New Jersey commuters heading to Manhattan have been urged to consider working from home for weeks amid a major rail upgrade project that will affect travel starting Tuesday morning. The upgrades, managed by Amtrak, are part of the $16 billion Gateway infrastructure initiative and are expected to last until March 15, 2023. This extensive undertaking will reduce weekday rail service drastically, affecting thousands of daily commuters.

Amtrak's adjustments are essential due to the work being done on the 116-year-old Portal Bridge, which is crucial for many travelers as it spans the Hackensack River in New Jersey. The demands of the upgrade mean that train traffic will be shifted to a new bridge, leading to significant delays and a reduced number of trains available under the Hudson River. Reports indicate that daily train service will drop to 178 trains from the usual 332, impacting the Northeast Corridor rail line, known as the busiest in the Western Hemisphere.

The implications of these changes will be felt by commuters and the local economy, as the reduced service will likely result in crowded trains, longer commutes, and disruptions for many who rely on this key transportation route. The New Jersey Transit Authority's recommendation for remote work highlights the project's potential to inconvenience a large number of people and underscores the broader infrastructure challenges that affect the region's transit system, which have been a point of contention in political discussions, particularly around the actions and policies of former President Trump aimed at undermining such projects.