Mass Transit Super Bowl
On game day, those traveling by train experienced overcrowding and long delays due to miscalculated estimations and an unanticipated surge of passengers, which led to complaints and criticism.
[3][4][5] 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.
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.
Highlights of the week as presented by the Host Committee were:[21][22] The Regional Transit Diagram 2014 was produced specifically for the Super Bowl, and according to the Metropolitan Transportation 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.
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.
[40] New Jersey Transit offered a "Super Pass" that provided unlimited system-wide rides between January 27 and February 3, including the Meadowlands Rail Line.
[41] Collectively, during Super Bowl week, NJT, PATH, and the MTA provided more frequent rail service and faster connections to support expected visitors.
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.
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.
At the George Washington Bridge, new variable message signs (VMS) provided real-time travel information and special traffic advisories.
[54] 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.
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.
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.
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.
[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.
[80][81] The New Jersey Senate Oversight Committee scheduled a hearing on the topic for March 10, 2014[82] which newly appointed Executive Director Ronnie Hakim requested be cancelled.
[84][85] In a hearing focused on 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}.
[86][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.
