the only time i ever hitched out of that area was around June of 2008. My friend told us to take the free ikea bus that goes from port authority (i think?) to the ikea store somewhere in new jersey and to hitch from the highway near there. we were able to get a ride to the highway from the parking lot, and got dropped off right at the on-ramp. it was a pretty dangerous spot to be hitching in and there wasn't really any pullover room.
We were kind of desperate though, we had just found out that our friend joe died in a car accident and we needed to get back to Richmond really soon.
Anyway, we stood there for about 2 hours and a cop pulled over and told us to beat it. immediately after that, this lady in a mini van pulls over and yells at us to get in the car, as if she were our mother or something. she was nice and bought all 3 of us greyhound tickets to Richmond because we told her our friend died.
i wouldn't really reccomend hitching out of that spot unless you are super desperate. sorry i don't have any better advice but i thought id share a story. good luck though!