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Extreme Commuter: From upstate to Manhattan

By Marlene Naanes, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | MNaanes@am-ny.com

September 15, 2008

For more than a year, Christopher Musico has endured a daily five-hour commute from upstate Ulster County, and he's exhausted.

He's also tired of missing out on a social life, saying he'd like to do more of the "20-something in the city type of thing."

"Monday through Thursday I'm owned lock, stock and barrel by the commute," said Musico, 23, a magazine editorial assistant. "It's really frustrating I don't have family, I don't have kids, I don't have a wife, so I would love to hang with my friends more than once or twice a week and not be exhausted while doing so."

Mornings are the worst. He devotes a total of three hours to driving to the train, riding the Metro-North and finally huffing it to his office in midtown.

He must leave his home in Wallkill, near New Paltz, at 5:35 a.m. for a 20-minute drive, followed by a painful wait for a 6:44 a.m. train.

That's because station parking is so scarce that he has to arrive extra early to find a spot.

Upstate winters also add to his already tough commute, keeping him home a handful of days when snowy roads prove too treacherous.

Some days, though, snow, sleet or hail can't keep him from his job at CRM, a customer-relations trade magazine. Last New Year's Eve, the Seton Hall University graduate had to be in the office for a meeting despite severe snow and ice from a storm the night before.

"It was pretty white bare-knuckled driving," he said. "I was slipping and sliding all over the place and I was honestly kind of scared for my life. That was definitely one day I wish I was just taking the subway or taking the PATH to get into work."

Musico loves living in Wallkill because of its serenity, and staying at his parents' home has helped him save money, too. He hopes to rent a place closer to work, possibly in Jersey City.

"My goal is to be out before Christmas hopefully even sooner," he said. "That would be a nice little gift for myself."

The commute

Wallkill to Midtown

5:35 a.m.: Begins drive to Beacon train station

5:55 a.m.: Arrives and gets a parking spot

6:44 a.m.: Boards train

8:09 a.m.: Arrives at Grand Central Terminal and walks to work

8:30 a.m.: Arrives at work

5 p.m.: Leaves work and walks to Grand Central

5:20 p.m.: Arrives at Grand Central

5:29 p.m.: Gets on a Metro-North train to Beacon

6:36 p.m.: Arrives in Beacon and drives home

7 p.m.: Arrives home

The cost

$334: Metro-North monthly pass

$50: Daily parking fee

$20: Bridge toll

$150: Gas

$554: Total