizen
Username: Katracho
Post Number: 285
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 9:41 am: |
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I second darrensager. I do that commute every day. The 1/2/3 (get on the first car) to Times Square and then the (S)huttle is the fastest way. I do this in the morning. Barring inclement weather, in the evening, if I have about half an hour for my NJTransit train, I walk.
I worked in the PanAm/MetLife building a few years ago. The coolest thing was the fact that I did not have to deal with the weather once I got out of the train to go to my office. Everything is interconnected. Even for lunch, you don’t have to step outside.
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tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 4442
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 10:01 am: |
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I did that commute for a number of years. Most of the time the subway doesn't save any time over walking ... you have to wait for the 1/2/3, and then wait for the shuttle, and do some walking in between.
The Penn Station platforms for the IRT are not helpful. Unlike most stations where you wait on the same platform for the express or local, there the express and local have different platforms, meaning you can't just jump on whatever comes first. So if you pick wrong, you can wait 5 or more minutes for the next train. It's not much, but there goes your time advantage -- you could have been up to 39th street already on foot! |
darrensager
Citizen
Username: Darrensager
Post Number: 334
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 10:28 am: |
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I agree with Gatica. Make sure you stay in the very first car on the 1/2/3 so that when you arrive at the Times Sq. Station you can easily walk up the stairs, make a right, walk 100 feet or so and you'll see the Shuttle to Grand Central on your left.
As Gatica noted, once you've boarded the train here in Maplewood, you'll never have to step outside if you don't want to. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4104
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 10:59 am: |
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When I was very pregnant (10 years ago!) I did that commute too. I loved the walk and only rarely took the train. |
monster
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2294
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 11:44 am: |
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"Monster Wife" says that taking the train is for "stupid, idiot, wimps". She says that "you should walk, it's good to make an effort in life".
She also says, "Hi Tom".
Feel free to flame away, just remember to direct all flames to "Monster Wife".
Dave, can you register "Monster Wife", and then ban her? |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10848
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 11:56 am: |
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Isn't "Monster Wife" a new companion show for "Monster Garage" where Jesse and friends redo somebodies wife every week?  |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1344
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 1:00 pm: |
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Fully aware of what the walk is like - have done it many times and is usually how I get between the two stations when I have done it before.
Just looking for other alternatives/possibilities. Thanks all (except Monster's Wife) |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1211
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 6:24 pm: |
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Ummmm...sorry to be the bearer of bad news but... I just got a new job over here on the east side and I HATE THE COMMUTE. It adds on about an extra 15 minutes BOTH ways for me.
Not that this is a huge help for you, but my wife works in Jersey City, so I sometimes drive with her and take the Path to WTC and then the 4/5 up to GCS. It's NOT ANY FASTER because the drive into Jersey City is a bear but I get to be with TS and surprisingly the 4/5 is kinda convenient.
I tried the E/V train at 51st St. very many times and concluded that due to all of the extra walking and the long waits for the slow E/V that it is DEFINITELY NOT faster than the S train to the 1/9.
Unfortunately I think your husband is SOL like all the rest of us. I personally wouldn't walk it (even if it was faster) but that is because I'm a lazy twit.  |
Kent
Citizen
Username: Kentgib
Post Number: 4
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006 - 8:01 pm: |
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Just to chime in. We moved to M/SO recently, so I'm not a commuting veteran. However, we have found driving to Harrison, taking the Path to WTC and then I take the 4/5 to GCS. My husband works downtown so we can commute in together. I don't think the total elapsed time is any less, but for me it feels faster. |
Phil
Supporter
Username: Barleyrooty
Post Number: 1012
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 7:01 am: |
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Started a job near the WTC in November. Tried all the options and I'm liking the drive to Harrison and then the PATH. If you can double up you're going to save some $$$ too.
It's quicker (by about 20 minutes), cheaper, and more reliable than NJT to Hoboken or midtown, and I can leave and return whenever I want, as opposed to on the NJT schedule.
The other difference is that I get to sit in my car and listen to radio which is more peaceful than the train, but does give me a little less time to get reading/work done.
Sorry environment, but I'm going to blame that one on NJT - which I think is awful - slow and chronically unreliable. If they fixed it I'd switch back. |
Krista
Citizen
Username: Shortgrrrl
Post Number: 61
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 9:34 am: |
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Phil:
How long does the drive to Harrison take and how hard is it to find parking?
Thanks!` |
Zoesky1
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 1401
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 9:39 am: |
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The Harrison option is very popular for commuters from Livingston, Verona, the Caldwells, etc. There are a number of commercial parking lots near the PATH hub. Parking availability varies according to what time you go in....the later you are, the further away you park. From Livingston, the drive on 280 can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes depending on traffic, accidents, road conditions, etc. So figure on it being a bit shorter from M-SO. |
Krista
Citizen
Username: Shortgrrrl
Post Number: 62
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 11:11 am: |
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hmm...this sounds like it may be a good option. anyone want to chime in on total commuting time estimate? from harrison to wtc? wtc to grand central?
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Kent
Citizen
Username: Kentgib
Post Number: 6
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 1:43 pm: |
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Harrison to WTC is 20 minutes. WTC to GCS is I am estimating 15 minutes on a good day including the walk up from the PATH and over to the 4/5. I do this commute in everyday. It works well, especially in this coldish weather. |
Krista
Citizen
Username: Shortgrrrl
Post Number: 63
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 2:36 pm: |
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great...thanks. i think i am going to try this. do you ever have trouble finding parking? that is my only concern...i will be getting to harrison around 7:45. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1220
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 3:25 pm: |
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I think Kent sounds a bit over optimistic, but who knows? If I had to guess my Path commute it takes about 15 minutes to drive to exit 14C, 20 minutes at least to drive through Jersey City to the Exchange Place station. 10 minutes to take the Path across. 25 minutes to walk out of station into subway and then travel up to GCS and walk to my desk.
I find it takes me just a little more than one hour this way. If I take the Train to Penn station and S train to GCS it takes me a bit less time but not much maybe it's an hour or an hour and 10 minutes too. The rub here is that the 7:20 jitney gets me to the station over 15 minutes early so there is extra time wasted sitting around doing nothing. I find that taking the train is a bit more reliable in general and MUCH less subject to traffic patterns and random delays. I prefer it but both annoy the heck out of me.
I miss working at Rock Center. My commute was ALWAYS less than one hour. And I found I never missed my train home by 1 minute. I am ALWAYS missing my train now and having to sit around waiting a half hour (or at night a full hour) for the next one. It's weird the extra 1/2 hour per day total travel time now added to my day (by working on the East Side) REALLY affects my attitude towards commuting. I didn't mind commuting so much before. I hate it now. I really hate the east side. The only good thing I can come up with about my new commute is that I can grab Two Boots, Chipotle and Peppe Rosso on the way home now. Not worth an extra half hour per se but it is something. |
Kent
Citizen
Username: Kentgib
Post Number: 7
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 3, 2006 - 3:45 pm: |
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Alley you may be right. I haven't really timed the entire door to door. The Path to WTC to 4/5 is usually very reliable and feels quick, although It could just be that it is broken up. Parking at Harrison is not a problem, but we are willing to pay the daily rate to be in the lot. Also, I commute with my husband so the car ride is abit more tolerable. Either way commuting to the east side is speeding my new job search. |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1226
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 1:23 pm: |
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Oh shoot, I just re-read my post and I forgot one other benefit to the new job. I got a big raise. That makes the extra 1/2 hour more tolerable too. |
Starletta8
Supporter
Username: Starletta8
Post Number: 140
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 5:14 pm: |
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A couple of other points to keep in mind:
The S is preferable to the 7 for another reason: the 7 is an extra flight of stairs below ground. During the summer, the 7 seems like an inferno.
I actually like the bus. Exit onto 8th avenue, and go up to 34th. Take M34 over to 2nd ave. Pick up M102 (or 101, or 103) and take to 42nd Street. Less time underground, less heat in the summer.
Congrats on the new job! |
AlleyGater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1230
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 5:55 pm: |
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Ick!!! Busses are gross. |
HarDen
Citizen
Username: Harden
Post Number: 95
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 2:04 pm: |
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I take the M4 or the Q32. The bus starts on 32nd St just a half block east of 7th Ave. It turns north on Madison.
I usually walk but when it's raining or below freezing--It's great to have an option and travel ABOVE ground!
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