Toms River woman’s daily commute to NYC highlights long hours, rising costs
Hours-long bus rides, added expenses, and limited transit options make getting to work a daily challenge for one Ocean County commuter.
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An hour into her commute on the bus, Pam Sherman, of Toms River, is still nowhere near work.
“We're stopping, here we go. Let the fun begin," Sherman says.
For her, the workday starts well before she ever reaches the office. At 6:15 a.m., she boards the 137 express bus from the Toms River Park and Ride to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City — the first leg of a long and often unpredictable journey.
“There's not a lot of opportunity here, that's why I went to the city. That's why it's worth it for all these people to sort of do that. The salaries are better, you kind of get into the routine of commuting," Sherman says.
By 7:15 a.m., as the bus approaches New York City, delays can quickly derail the trip.
“Sometimes you'll just be cruising along and then boom- you just come to a complete stop," she says.
Sherman says there are only two routes from the Toms River Park and Ride into the city. She says more options could help make the commute shorter and more reliable.
Some weeks, she makes the trip every single day — spending hours getting to work and then repeating the process to get home. Other weeks, she tries to ease the burden by staying with a friend in the city.
“I stay with a friend, maybe two or three nights a week when I can. But you know, that's another added expense. It's not free," Sherman said.
That’s on top of the cost of commuting itself.
“When I arrange to stay in the city, I will buy a 10-trip to kind of stretch it out, and that's around $200, a little over $200, so it definitely adds another chunk to your monthly expenses," Sherman says.
By 8:00 a.m., Sherman arrives at the bus terminal.
Even then, her commute isn’t over. She still has a short walk to the subway, three stops on the train, and another walk before finally arriving at work.
“It’s exhausting. For anybody at any age, really. I remember when I did it when I started working and I was exhausted then, in my 20s," says Sherman.
For Sherman, the workday is far more than eight hours — it’s everything it takes just to get there and back.
“Once you do it, and do it every day. You kind of don't realize how ridiculous it might be," she says.
