NEWS |
178-00: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE , December 19, 2000
The Port Authority is adding extra staff to help with the heavy volume expected at Port Authority airports, and at agency bridges, tunnels and the PATH rapid-transit line, Executive Director Robert E. Boyle said today. He advised travelers to allow extra time and warned that parking will be tight at all three airports - especially at Newark Airport, where major construction projects have limited the amount of available parking.
"The Port Authority will provide additional personnel during the holiday period to help our customers get where they want to go," Mr. Boyle said. "As we near the end of one of the most successful years in the Port Authority's history, we wish all of our customers a happy and safe holiday season. And we appreciate their patience. The construction that is now under way at many Port Authority facilities will pay off for years to come - including rail links to Kennedy and Newark airports, thousands of new parking spaces and improvements to passenger terminals at all three airports."
Nearly 2.8 million passengers are expected to use Kennedy, Newark and LaGuardia airports during the 12-day holiday period from Friday, December 22, through Tuesday, January 2, 2001.
For parking information at all three airports, consult the Port Authority Web site, www.panynj.gov.
Travelers who drive to Newark Airport should take advantage of lot D, economy lot G, valet parking near lot E (which remains closed for construction), or private off-airport facilities. All parking facilities provide free shuttle service to the passenger terminals. Monorail service has been suspended and replaced by free bus service.
Work on the Newark monorail has now entered the final phase. Repair work is concluding and some testing has begun. During this testing phase, customers might see monorail cars moving without passengers along the system. Monorail service will resume as soon as possible after the testing phase is complete.
For current parking information at Newark Airport, call 888 EWR-INFO and press 22 or tune your radio to 530 AM near the airport. Those planning to park at JFK can call 718 244-4444 or listen to 1630 AM for updates. For LaGuardia Airport parking information, call 718 533-3400 or tune to 530 AM.
Travelers at all three airports should arrive 30 minutes earlier than the time recommended by their airlines. The Port Authority urges passengers to call their airlines to get the most current information on the status of their flights, as well as terminal information. The agency also recommends that travelers have a friend or relative drop them off or pick them up at the airport, or seek alternate modes of transportation - including shuttle vans, taxis, limousines or buses. Passengers can call 800 AIR-RIDE for information on transportation options.
To ease congestion along the Van Wyck Expressway, construction of JFK AirTrain will be suspended on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. More than 1.2 million vehicles are expected to cross Port Authority bridges and tunnels on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; another 1 million vehicles are expected to cross the bridges and tunnels on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
The Port Authority will suspend construction and maintenance work at the agency's bridges and tunnels from Friday, December 22, until Tuesday, December 26, and again from Friday, December 29, until Tuesday, January 2. For more information, call the agency's tunnels and bridges "Customer Connection" line at 800 221-9903.
PATH will operate on a holiday/weekend schedule on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, with trains running every 15 minutes between 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on the Newark-World Trade Center, 33rd Street-Journal Square, Hoboken-33rd Street and Hoboken-World Trade Center lines. PATH will provide additional service on all lines on New Year's Eve and early New Year's Day to accommodate anticipated ridership to and from New York City. For more information, travelers can consult PATH's Web site, www.pathrail.com.