One commuter sees travel time go from 90 minutes to 5 hours
Ayoub Elmahmoudi, a fundraiser for Project Hope, said his commute has gone from as little as 90 minutes to about five hours. Credit: Ed Quinn
The strike has turbocharged Ayoub Elmahmoudi's commute from as little as 90 minutes ordinarily to as long as four or five hours.
Elmahmoudi, 19, would typically ride the LIRR on the Port Washington Branch from Bayside, Queens, where he lives, to Penn Station, then go via PATH to Jersey City. Total trip time, between 90 minutes and 2 hours.
Now, he must ride a bus — which he is unfamiliar with; he relies on Apple Maps — to Jamaica, Queens, then rides the E subway line to Penn Station. Total trip time, four to five hours.
"I'm pretty mad about it," said Elmahmoudi, who works for Project Hope, a nonprofit that raises money for children and families in war and natural disasters. As an in-person fundraiser, Elmahmoudi cannot work from home.
Ordinarily, he could wake up at 7 a.m. Today, it was 5:45 a.m.
He happened to be tabling Monday for the job across from MTA headquarters — he must first go to Jersey City, where he is based, then is dispatched around the area — and was watching 2 Broadway from Bowling Green to seek updates on the strike.
"I'm hoping that it's like back by this week," he said, asking a Newsday reporter for updates.
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 38: State champions On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra, Michael Sicoli and Tess Ferguson recap the the state championships in baseball, boys and girls lacrosse, plus Jared Valuzzi has the plays of the week.
