PATH riders get off a train in the new World Trade Center station. When PATH says it will cross honor NJ Transit tickets to move riders, what happens? Ask @CommutingLarry

((Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com))

When NJ Transit says another agency will cross honor its tickets, what's supposed to happen? How does cross honoring work? Stand clear of the closing doors, next stop is the mailbag.



Several readers on Twitter expressed frustration about their commute on Tuesday morning, after a disabled train near Penn Station in New York caused a 45 minute delay. NJ Transit announced that PATH was cross honoring rail tickets at Newark Penn Station, the 33rd Street station and at Hoboken terminal.

But several riders complained to NJ Transit that no one was at Newark Penn Station to honor their tickets to get on a PATH train.



Q: What is supposed to happen when NJ Transit says another transit agency will cross honor its tickets was asked by several readers on Twitter. How is it supposed to work?



A: Port Authority spokeswoman Cheryl Ann Albiez and NJ Transit spokeswoman Nancy Snyder explained how cross honoring works and what riders should do.



"NJ Transit gives PATH officials 15 to 30 minute notice asking for assistance with cross honoring at certain locations," Snyder said.



PATH Agents are stationed at the fare zones, where NJ Transit customers show their NJ Transit ticket or monthly pass to the agent and walk through the handicapped gate, Albiez said.



So what should riders do if they don't see a PATH agent during cross honoring? Don't jump the turnstile.



"If an agent is not readily available, customers can pick up a passenger assistance phone," Albiez said. "[Riders] are passed through the fare gate remotely."

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Cross-honoring is an arrangement in which one transit agency allows riders from another agency to ride its system. The goal is to move people and ease delays, using a arrangement that's been worked out in advance, before something like a broken-down train or bus in a tunnel happens.

The agreement works both ways, meaning that PATH will help NJ Transit and NJ Transit will return the favor if PATH has a problem.



There are limitations to cross-honoring. Except in the case of bad weather, such as snow, cross-honoring rarely provides unlimited travel across an entire transit system. If PATH trains have a problem crossing the Hudson, NJ Transit trains will cross-honor to get riders across the river. It doesn't mean they'll cross-honor a PATH card for a free ride to the end of the line.



The mailbag is the place where commuters turn to get answers, including why a work zone on I-80 in Morris and Passaic counties wasn't cleared up by the morning rush hour last week. What can we answer for you?



Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.