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I sampled the new Secaucus Exchange PARK & RIDE this morning. I had to drop our car off for servicing in Paramus and had a loaner, so I opted for Secaucus instead of driving and parking in the cluttered city.

 

When previous service trip/loaner car trips were required, I would drive the loaner into Hoboken, and park in a day lot. This was expensive, and featured at least some traffic. But it was very direct, and kept me from getting lost, circling around Bayonne or Kearny.

 

But my Trainjotting curiosity and earlier positive exposure to the “Frank R. Lautenberg Secaucus Junction Station” (FraLautSecJunSta, for short!) steered me and my loaner to the newly opened PARK & RIDE.

 

No trouble getting to the NJ Turnpike, or finding exit 15X for the Secaucus Junction. It was worth paying the Turnpike toll, just to drive the giant elevated oxbow that extends east of the station, and back to nearly the same spot.

 

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I drove to the west side of the station, and found the PARK AND RIDE lot by help of a mini-blimp advertised the $10 a day parking. At 7:25 a.m., the lot was still pretty empty, about 100 cars. I walked about 200 yards to the escalators and slid my monthly pass into the turnstile. My card slid out, the passports opened. “Have a Nice Ride”, I think the display said.

 

I wasn’t quite sure where to go next, in the brightly lit lobby, but the station announcements directed me to “Track A” for the train to NY Penn Station at 7:31. There were about 10 to 15 people in the expansive station. I arrived on the platform just ahead of an entire trainload of commuters, transferred from some unseen train and track.

 

A double-decker quietly slid into Track B, and we all loaded on. I even got a window seat, albeit on the lower level.

 

If I get our serviced car back tonight, I’ll be back my usual full train commute tomorrow. But from now on, when I have the loaner, it’s farewell Hoboken, and hello FraLautSecJuncSta!

- jersey jim