Phase 2 has started: How Reroute NJ can help
Phase 2 of the Portal North Bridge cutover has started. Temporary NJ Transit schedules take effect today, Sunday, October 11, while Amtrak connects the second and final track to the new bridge. NJ Transit expects regular schedules to resume Sunday, November 15, subject to safety testing.
Weekday Midtown Direct diversions to Hoboken begin tomorrow, Monday, October 12. Weekend Midtown Direct trains still serve Penn Station New York, with adjusted times. Check the official cutover schedules and ticket rules before you travel.
What is Reroute NJ?
Reroute NJ is a free, independent guide to the cutover. It brings line and station guidance, transfer options, ticket information, a map, and local reporting together so you can see what changes for your trip. It's available in 11 languages and works in your browser, with no account or app download.
We made it during the first cutover because riders needed practical answers in one place: Where does my train go? Where do I transfer? Which ticket do I buy? I'm an NJ Transit rider, too. Reroute NJ grew out of those same questions, and we've updated it for this second phase.
How to use it
- Start with the line guide. Pick your rail line and station to see the service change, transfer options, and ticket guidance for your trip.
- Try the commute comparison. Compare your usual trip with cutover alternatives. Travel times are estimates. Check current schedules and allow time for transfers and crowding.
- Open the map. See the bridge, affected rail routes, and transfer locations to understand where your trip changes.
- Follow the news coverage. Find reporting on the cutover and follow the links to read the original stories.
Use the language menu at the top of the page to change languages. You can also turn on high contrast or simplified view, and print a guide to take with you.
We'll keep checking and updating
We'll continue to monitor official announcements and local reporting throughout Phase 2. As news breaks, schedules change, or other developments unfold, we'll update Reroute NJ's guidance and coverage feed. That includes changes to transfers, ticket rules, and the expected return to regular service.
Reroute NJ explains the cutover; it does not track your train in real time. Check NJ Transit's app and service alerts before each trip. If you spot an error or a development we've missed, email Joe so we can check it.
Thanks to the newsrooms helping riders find it
Local reporting has helped more riders find Reroute NJ. Thanks to the journalists and outlets covering the project and sharing the tools:
- Montclair Local: Matt Kadosh's Phase 2 guide includes an interview about Reroute NJ and embeds the line guide directly in the story. The outlet also covered the tool during the first cutover.
- News 12 New Jersey: Tom Krosnowski's October 5 report includes an interview with Joe about the commute changes and links viewers to Reroute NJ.
- New Jersey 101.5: The station put the tool on its traffic page during the first cutover, giving its audience another way to plan around the disruption.
- News Machines: Ulrike Langer profiled Reroute NJ and examined how a temporary service website can support local journalism.
Newsrooms: Use the tools for free
All Reroute NJ tools and components are available to embed or republish for free. Please credit Reroute NJ and link to reroutenj.org. You can also republish this post with the Joe Amditis byline and a link to this page.
- Open the embed configurator. Choose an interactive tool or an info card, then select the line, language, and appearance you need.
- Copy the iframe code into a custom HTML block in your publishing system. Preview it on a phone and desktop. If your system blocks embeds, download a PNG card or link readers to the guide.
Live embeds load the tools from Reroute NJ and reflect our updates when readers load them. Downloaded images and HTML files are snapshots, so replace them when the guidance changes. No account, API key, or payment is required. Get in touch if you need help.