Westfield Man Proposes Daily Van Ride Directly to NYC

Commuting to midtown Manhattan from Westfield and back has been a daily headache for resident Warren Friss.

Friss is now chartering a daily van that will take a group of about 15 residents directly from Westfield to Grand Central Station each morning and back at the end of the workday. All he needs are interested participants.

The cost of the ride would be about $23 a day if 15 people agree to join the ride.

Friss has tried every possible commute from Westfield, he says. Some of his commutes included, taking NJ Transit to the PATH, driving to Jersey City and then taking the ferry, driving to Linden and taking the train directly to Penn Station and taking the bus. Right now, he has been taking NJ Transit to Newark, Newark to Penn Station and then two subways to his current office.

“Westfield to midtown, unless you're right near Penn Station, is an awful commute,” Friss said.

Although the cost is more than taking NJ Transit and the subways, Friss says it is only about an extra $35 per week.

“While it may not be right for everyone, it will definitely improve my 'quality of work life,'" he explained.

Each morning, residents who take the van will arrive at Grand Central Station at the same time and it will leave Grand Central at the same time each evening. Friss said he understand he and others may have to work late on certain nights, but that is just a day here and there where you will have to take the train.

“Our van will be the ‘civilized commute,’” he said. “You will get on at the train station at the same time every day, be guaranteed an individual comfortable seat and not have to move until we get to GCT.   You can work, sleep, whatever. It will not be too hot or too cold!”

The current plan is to leave Westfield at 7:15 a.m. and return from Grand Central Station at 5:30 p.m. However, the times could change based on the demand by others.

Those interested can contact Friss at warrenfriss@gmail.com.