Best way to get from Fort Lee to Flushing (Washington: to buy, costs)

[fanlinxun]

I will be commuting from Fort Lee to Flushing and I am trying to find the most convenient and cheapest route. Reducing travel time is probably more important than reducing costs at this point. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

[Goldendoodle1969]

Jitney(gypsy bus) or nj transit bus to Port Authoriy, walk to Times Square, take 7 express train.

Taking the lirr from penn to flushing is about 15 minutes faster. So if you want to spend the extra money you could shave about 10-15 minutes off your total transit time. This would require you to buy a metro card and a lirr ticket. Taking a subway to Penn from Port Authoroty is pretty much a wash with walking to Times Square from Port Authority.

[captne76]

Are you taking public transport or driving?

[fanlinxun]

I am interested in the time/price difference between driving and taking public transport.
.

[bbnetworking]

driving is the fastest for sure. no traffic, 25 mins. GWB - > 95 -> White Stone Bridge

[Goldendoodle1969]

Originally Posted by fanlinxun

I am interested in the time/price difference between driving and taking public transport.
.

Price difference you can figure out for yourself. Njtransit.com, mta.info

Time is harder since you will hit traffic on the GWB and the Whitestone and 95 during rush hour. Could be 25 minutes all the way up to an hour or more depending on what time you are leaving in the AM/PM. Traffic starts getting bad between 6:30-7am until about 9:30am. Whitestone you'll be going against traffic for the most part on the way in but will definitely hit some on the way out. starting at about 4:30pm-7:30pm.

[Docendo discimus]

Time/price of driving depends on whether you are driving in during peak or off peak hours, and whether or not you have an EZ Pass. (If you don't have an EZ Pass, I wouldn't drive at all.)

Assuming you DO have an EZ Pass, and you will be driving during normal peak hours (weekdays, 6-10 AM and 4-8 PM), the toll costs will be $10.25 for the GWB and $5.33 for the Whitestone Bridge. Thus:

$10.25 + (2 x $5.33) = $20.91 total tolls per day. (Plus the cost of gas.)

If you commute during off peak hours it will save you $2 on the GWB.

Tolls - Bridges & Tunnels - The Port Authority of NY & NJ

mta.info | MTA Bridges and Tunnels' Toll Cars



As far as using public transportation, I have heard that the NJ Transit bus to the Port Authority Bus Station takes forever (like an hour+). Not sure about the gypsy buses, though. Taking a NJ Transit (or gypsy) bus to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on 179th Street in Washington Heights is much quicker (it's also about a buck cheaper than the NJ Transit bus to the PA bus station). From there, you can take the A train down to 42nd Street and then take the 7 train out to Queens. Commuting by bus + subway will cost in the $10 range ($5 for subway, plus $5 or $6 for the bus fare if you get a monthly pass).

Time wise, whether driving or taking the bus + subway, I'd bank on about 1 hour, conservatively. I don't think there would be a significant time difference either way.

Personally, I would drive from Fort Lee. But I am the kind of person that would rather deal with traffic than with crowded buses and subways that are also slow.

[captne76]

If driving, you will def pay a toll to cross the Hudson River no matter which way you go but just wanted to mention you can take the 59'er across the East River toll free. You will pay in traffic and time. Always a tradeoff. I have done it on Saturdays, etc. Harlem River / FDR to the 59'er (Queensboro Bridge) then down that street Jackson Ave? to the LIE entrance right past where the Midtown Tunn toll booths are. Or Queens Blvd.