Category: Commuters

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Commuters : Can One Man Fix New Jersey’s Trains AND Highways?

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One Leader, Two Agencies: Gov.-Elect Mikie Sherrill Unveils Bold “Unified” NJ Transit Strategy

New Jersey is entering a new era of transportation.

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, In a move that signals a shift in how the Garden State moves, Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has announced that Kris Kolluri will lead both NJ Transit and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA).

This rare “dual-hat” appointment aims to break down the silos between the nation’s largest statewide mass transit system and its most iconic toll road entity. Here is what this means for your daily commute, the 2026 World Cup, and the future of New Jersey infrastructure.

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Is Your Pup at Risk? NYC Vet Warns Dog Owners as Human Flu Cases Spike

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Can my dog catch the flu, too?

photo courtesy of www.artchickphotography.com

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

New York New York, with flu hospitalizations hitting record highs across New York City and New Jersey this winter, health officials are sounding the alarm for residents to mask up and get vaccinated. But as you reach for the tissues, you might be wondering: Can my dog catch the flu, too?

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The NJ Commuter Tax: Why Your Drive Just Got More Expensive and Slower

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The Jersey Squeeze: Gas Tax and Toll Hikes Hit Drivers Just as Traffic Hits a Record High

file photo by Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Commuting in the Garden State just got a lot more expensive. As of January 1, 2026, New Jersey drivers are facing a “double whammy” at the pump and the toll booth. Combined with a staggering new study on local traffic congestion, the cost of “just getting to work” is reaching a breaking point for many residents.

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Goodbye, Yellow Swipe: New York City Officially Retires the MetroCard in 2026

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“MTA MetroCard” Retires

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

New York New York, The iconic yellow “MTA MetroCard” is about to become a museum piece. After three decades of swiping, New York City is pulling the plug. Starting January 1, 2026, the MTA is officially ending the sale and distribution of MetroCards, completing a total transition to the OMNY (One Metro New York) tap-to-pay system.

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The Great NJ Toll Deception: Why the Turnpike Was Supposed to Be Free in 2026

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“Temporary” tolls that became permanent

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

East Rutherford NJ, If you’re driving the New Jersey Turnpike or Garden State Parkway on New Year’s Day 2026, your wallet is about to feel a familiar sting. On January 1, 2026, tolls are officially increasing by another 3%—the fifth consecutive hike under the state’s current “indexing” policy.

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Commuter Alert: Port Authority Approves 2026 Toll, PATH Fare, and Airport Fee Hikes

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Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners officially approved a record-breaking $45 billion, 10-year capital plan alongside a $10 billion budget for 2026

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Traveling between New Jersey and New York is about to get more expensive. On December 18, 2025, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) Board of Commissioners officially approved a record-breaking $45 billion, 10-year capital plan alongside a $10 billion budget for 2026.

To fund massive infrastructure projects—including a brand-new Midtown Bus Terminal and an overhaul of Newark Liberty Airport—the agency is rolling out a series of toll, fare, and fee increases starting as early as January 4, 2026.

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End of an Era: Cardinal Timothy Dolan Retires; Pope Leo XIV Names New Archbishop of New York

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New York has a New Archbishop

photo of Cardinal Timothy Dolan

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

NEW YORK CITY — In a historic shift for the American Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV has officially accepted the resignation of His Eminence Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan as the Archbishop of New York.

Marking the end of a nearly 17-year tenure for one of the most recognizable religious figures in the world, the Vatican simultaneously announced that Most Reverend Ronald A. Hicks, the current Bishop of Joliet, Illinois, will succeed Dolan as the Metropolitan Archbishop of New York.A Changing of the Guard: Meet Archbishop-Elect Ronald Hicks.

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Massive Machinery Arrives: Gateway Rail Tunnel Boring Begins Under the Hudson River!

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First Sections of $16 Billion Gateway Tunnels Headed to NJ for Reassembly; Targeting 2035 Completion

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

NORTH JERSEY, NJ – The colossal Gateway Rail Tunnel Project, one of the nation’s largest federally funded infrastructure initiatives, has hit a major milestone: the arrival of its primary excavation tools.

Disassembled sections of the first of two massive German-made Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are currently being shipped to the Garden State via ports in Elizabeth and Baltimore. The first components are expected to arrive in North Bergen later this month, where they will be meticulously reassembled for their underground journey.

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Trump DOT Slashes ‘Exorbitant’ Amtrak Executive Payouts to Fund 18,000 Frontline Workers

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Redirects Half of Leadership Bonuses to Union Employees Citing ‘Misplaced Priorities’ from Prior Administration

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a move hailed by labor unions, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Thursday that it has successfully negotiated an agreement with Amtrak to redirect executive bonus funds directly into the pockets of its frontline employees.

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NJ TRANSIT Greenlights Design for Secaucus-Jersey City Transitway!

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$22.2 Million Investment Advances Critical New Transit Corridor in North Jersey

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Secaucus, NJ – Great news for commuters and event-goers in the Tri-State area! The NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors has taken a decisive step forward on a key infrastructure project, authorizing significant funding to complete the engineering and design work for the Secaucus to Jersey City segment of the Secaucus-Meadowlands Transitway.

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Dramatic Rescue: Woman Hospitalized After Falling Onto NJ Transit Tracks in Glen Rock

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Train Traffic Halted! Quick-Thinking Glen Rock Police Officers Pull 76-Year-Old Woman to Safety from NJ Transit Tracks

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Glen Rock NJ, Close Call at Glen Rock Main Line Station. A tense scene unfolded near the Glen Rock Main Line Station on Thursday night after a woman fell onto the NJ Transit tracks, prompting a rapid emergency response and a temporary halt to train service.

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NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani’s Socialist Agenda Will Export British Antisemitism and High Taxes

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“Never Satisfied”: Liz Truss Slams NYC’s Zohran Mamdani, Warning His High-Tax Socialism Threatens US Economic Growth and Brings UK-Style Antisemitism

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

A Transatlantic Warning: UK’s Liz Truss vs. NYC’s Zohran Mamdani

New York NY, the political debate surrounding New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has reached across the Atlantic. Liz Truss, the former British prime minister and a staunch conservative advocate for economic growth, is issuing a sharp warning to Americans, claiming Mamdani’s democratic socialist agenda will mirror the high-tax, high-regulation policies she fought against in the UK—with concerning social consequences.

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MANHATTAN GRIDLOCK SCANDAL: Is Congestion Pricing Working, or Are Drivers Just Paying More?

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Drivers and Experts Pump the Brakes on MTA’s Claimed ‘Transformational’ Traffic Success

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

New York NY, nearly a year into the controversial congestion pricing program, a fierce debate is raging over its effectiveness in Manhattan. Governor Kathy Hochul and MTA leaders are hailing the $\$9$ toll as a transformational success, claiming it has drastically reduced gridlock and is funding crucial transit upgrades. However, drivers on the ground and independent analysts are shouting one unified message: “Not so fast!”

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Assemblyman DePhillips Demands NJ Transit Audit and Corporate Fee Elimination

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NJ Corporate Transit Fee Under Fire: Lawmaker Proposes Rescinding 2.5% Surcharge and Slashing State Taxes

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ—A new legislative battle is brewing in Trenton over New Jersey’s tax policies and the accountability of the state’s largest transportation agency. Assemblyman Christopher P. DePhillips (R-Bergen), a staunch critic of the state’s high corporate burden, has introduced a bill aimed at rescinding the controversial 2.5% corporate transit fee while simultaneously renewing his demand for a “top-to-bottom audit” of NJ Transit.

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Bergen County Executive Tedesco Gets Rare Look at the $16 Billion Hudson Tunnel Project

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Future of Commuting is Here: Bergen County Executive Tours Gateway Tunnel Site—See Why This $16B Project is the Nation’s Most Critical Infrastructure Upgrade

photos courtesy of Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, the massive Gateway Program, dubbed the single most critical infrastructure project in the entire country, is moving full steam ahead. To underscore its importance to North Jersey commuters, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco recently took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Hudson Tunnel Project with the Gateway Development Commission (GDC).

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