How best to commute from Matawan, NJ to Jersey City?

Question

I am moving to a new Job in Jersey city.

Can you guide me how to commute from Matawan, NJ to Jersey City, NJ. I am planning to commute by NJ Transit. What is the best stop i can get down from NJ Transit station to go to Jersey city.

Appreciate the commute steps if you can.

How long the total commute is ? and what would be the FARE for roundtrip. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

You didn't say exactly where in Jersey City your job is.

Anyway.  Take a NJ Transit Train at the  Aberdeen-Matawan station to Newark.  

Then take PATH:

1) If your work is near Pavonia/Newport, then take the PATH train at Newark to Journal Square (2 stops) and transfer across the platform to the 33rd St train to Pavonia/Newport (2 stops).

2)  If your work is near Grove St or Exchange Place then stay on the PATH train from Newark to those stations.

Fare: NJ Transit - basic round trip is $15.50 .  The weekly ticket is $66.00,  the monthly is $218.00.

PATH - a single ride is $1.75 but you can purchase a QuickCard for 10 trips $13.00, 20 trips $26.00 or 40 trips $52.00.  In each case the discounted fare is $1.30 per trip.  The QuickCard is a paper card that you insert in the PATH Turnstile, the trip is deducted and the card returned (except for the last trip when the turnstile keeps the now valueless card).  You can purchase QuickCards in the ticket machines on the platform at Aberdeen-Matawan station.

PATH also has a SmartCard called SmartLink.  A plastic card that you just hold over a target at the turnstile (you don't even have to take out of your wallet) and the trip is deducted.  The 10, 20, 40 trip options also apply to the SmartLink card plus they have a 30 day unlimited option at  $54.00.

One word on unlimited option - you have to use it as unused trips are not refunded or carried over.  If you take 40 trips (20 round trip) the effective cost per trip will be $1.35.  If there are 25 work days in a month then 50 trips (25 round trips) would bring the effective cost per trip down to $1.08 per trip but as I said - you have to use them.

http://www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/pa...

The SmartLink card itself is purchased at a ONE-TIME fee of $5.00 and can be done online:

http://www.pathsmartlinkcard.com/

You can sign up (free) for balance protection plus an automatic refill via credit card (if you want that) when the balance gets to a preset minimum.  You can track your balance online and manually refill the Smartlink card if you prefer (either online or at PATH vending machines).  Personally I find the Smartlink card easier to use than the paper Quickcard (and I used those for years before the plastic SmartLink was introduced.

The NJ Transit train will take anywhere from 30 to 50 minutes to get to Newark (depends on the train and the number of stops it has to make - some are non-stop from Aberdeen-Matawan to Newark, some make a couple of stops in between and some are local trains).

PATH will take 15 to 20 minutes (+/-) depending on whether you are going to Grove St, Exchange Place or Pavonia/ Newport.