Mass Transit Super Bowl

As seen during the construction of Met Life Stadium, the sports complex is located in the New Jersey Meadowlands (40°48′49″N 74°4′28″W / 40.81361°N 74.07444°W), and not normally reached by walking.

Mass Transit Super Bowl was a public transportation plan and marketing strategy conceived for Super Bowl XLVIII and Super Bowl Week, a series of events leading up to the football game on February 2, 2014 between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. It was originally projected that over 400,000 people would come to the New York-New Jersey region for the game and related activities, and that over 80,000 would attend the game itself; actual patronage of the metropolitan area during that time was projected to be over 500,000.[1][2] Metropolitan area transit agencies worked with the National Football League, organizers of the event, and developed special services, schedules, fares, and maps to promote the use of mass transit during the week, which began with the arrival of teams on January 26.

On game day, those travelling by train experienced overcrowding and long delays due to miscalculated estimations and an unanticipated surge of passengers. This led to many fans and writers calling the plan a failure.[3][4][5]

Geography and transportation network

Super Bowl XLVIII was the first to be played outdoors in a cold weather environment,[6] and the first in which two US states (New York and New Jersey) hosted the event.[7][8] The combination of sports facilities in New Jersey and hotel facilities in New York was a major factor in the NFL decision to choose the location.[9] Activities related to the Super Bowl were spread across the region on both sides of the Hudson River. More than 20 miles separated Super Bowl Boulevard in the Manhattan borough of New York City and the Florham Park facility, where the Broncos practiced in New Jersey. In between is Jersey City, where the teams stayed, the Prudential Center in Newark, site of Media Day, and the stadium and Seahawks' practice facility in New Jersey Meadowlands[10] in East Rutherford, a relatively remote location several miles from central business districts which hosted events in the week leading up to the game.[11][12][13]

It was anticipated that nearly 400,000 people would visit the region during Super Bowl Week and that on game day, 10,000 to 12,000 would take the train and 40,000 to 50,000 would travel by bus.[14] While those numbers were not extraordinary in comparison to weekday commuting in the region,[15] many out-of-town visitors were unfamiliar with the local transportation systems.[16]

Transportation plans for what was billed the first "mass transit Super Bowl" were announced in December 2013. Public transportation in the metro area is provided by a variety of public agencies and private companies, namely New Jersey Transit (NJT), the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), Amtrak, and New York Waterway. While there is some coordination and joint operations and fare-sharing within the vast complex transit network, each is independent of the other, and charges its own fares, sometimes leading to complicated transfers and other logistical complications between them. NJT, as lead agency, in conjunction with metropolitan partner agencies and the host committee developed special services, fares, and maps and advertising campaigns to promote the use of public transportation during Super Bowl Week.[17] [18][19][20]

Super Bowl Week

In the week leading up to the game, there were various events throughout, some of which are NFL-sponsored. Highlights of the week as presented by the Host Committee were:[21][22]

Mass transit

Regional Transit Diagram 2014

The Regional Transit Diagram 2014 was produced specifically for the Super Bowl, and according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, "shows all inter-connections between the regional transit services, and highlights with a football icon those areas where Super Bowl related events will occur on both sides of the Hudson River. The diagram will appear on all transit provider websites, as well as on Super Bowl websites, guides, publications, mobile apps, and folding pocket maps". It is based on a New York City Subway map originally designed by Massimo Vignelli in 1972. The map shows all the commuter rail, subway, PATH, and light rail operations in urban northeastern New Jersey and Midtown and Lower Manhattan highlighting Super Bowl Boulevard, Prudential Center, Met Life Stadium and Jersey City.[30][31][32]

Meadowlands Rail Line

Meadowlands Station is adjacent to Met Life Stadium.

The Meadowlands Rail Line is a shuttle service between Secaucus Junction, a major interchange on the Northeast Corridor and Meadowlands Station adjacent to the stadium. In anticipation of increased ridership for the Super Bowl, platforms at Secaucus were extended 120 ft (37 m) to accommodate multi-level 10-car train sets which can handle about 1,400 to 1,800 passengers per trip, moving about 14,000 or 15,000 people an hour.[33] Eleven lines of New Jersey Transit Rail Operations and the Metro North Port Jervis Line converge at the station, which is one stop from New York Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal, Newark Penn Station or Broad Street Station.[34] While Amtrak does not normally stop at Secaucus, several trains were scheduled to stop there on game day.[35][36] Only ticket-holders and those with a "Fan Pass" reservation for a ticket, can board the Meadowlands train once they have passed a security checkpoint.[37][38]

Fan Express

The "Fan Express" was a pre-ticketed bus service with direct non-stop express service to and from nine locations. Buses stopped at the Waldorf Astoria New York, Madison Square Park, Time Warner Center, Sixth Avenue near the Washington Square Park in the West Village, and Battery Park City in Manhattan. In addition, they stopped in the Plaza at Harmon Meadow, the Hanover Marriott, and Newark Liberty Airport Marriott Hotel, in New Jersey. Tickets, which cost $51, were for specific scheduled bus departures.[39]

Super Pass

New Jersey Transit offered a "Super Pass" that provided unlimited system-wide rides between January 27 and February 3, including the Meadowlands Rail Line.[39] The 8-day pass, in both commemorative and non-commemorative versions, costs $50.[40]

Enhanced service

Collectively, during Super Bowl week, NJT, PATH, and the MTA provided more frequent rail service and faster connections to support expected visitors. New Jersey Transit bus operations was also adapted. The transit agencies, within their individual time frames, each halted ongoing construction.

The Port Authority Trans-Hudson, or PATH, mass transit system which connects Manhattan, Jersey City, Hoboken Terminal, and Newark Penn Station, increased service on lines.[41]

New Jersey Transit Bus Operations, both within the state and to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, implemented service changes and enhanced schedules. NJT Rail provided enhanced service.[42]

Hudson–Bergen Light Rail in Hudson County increased the number of trams running daily after 2 pm from January 27 to February 2, with all three branches on February 1 and 2.[43]

On Metro-North Railroad's East of Hudson lines, there was enhanced post-AM peak inbound service, lengthened trains, and limited extra outbound late evening service Wednesday to Friday (January 29–31). Seventeen additional New Haven Line and two additional Hudson Line trains was added for Saturday, February 1).[44]

The New York City Subway created a commemorative Metro Card.[45] Rush-hour-level service operated on the 42nd Street Shuttle on Saturday, February 1. On game day, there was 36 midday subway trains per hour (or about 6 per service) providing access to New York Penn Station. In January 2014, a dozen New York City Subway trains were wrapped with ads advertising the Jaguar F-Type in preparation for the Super Bowl. The ads were mainly targeted at football fans going to watch the Super Bowl.[46]

The Long Island Rail Road to Penn Station increased afternoon/evening inbound service Wednesday–Friday and 30-minute service on major branches during peak travel periods on Saturday, February 1.[47]

Traffic management

Lincoln Tunnel XBL

Route 3, the main connector from the Lincoln Tunnel looking east to Manhattan

The main route from Manhattan to the sports complex is via the Lincoln Tunnel, New Jersey Route 495 and New Jersey Route 3. The Lincoln Tunnel XBL, or exclusive bus lane, normally runs eastbound during morning rush hours. Four miles of Route 3 were repaved in 2013.[48] On February 2 the PANYNJ, which operates the XBL, created two westbound lanes for the Super Bowl.[49] To help alleviate traffic congestion, additional lanes was dedicated to traffic going into New Jersey before the game, and then was dedicated to traffic going into New York after the game. There was also be dedicated approach lanes for those with a priority access NFL placard on their vehicles. At the George Washington Bridge, new variable message signs (VMS) provided real-time travel information and special traffic advisories.

MASSTR

The teams and majority of attendees to the sports complex arrived by bus, with some arriving with other motor vehicles. The Meadowlands Adaptive Signal System for Traffic Reduction, or MASSTR, is an intelligent transportation system for a network of traffic controlled intersections with vehicle detectors which permits "real-time" traffic regulation within a forty square mile region. Commissioned by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission it was first installed in 2012 and expanded to be in place and operational for the 2014 Super Bowl.[50][51][52] The New Jersey Department of Transportation suspended all roadway construction in the 20-mile radius of the stadium.[53] With the possibility that it might snow, the state planned numerous ways to keeps roads clear, including spreading of brine and salt, and having plows on stand-by.[54]

About 2,000 parking passes and 300 charter bus permits weren't used on Super Bowl Sunday.. The NFL had estimated that as many as 50 fans would ride to the game per charter bus and an average of three people would travel per car.[55] [56]

Security and access

All vehicles entering security periphery set up around MetLife Stadium were required to remain the duration of the game, prohibiting personal autos, taxis, and regular bus service from dropping off or picking up passengers. Pedestrians were not permitted. Meadowlands Rail Line is adjacent to the stadium across the road from Izod Center and the future American Dream Meadowlands.

The Super Bowl is considered a top-level National Special Security Event. New Jersey State Police and the NFL host committee installed a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) chain-link perimeter fence around the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The area was in "lock-down" for a week prior to the game.[57] All vehicles entering and leaving are scanned, a precaution through game day.[58] The area was patrolled on land, by air, and by water since it is surrounded by wetlands. More than 3,000 security guards and 700 police officers were scheduled for duty on game day.[59] The sports complex is located at the intersection of number of highways. Security planners planned to strictly limit and regulate access to the area. Event parking spaces were greatly reduced to 13,000 with a cost of $150 each,[16] tailgate parties restricted, and walking to the venue was strictly prohibited.[14][29]

The team hotels, located along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway in Jersey City, and the Hudson River, were inspected and patrolled on a 24-hour basis.[60][61][62]

Mass transit is seen as a high-security risk.[63] According to the Transportation Security Administration passengers boarding trains were limited in what they carry on the train and some were screened. Buses and other vehicles entering the security perimeter were also scanned.[64][65][66]

There was a no-fly zone around the area. Additionally, fighter jets patrolled the region. and snipers were stationed inside the stadium.[67]

Costs for security at the Meadowlands were approximately $5 million, which was offset by grants, costing taxpayers approximately $1.35 million.[68]

Overcrowding and delays

At the Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014, mistaken estimates of rail ridership by the NFL led to over-crowding and delays on the Meadowlands Rail Line.[69] New Jersey Transit was in charge of operating the Meadowlands Rail Line shuttle between Secaucus and Meadowlands. Approximately 28,000 people took the shuttle to Meadowlands before the Super Bowl, and were faced with waits of up to 90 minutes, due to security delays. Additionally, riders at Secaucus complained of the lack of air-conditioning.[70] After the game ended, more than 33,000 people took the shuttle at Meadowlands back to Secaucus, far over the Meadowlands station's regular operating capacity. At one point, fans were asked to remain inside the stadium until more trains were dispatched to load passengers from the station.[71] A plethora of news sources provided coverage of the plan's poor execution.[72]

Legislative/NJT inquiry and law firm report

NJT costs

NJT spent a total of $12.4 million for Super Bowl-related construction initiatives, $7.7 million in 2012 to for a new bus service facility at Secaucus Junction which tripled loading capacity, to allow for additional service during special events at the Meadowlands Sports Complex for emergency-related contingency operations, such as bus diversions from New Jersey Route 495 and $2.5 million in 2013 to extend lower-level, platforms at the station to accommodate ten-car trains.[73][74]

NJT made a special allocation of $5.3 million for Super Bowl-related expenses such as enhanced rail/bus service and additional security necessary to support the event, given a Level One security designation on par with a presidential inauguration. In May 2013 NJT approved a $1.2 million contract with AECOM, a transportation planning organisation for Super Bowl-related planning and support, including contingency planning and risk management.The chair of the Lackawanna Coalition, a commuter advocacy group, at a NJT board meeting on May 8, 2013 stated that the NJT riders were not beneficiaries of the study, but rather the NFL nd therefore shold be paid by them.[75]

The scope of work included:

Inquiry and report

On February 18, 2014, it was announced that James Weinstein would resign as director of NJT.[77][78] An initial inquiry by the New Jersey Assembly scheduled for February 21, 2014 was postponed as representatives of NJT and the host committee of the National Football League, partners in the creation of the transportation plan were unable to attend.[79] James Simpson, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation has commissioned other board members to reschedule the hearing and retain retired U.S. District Court Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh to lead the inquiry, which will include representatives from the New Jersey State Police and NFL as well as NJT.<ref =snafus>Hinds, Kate (February 24, 2014). "New NJ Transit Leadership to Revisit Super Bowl and Sandy Snafus". Transportation Nation (WNYC). Retrieved 2014-02-25.</ref>[80]

The New Jersey Senate Oversight Committee scheduled a hearing on the topic for March 10, 2014[81] which newly appointed Executive Director Ronnie Hakim requested be cancelled.[82] and was not attended by representatives of NJT or the NFL.[83][84] In a hearing focused spending and planning on May 2, 2014 the Hakim told a state Senate committee that NJT's expenses for getting fans to MetLife Stadium during Super Bowl week were $7.2 million, including overtime, which was offset by $1.6 million in transit fares and advertising on its website, trains and the Secaucus Junction station bought by Pepsi}.[85][86]

Ultimately, 28,301 riders arrived and 35,264 left the stadium via the Meadowlands Rail Line.[87]

A long-awaited[76] study released in August 2014, produced by the Boston-based law firm of McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter[88] at a cost of $350,00 paid by NJT, cites failure of government agencies and the private consultants to accurately predict how many people would arrive by train, management conflicts within NJT, and crowd control by the private firm, S.A.F.E. Management as causes for delays and overcrowding.[87][89][90]

Conflicting train ridership predictions by the three parties making them: AECOM (originally 32,00 and reduced to 17,000) NJT (originally 12, 000 and later 13,500) and SP * Gameday, a subsidiary of Standard Parking hired by the NFL, (8572) were not resolved prior to the game.[87]

Trains were scheduled to depart every eight minutes. The closure of Pavilion 6, a waiting area, by S.A.F.E. Management, caused Impediments to pedestrian traffic flow.[91] and prevented passengers from boarding trains causing two of them to be delayed by a total of 56 minutes.[87] Eventually the state police was required to bring order to the situation, but corralling of some passengers while others were allowed to roam freely caused indignation and conflicts, while the placement of waiting lines caused bottlenecks.[92]

Conflicting opinions over the use of buses between James S. Simpson, then Executive Director of New Jersey Transit, and James S. Simpson, then commissioner of the Department of Transportation also called delays.[87] While buses were on stand-by at Secaucus Junction Weinstein was reluctant to deploy them.[92][93] The first busload of passengers didn’t leave until 11:32 p.m., about an hour after the game ended after Christopher Porrino, chief counsel to Governor Chris Christie, called Weinstein and Simpson and “strongly urged” Weinstein to send in buses.[87][94]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.governor.ny.gov/executiveorder/124
  2. ↑ http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/super-bowl/super-bowl-2014-is-first-mass-transit-game-for-fans-1.6831511
  3. ↑ FLEGENHEIMER, Matt. "'Mass-Transit Super Bowl’ Hits Some Rough Patches in Moving Fans". New York Times. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  4. ↑ Berman, Taylor. "Pictures From the Great Super Bowl Transport Nightmare". Gizmodo. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Star-Ledger Editorial Board. "NJ Transit's Super Bowl blunder calls for a closer look: Editorial". NJ.com. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "Owners warm up to New York/New Jersey as Super Bowl XLVIII host". NFL.com. Associated Press. May 26, 2010. Retrieved May 27, 2010. It's the first time the league has gone to a cold-weather site that doesn't have a dome ... the NFL will wait and see how this foray into the great outdoors in winter goes. Then the league might OK another bid
  7. ↑ Soshnick, Scott (February 4, 2013). "New York-New Jersey Super Bowl Sharing Brings Political Griping". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  8. ↑ Jackson, Joe; Vilensky, Mike (December 9, 2013). "Super Bowl Transit Plan Set With 400,000 Visitors Expected, Organizers Urge Fans to Leave Cars at Home". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  9. ↑ Frassinelli, Mike (January 27, 2014). "NJ not getting super shaft over Super Bowl, host organizer says". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
  10. ↑ "NY-NJ area ready for 'mass transit' Super Bowl". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  11. ↑ Sudol, Karen (January 26, 2014). "Plan for Super Bowl safety covers stadium, entire region". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  12. ↑ Rife, Judy (28 January 2014). "Super Bowl: Expect huge crowds and traffic galore throughout week". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  13. ↑ Flegenheimer, Matt (2014-01-19). "For Super Bowl Jet-and-Helicopter Set, Urging Buses and Rail". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Frassinelli, Mike (December 1, 2013). "In a Super Bowl of many firsts, Jersey hosting 'first mass transit Super Bowl'". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  15. ↑ Broadway, Ira (December 10, 2013). "Can the 'Mass Transit Super Bowl' Withstand a Little Snow?". Bloomberg Business.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Castillo, Alsfonso (January 22, 2014). "Super Bowl XLVIII: 1st 'mass transit' game for fans". Newsday. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  17. ↑ "Getting Around the Region". nynjsuperbowl.com. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
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  20. ↑ Schwber, Nate (December 9, 2013). "Buses and Trains Are Foundation of Plan to Get Ticket Holders to the Super Bowl". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  21. ↑ "Super Bowl Guide". NY/NJ Host Committee. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  22. ↑ "2014 Super Bowl Fan Guide". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Barrojan, James (January 23, 2014). "Much Transformed, Jersey City Is Ready to House Super Bowl Teams". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  24. ↑ Smith, Molly (January 24, 2014). "Jersey City to give Broncos, Seahawks a champion's welcome Sunday". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  25. ↑ Kuperinsky, Amy (January 16, 2014). "Super Bowl Kickoff Spectacular lands at Liberty State Park". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  26. ↑ "Super Bowl XLVIII Media Day" (Press release). Prudential Center. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  27. ↑ Fensom, Micheal J. (January 24, 2013). "Gov. Christie, NFL announce Super Bowl events to be held in New Jersey". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  28. ↑ "Super Bowl Boulevard Engineered by GMC". NFL.com. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Sherman, Ted (January 5, 2014). "Super Bowl 2014 preparations: Big makeover, tight security for MetLife Stadium". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  30. ↑ Chung, Jen (December 10, 2013). "Map: 2014 NY/NJ Super Bowl's Gorgeous Vignelli Mass Transit Map". Gothamist. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  31. ↑ "MTA Creates First Regional Transit Diagram for Super Bowl XLVIII" (Press release). Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 10, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-22."Regional Transit Diagram 2014" (PDF). New Jersey Transit. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  32. ↑ Napoliello, Alex (December 11, 2013). "MTA designs regional Super Bowl mass transit map". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-12-22.
  33. ↑ Frassinelli, Mike (March 10, 2013). "To make it Super, Meadowlands train needs longer platform, says NJ Transit". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  34. ↑ "Meadowlands Sports Complex". New Jersey Transit. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  35. ↑ Frassinelli, Mike (January 17, 2014). "Super Bowl 2014: Amtrak trains making special stops in Secaucus". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  36. ↑ "Special Station Stop at Secaucus Junction for Amtrak Passengers Attending Super Bowl XLVIII". Amtrak. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  37. ↑ Frassinelli, Mike (January 6, 2014). tickets at Secaucus Junction "No Super Bowl ticket, no entry on the train at Secaucus Junction". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  38. ↑ "The Big Game". Amtrak. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Frassinelli, Mike (December 9, 2013). transport "Super Bowl travel options include 'Fan Express' bus, NJ Transit 'Super Pass'". Frasinelli. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  40. ↑ Frassinell, Mike (January 20, 2014). "Super Bowl 2014: Last chance to buy commemorative NJ Transit unlimited ride passes". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  41. ↑ "PATH Super Bowl Week Schedule". PANYNJ. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  42. ↑ "Super Bowl Week Service Information for Regular NJ TRANSIT Customers". NJT. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  43. ↑ "SUPER BOWL XLVIII: Hudson Bergen Light Rail: Enhanced Service During Super Bowl Week - Monday, January 27 to Sunday, February 2, 2014 January 16, 2014". NJT. January 16, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  44. ↑ "Let Metro-North Take You to Super Bowl Boulevard". MTA. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  45. ↑ "MTA | news | Introducing Super Bowl MetroCards". New.mta.info. 2014-01-08. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  46. ↑ Vranica, Suzanne (2014-01-28). "And Now, Ads for the Super Bowl Ads - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  47. ↑ "MTA LIRR - Super Bowl XLVIII". Web.mta.info. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  48. ↑ "NJDOT announces Route 3 resurfacing project in Meadowlands area Critical project to improve over four miles of deteriorated highway" (Press release). New Jersey Department of Transportation. March 15, 2013. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  49. ↑ Chernetz, Janna (December 10, 2013). lincoln tunnel westbound "Super Bowl Attendees Get a Westbound Bus Lane in the Lincoln Tunnel, but Daily Commuters Aren't So Lucky". Tri-State Transportation Campaign. Retrieved 2014-12-11.
  50. ↑ "Meadowlands Adaptive Signal System for Traffic Reduction". North Jersey Transportation Planning Association. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  51. ↑ "Super Bowl 2014 to Reap Benefits from TransCore’s Automated Traffic Control System TransCore is on schedule to complete adaptive traffic signal technology deployment". Transcore. January 21, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  52. ↑ "TransCore deployment on schedule for Super Bowl". Traffic Technology Today. January 22, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  53. ↑ Frasinelli, Mike (February 2, 2014). "Super Bowl 2014: Trains, lanes and automobiles expected to be packed". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  54. ↑ Staff (December 27, 2013). "By the numbers: Ready for a Super(Bowl) storm". NJ Biz. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  55. ↑ O'Boyle, John (February 11, 2014). "Super Bowl 2014 transit problems: About 2,000 parking passes, 300 charter bus permits went unused". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-09-15.
  56. ↑ Brennan, John (February 10, 2014). "Empty spaces and packed trains as thousands paid for Super Bowl parking they didn’t use". The Record. Retrieved 2014-09-15.
  57. ↑ "First mass transit Super Bowl". USA Today. January 30, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  58. ↑ Malone Scott (January 29, 2014). "Mass transit attack is top risk to Super Bowl security". Chicago News. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  59. ↑ Rossen, JIm; Winter, Tom and Patel, Avni (January 1, 2014). "Super Bowl security net cast wide to protect game and related events". NBC News. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  60. ↑ "Increased Super Bowl security along Hudson River". Eyewitness News. January 20, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  61. ↑ "Super Bowl Security Tight on Hudson River". NBC 4 New York. January 20, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  62. ↑ "State police prepare security for Super Bowl along Jersey City coastline on the Hudson River, other waterways near Metlife Stadium". News 12 New Jersey. January 20, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  63. ↑ Malone, Scott (January 29, 2014). "Mass transit attack seen as top Super Bowl security risk". NBC News. Retrieved 2014-01-30.
  64. ↑ Zezima, Katie (January 31, 2014). "TSA Screening Set at Rail Station for Super Bowl". ABC News.
  65. ↑ Lueddeke, Kim (January 29, 2014). "Security agencies focus on prevention at Super Bowl". The Record. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  66. ↑ For Super Bowl: Security Experts Say Communication Was Key, nj.com
  67. ↑ Boyle, Louis (January 31, 2014). "Super Bowl on lockdown: Fighter jets set to patrol the skies with snipers stationed inside New Jersey stadium Super Bowl on lockdown: Fighter jets set to patrol the skies with snipers stationed inside New Jersey stadium". Retrieved 2014-01-31.
  68. ↑ Sciarrino, Robert (March 20, 2014). "NJ security expenses for Super Bowl 2014 top $5 million". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  69. ↑ Hinds, Kate (February 4, 2014). "Why Super Bowl Transit Math Didn't Add Up". Transportation Nation (WNYC). Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  70. ↑ "Transit woes mark New Jersey-New York Super Bowl". Fox News. 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  71. ↑ Flegenheimer, Matt (2014-02-02). "‘Mass-Transit Super Bowl’ Hits Some Rough Patches in Moving Fans". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  72. ↑ For example, see these 13 news sources:
  73. ↑ "Regularly Scheduled Board of Directors' Meetings - Final Agenda" (PDF). New Jersey Transit. February 13, 2014.
  74. ↑ Higgs, Larry (January 26, 2014). "The real competition in Super Bowl XLVII: NY vs NJ for revenue". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  75. ↑ "Minutes of meeting May 8, 2013" (PDF). New Jersey Tannest. May 13, 2013. Retrieved 2014-07-10. Mr. Alan said they cannot say the same about Board Item 1305-22 for the payment to AECOM for transit planning in connection with next winter’s Super Bowl 48 game and events connected with it. He said it appears to be a further payment for services, but the initial payment is not disclosed. Additionally, Mr. Alan said the NFL is the direct beneficiary and not the NJ TRANSIT riders. He said this management and Board plead poverty when it comes to benefiting riders or employees, but when it comes to providing a benefit for a monopoly like the NFL, it seems money is no object. Mr. Alan said they strongly object to the item for transit riders of New Jersey and the State’s taxpayers. The NFL could afford the cost of the proposed planning effort, as well as any capital improvements that may be made to the Secaucus Station in preparation for the Super Bowl 48 game. He said they want the Board to reject the item and send the bill to the NFL instead.
  76. ↑ 76.0 76.1 Rouse, Karen (July 3, 2014). "Report on NJ Transit’s gridlock at Super Bowl is overdue". The Record. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  77. ↑ Flegenheimer, Matt (February 18, 2014). "Chief of New Jersey Transit to Quit After a Rocky Tenure". The New York Times.
  78. ↑ Frassinelli, Mike (February 18, 2014). Weinsstein retire "NJ Transit executive director steps down after 4 years at helm". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  79. ↑ Hinds, Kate (February 21, 2014). "So Much For That NJ Transit Hearing". Transportation Nation (WNYC). Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  80. ↑ NFL: NJ Transit officials fail to testify before Assembly hearing on Super Bowl transportation woes, northjersey.com
  81. ↑ Senate Oversight Hearing nj.com
  82. ↑ "Under New Leadership, NJTransit to Address Super Bowl and Sandy Debacles at Legislative Hearing". New Brunswick Today. March 9, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
  83. ↑ "NJ Transit skips hearing on Super Bowl rail issues". Washington Times. March 10, 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
  84. ↑ Rouse, Karen; Brennan, John (March 10, 2014). "NFL and NJ Transit officials skip state hearing on Super Bowl transportation woes". The Record. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
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  87. ↑ 87.0 87.1 87.2 87.3 87.4 87.5 Wang, Christopher (August 8, 2014). "Study faults late changes for monster Super Bowl snarl, goes easy on NJ Transit". The Record. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  88. ↑ McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP. SUPER BOWL XLVIII REPORT FOR THE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Report). Scribd.com. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
  89. ↑ Tangel, Andrew (August 8, 2014). "Report: Criticism of NJ Transit Handling of Super Bowl 'Misplaced' The Tone of the Report, Commissioned by the Agency, Stands in Contrast to Criticism of Extreme Overcrowding on Post-Game Trains and Buses". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
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  91. ↑ "Welcome". S.A.F.E. (Security, Athletic Facilities & Events) Management. 2013. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
  92. ↑ 92.0 92.1 Senah, Jonah (August 8, 2014). "NJ Transit Problems at 2014 Super Bowl Were Underrated, Report Reveals". WNYC. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
  93. ↑ Donohue, Pete (February 6, 2014). "100 NJ Transit buses were prepared for Super Bowl, then kept away: Source For some reason, no one called in the cavalry of 100 commuter coaches, only 6 miles away, as legions of frustrated football fans inched out of MetLife Stadium on Sunday and waited in horrendously long lines for shuttle trains bound for Secaucus Junction.". The Daily News. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
  94. ↑ Porter, David (August 9, 2014). "Report praises NJ Transit Super Bowl performance". Philiadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2014-08-09.

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