NJ Transit, Bus Holiday Schedule

The day before Thanksgiving is known as the most traveled day of the year.

Getting around North Jersey can be a difficult task any time, but with the start of the holiday season Thursday, traffic will be more congested.

Want to find a better way to get around our area?

From trains, to buses, to light rails, here’s a Patch list to help you plan how to get around this holiday weekend, plus what’s open and closed for Thanksgiving and Black Friday. 

• NJ Transit trains will run on a weekend/major holiday schedule, with extra trains running on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley and Morris & Essex lines to accommodate customers traveling to and from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Gladstone branch remains suspended.

• Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule — however, direct service between Tonnelle Avenue and Hoboken will operate every 20 minutes. 

• River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule. 

• Newark Light Rail will operate on a Sunday schedule between Newark Penn and Grove Street stations, and on a modified schedule between Newark Penn and Broad Street stations (service every half hour). 

• Bus schedules will vary by route. Click here to see schedules. Selected bus routes will operate extra service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal for customers traveling to the parade.  Special service on the No. 111 bus route from New York to the Jersey Gardens Mall, as well as on the No. 70 and No. 73 bus routes to Livingston Mall, will begin operating before midnight on Thanksgiving night.

• Federal, state and local offices are closed for the holiday.
• Post offices are closed and there will be no regular mail delivery.
• Courts will be closed.
• All financial and stock markets will be closed Thursday, Nov. 22. On Friday, Nov. 23, markets will close at 1 p.m.
• Public schools are closed.
• Banks are closed. 

Friday is Black Friday. It will be celebrated on Friday, Nov. 23 and is the beginning of the holiday shopping season.

• NJ Transit trains will operate on a modified weekday schedule on all rail lines (except Gladstone Branch, which remains suspended until further notice).  Visit njtransit.com for detailed special schedules. Additional New York-bound trains will operate between 10 a.m. and noon on the Northeast Corridor.

• On the Morris & Essex Lines, one additional midday train to New York will operate. Select morning peak period trains on the Northeast Corridor will not operate on Friday, due to expected light ridership. 

• Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule — however, direct service between Tonnelle Avenue and Hoboken will operate every 20 minutes.

• River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule. 

• Newark Light Rail will operate on a Saturday schedule between Newark Penn and Grove Street stations, and on a modified schedule between Newark Penn and Broad Street stations (service every half hour).  

• Bus schedules vary by route — customers are advised to check their timetables or visit njtransit.com. Selected routes will operate on special holiday schedules to match service with ridership demand, with less frequent service during the peak periods due to lower ridership. Special holiday timetables are available on njtransit.com.

• NJ Transit will also provide additional bus service to major New Jersey shopping areas throughout the day beginning Friday and continuing through Dec. 24. Family Super Saver fares will remain in effect until 6 a.m. Monday. For details, refer to timetables, click here or call (973) 275-5555.

• Public schools are closed.
• Post offices are open.
• State motor vehicle offices are open regular hours today and tomorrow.
• Financial and stock markets will close at 1 p.m.