Sticker Shock: The Cost of Mass Transit

As I mentioned in an earlier post i'm planning on taking the kids and myself to New York City on Friday to partake in some of the Super Bowl XLVIII festivities that will be going starting tomorrow. Since I will be coming off of the night shift, driving into the city isn't an option so I'm looking into the cost mass transit for the three of us to get from Middletown to Manhattan and i'm experiencing a case of sticker shock in the process.

I'm always hearing that you shouldn't drive into Manhattan, that you should take mass transit. That's all well  and good I suppose if you're traveling in by yourself. Sure, the price is a little high but worth it to avoid the traffic and the hassle of finding parking. However, if you have to pay for yourself and others it's cheaper to drive in and in my opinion, worth all the effort. Especially when you consider that you're not tied to any train or bus schedule.

 For a single round trip ticket on a NJ Transit train from Middletown to mid-town Manhattan, the cost is  $28.50 per person on a weekday (weekend and holiday travelers enjoy a nice discount). To take an Academy Bus from Hazlet to the Port Authority round trip is an astounding $32 per person. That's crazy! I can drive my family of 4 into Manhattan for the day, paying about $15 in tolls and $30 for parking and save $80 in travel cost by doing so.

I've heard people complain about the costs associated with traveling back and forth to Manhattan for work each day but I never gave it much mind, now I understand what they are complaining about.

1,660 Jobs Coming Back to New Jersey

Lost during this holiday weekend was news about how new jobs are being created in the State,both the New York Times and the New Jersey Newsroom published stories about it on Friday. Here is what both reported:

The New York Times - New Jersey Wins 1,600 Financial Jobs

The fierce tug of war between New York and New Jersey over 2,300 financial jobs in Lower Manhattan is just about over.

New Jersey has come out ahead, winning most of the jobs, said government officials and real estate executives. But New York keeps the headquarters.

The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, a critical part of Wall Street’s financial machinery, had threatened early this year to move its entire operation to New Jersey, enticed by lower costs and a subsidy package worth well over $70 million.

Then followed nine months of wooing and pleading by top officials on both sides of the Hudson River, including Gov. Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey.

Now, Depository Trust appears to have reached a decision to keep its headquarters and roughly 700 employees at its current home at 55 Water Street, according to the officials and executives, who declined to be identified because the company has not formally announced its decision.

Most of its work force, however, will move to the Newport office complex on the Jersey City waterfront.

Read more >>> Here

New Jersey Newsroom - New Jersey support brings EvaTees and 60 new jobs to the state.

New Jersey and local officials Thursday toured Eva Tees Inc. a company that moved to Piscataway in March with 60 new jobs.

Eva Tees, a wholesale distributor of clothing and other merchandise, was awarded a Business Employment Incentive Program (BEIP) grant from the state Economic Development Authority (EDA). The move also included a capital investment of over $17.9 million.

"Attracting jobs and encouraging private investment is critical to ensuring New Jersey emerges from the national economic recession," Gov. Jon Corzine said. " We've taken measures to encourage business growth during these challenging economic times and Eva Tee's decision to make New Jersey its home is great news."

Eva Tees was originally established by Mayer Neuhoff in 1950 as Eva Hosiery and Underwear Company. In 1974, Neuhoff's son joined the company and expanded the business to include imprintable active wear. Over three decades later, the company continues to grow and is now run by the third generation of the Neuhoff family.

Eva Tees offers a full line of active wear, corporate casual wear and accessories. Its product line includes styles from popular manufacturers like Hanes, Bill Blass, Izod, Fruit of the Loom, Gildan, Jerzees and Van Heusen. The state grant, which will amount to an estimated $153,900 over 10 years based on 57 new jobs, was a major incentive for Eva Tees to consolidate three sites in New York and establish a larger site in Piscataway.

Read more >>> Here