Commuting advice (Sayreville, Hoboken, Fort Lee: new house, find a job, college)

[omarg35c]

Hi there,
Im new to this website and so far have found many of the discussions very interesting. I am looking into a new job in white plains, NY and need some advice on how to commute there from Sayreville, NJ. Any suggestions, I dont know of local public tranportation since we just bought the new house in NJ. Thanks in advance.

[Viralmd]

Wow, now THAT is a commute! You'd really have to drive this one...

[BobKovacs]

You're SOL on public transportation, unless you want to cobble together some bunch of train/subway bus routes that would probably take 3 hours each way. Driving would likely be at least 2 hours each way.

Are you sure you want to subject yourself to that?

Bob

[mead]

Yeah this commute is going to be atrocious. I would advise against working in White plains if you are living down there, or if you need to work in White Plains then you should move closer.

With no traffic (keeping in mind that such a thing only exists from about 2-5 AM in the NY/NJ area) this drive will take an hour and 10 minutes or so. With traffic, especially bridge traffic, it is going to be a lot longer.

You basically just have to take the turnpike north up to the GWB and then take the Major Deegan or the Bronx River Parkway north (the Hutch might also be an option depending on where you will be working in White Plains). Once you've done that take 287 east to White Plains and get off at exit 5, 6, or 8.

If you are going to take the Major Deegan (I-87) up to White Plains, which is probably the quickest, for which there is a $.75 toll each way, then you need to get on the lower level of the GWB. You could merge into the Major Deegan from the upper level but its a really messy merge.

Now on the days when the GWB is all backed up (30 minutes or more) you are going to have to take the Pallisades Parkway North from Fort Lee (maybe cut thru Nyack if you know the back way) and then take the Tappan Zee over. If you have Ez-pass stay in the left lane and you can use the Ez pass express lanes that they have.

[kort677]

Originally Posted by omarg35c

Hi there,
Im new to this website and so far have found many of the discussions very interesting. I am looking into a new job in white plains, NY and need some advice on how to commute there from Sayreville, NJ. Any suggestions, I dont know of local public tranportation since we just bought the new house in NJ. Thanks in advance.

you basically have 3 choices
1. move your residence
2. find a job in a better location
3. resign yourself to a miserable drive to work and back everyday

central NJ is not the place to live when working in White plains,
that said,your only choice is to drive, the least maddening but far longer route would be parkway to the end then I 287 east towards white plains, it will probably be almost 90 miles each way and take around 2 hours. a much shorter but more insane routing would be to take thw GWB into the bronx, then take I 87 north to the cross county parkway towards white plains, shorter but it will usually be the same 2 hours

[omarg35c]

Thanks folks. I did hear it was pretty bad, I guess ill see first hand the day I go for the interview.

[sj3]

I grew up in a town near Sayreville, slightly closer to White Plains though. When I drove to college, I drove through White Plains. This was many years ago and traffic has just gotten much worse through the years. There is NO WAY that is a livable commute. If you take the job, you need to move.
Is your interview during rush hour? That is how you will get a feel. Then keep in mind it is always worse going home. Commutes tend to be longer then.

[royceb]

My wife used to commute to White Plains from Hoboken and even that commute was a nightmare. Depending on what time you leave, I can see this commute taking over 2 hrs.

[jstar41]

wow sorry but i must agree with the rest.. the commute is going to be a killer.. but it's not impossible.. just try to leave really early before rush hour and then head back after 6pm.. then maybe you'll avoid most of the traffic.. my manager commutes from PA to North Jersey and gets in at 11am and leaves at 7pm.. his commute is 2 hours..