Category: commuters

Posted on by — 7 Comments

Cuomo asks Trump for help with disastrous Penn Station

penn station njt

By Michael Gartland

May 21, 2017 | 5:00pm

Governor Cuomo turned to President Trump on Sunday to help bail New Yorkers out of a looming mass transit crisis at Penn Station, a situation he likened to a natural disaster.

In a letter to Trump dated May 21, Cuomo requested “the federal government treat this as an emergency situation” and asked Trump to provide funding for construction and transportation alternatives, as well as for a long-term solution.

“While this is not a hurricane or flood it will affect as many people and businesses with dire consequences,” Cuomo continues. “Like a natural disaster, we didn’t create it but our public offices require we address it.”

https://nypost.com/2017/05/21/cuomo-asks-trump-for-help-with-disastrous-penn-station/

Posted on by — Leave a comment

NJ TRANSIT KICKS OFF SUMMER WITH ‘EARLY GETAWAY’ SERVICE AND DISCOUNTED TRAVEL PACKAGES

ArtChick_jersey_shore_theridgewoodblog
May 22,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  NJ TRANSIT will kick off the Memorial Day weekend with “early getaway” rail and bus service on Friday, May 26, for the benefit of customers leaving work early.  To help speed the getaway, customers are reminded that they can enjoy the convenience of purchasing tickets through the MyTix feature of the NJ TRANSIT mobile app.   Besides giving customers a jump on the unofficial start of summer, NJ TRANSIT is making it easy and affordable to get to fun in the sun around the state with a variety of discounted packages.

Friday, May 26:

Extra outbound trains will operate on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex, and Port Jervis lines starting at approximately 1 p.m.
One outbound Pascack Valley train (#9653, leaving Hoboken at 2:58 p.m.) will extend its existing service to terminate in Spring Valley.
Extra buses will operate from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on more than two dozen bus routes starting around noon.  Visit njtransit.com for details.
All light rail systems will operate on regular weekday schedules.

Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28:

Rail:

The Bay Head-Long Branch shuttle is enhanced to hourly service (8 a.m.-10 p.m.)

Bus:

Weekend shuttle service resumes between Toms River and Seaside Park on bus route no. 137.  The bus leaves Toms River at 11:25 a.m. with the return departure from Seaside Park at 6:25 p.m. This service runs every weekend and holiday through the end of June, when direct service resumes from New York on bus route no. 137 and Newark bus route no. 67.  See schedule for details.

Light Rail:

Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule.
Newark Light Rail will operate on a Saturday and Sunday schedule, respectively.
River Line will operate on a Saturday and Sunday schedule, respectively.

Memorial Day, Monday, May 29:

Rail:

Trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule on all lines.
The Bay Head-Long Branch shuttle is enhanced to hourly service (8 a.m.-10 p.m.)

Bus:

Bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to check their timetables or visit njtransit.com for schedule information.  Many routes serving shopping malls will operate on weekend/holiday schedules.  Consult timetable for details.  NOTE: Buses may be subject to detours and service delays for Memorial Day parades through various towns.  See njtransit.com for details.

Light Rail:

Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule.
Newark Light Rail will operate on a Saturday schedule.
River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule.

Summer Savings
With Memorial Day marking the “unofficial” start of the summer recreational season, this weekend is a great time for customers to take advantage of NJ TRANSIT’s discounted travel packages to destinations including the Jersey Shore, Six Flags, Monmouth Park and Liberty Science Center:

Beach Packages:  Board a train anywhere on NJ TRANSIT’s rail system, excluding Atlantic City Rail Line stations and save up to $5.00 on admission to one of five beaches— Long Branch, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach and Belmar—by purchasing round-trip train fare and a discounted beach pass for one price at NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Beach/Monmouth Park Packages” and select “Beach Package”) or at ticket windows.  Beach Packages will be available for weekends and holidays from May 27 through June 18 and then daily starting Monday, June 19 and continuing through Labor Day, Monday, September 4.

Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari or Hurricane Harbor:  Save up to $32 by purchasing round-trip bus transportation and park admission together.

NJ TRANSIT provides express bus service to Six Flags from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York and Newark Penn Station.

Monmouth Park:  Save $5.50 when you travel to Monmouth Park Racetrack.  Simply purchase a package to Monmouth Park from NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Beach/Monmouth Park Packages” and select “Monmouth Park Racetrack”) or at ticket windows from any NJ TRANSIT station, except Atlantic City Rail Line, and receive round-trip transportation, Grandstand Admission and an official track program for $3.50 plus the regular cost of a round-trip rail ticket.

Liberty Science Center:  Save $5 per person for up to four general admission, combo ticket and/or all-access passes when you travel on NJ TRANSIT and show your ticket, pass or fare receipt at Liberty Science Center.  General admission passes include live science demonstrations, hands-on labs, and a variety of daily activities.  Combo and all-access passes provide options for films and premium exhibits.

Visit njtransit.com for more information on NJ TRANSIT summer travel deals.

On weekends, kids ride free on NJ TRANSIT

Every weekend, families riding NJ TRANSIT can save with the Family SuperSaver Fare, which allows two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult.  For the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the program will be extended and in effect from 7 p.m. Friday, May 26 until 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 30.

Travel tips

Check Schedules in Advance:  Plan your trip online to take advantage of extra trains and buses.
Allow Extra Travel Time:  Traffic congestion during the long holiday weekend may affect bus travel times especially on routes using the Garden State Parkway heading down the shore, so customers should plan accordingly.
Ticketing:  Purchase round-trip tickets at the start of your trip to speed your return.  Use the MyTix feature on the NJ TRANSIT mobile app, ticket vending machines or see a ticket agent, if available, to avoid possible surcharges.  Bus customers departing Port Authority Bus Terminal are reminded that tickets must be purchased before boarding the bus.
Luggage:  Travel as light as possible.  Passengers with luggage or packages should use the overhead racks or designated luggage spaces.  On multilevel trains, customers with large bags should use the mezzanine levels at the ends of each car.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

NJ Transit Eliminates Cash Transaction for Bus Boarding at George Washington Bridge Bus Station

ridgewood bus station

 

May 15,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  NJ TRANSIT will expedite the boarding process at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, following the station’s reopening, to improve the overall customer experience by getting riders home faster.

When the station opens to customers, cash will no longer be accepted on buses departing the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.  Customers will be asked to “Buy Before Boarding” and have their tickets/passes or electronic MyTix ready before boarding the bus.

Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), which accept cash, credit or debit payments, will be located across from the NJ TRANSIT ticket windows on the Level 3 Bus Pavilion.  Customers can also sign up for electronic ticketing through the MyTix feature of the NJ TRANSIT mobile app, which is available free of charge on web enabled iOS and Android devices.

“We have made great strides in improving on-time performance at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, thanks in part to the ‘Buy Before Boarding’ procedure,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Steven H. Santoro.  “We know our customers value their time, so expanding this procedure to get customers home to their families as quickly as possible is always a priority.”

This procedure is already in place at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York and has seen positive results.

By reducing cash transactions on buses, NJ TRANSIT can reduce delays associated with slow boarding and improve on-time performance.

George Washington Bridge Bus Station Renovations

A private developer is redeveloping the George Washington Bridge Bus Station on behalf of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns and operates the facility.  This station will feature customer amenities to improve your commute. They include a new air-conditioned waiting area with seating for 125 customers, ticket sales, public restrooms and state-of-the-art electronic passenger information boards. Bus gates are ADA compliant, and customers will no longer need to make a reservation for ADA assistance. Direct access to MTA’s A Train and 175th Street Subway Station will be available at a later date. For more information, visit the Port Authority’s website at www.panynj.gov/GWBBSredevelopment.

As part of the redevelopment, NJ TRANSIT bus routes will be departing from the following gates:

DEPARTURE GATE ASSIGNMENTS

Effective May 2017

Bus Route       Gate

171                  12

175                  13  RIDGEWOOD 

178                  17

181                  14

182                  18

186                  15

188                  11

Posted on by — Leave a comment

NJ Transit Should Cut Fares This Summer, Senate Candidate Says

Kelly Langschultz,

By Alyana Alfaro • 05/03/17 5:12pm

Kelly Langschultz, a Republican candidate for the state Senate in Bergen County, is calling on NJ Transit to slash its fares during the coming season of repairs and service outages at New York Penn Station.

“NJ Transit needs to reduce the cost of their ticket prices and start accommodating riders for the decline in service,” she said in a statement Wednesday. “We have plenty of people here who have already spent hundreds of dollars on monthly passes, and now we’re learning that there will be even further interruptions in service.”

Amtrak is conducting urgent track repairs this summer, planned for July 7 to July 25 and Aug. 4 to Aug. 28, according to a draft plan. At least five of Penn Station’s 21 tracks would be affected by the August repairs and NJ Transit riders are expected to face long delays and service outages. Amtrak, which owns and operates Penn Station, says it has no choice but to fix the tracks after two recent derailments at the station.

https://observer.com/2017/05/kelly-langschultz-calls-for-fare-reduction-nj-transit/

Posted on by — Leave a comment

NJT Ridgewood Bus Customers Have More Options to buy Tickets

Ridgewood-bus_terminal_theridgewoodblog

MORE TICKET OPTIONS AND IMPROVED NAVIGATION FOR NJ TRANSIT MOBILE APP

May 2,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT’s latest mobile app upgrade has a redesigned look that brings additional features and functionality to the home page screen. Bus customers also will be able to use the app to purchase one-way, round-trip and discounted 10-trip tickets.  In addition, the enhancements provide customers with service alerts and service information for specific train stations or bus stops at a glance.

The new app will be available to Android users first with iOS release to follow, possibly within two weeks.  NJ TRANSIT is rolling out the new version so that it can make any needed refinements before it is available to its larger customer base of iOS users.

“Technology continues to evolve and with that, NJ TRANSIT is continually working to improve our customers’ experience with our app,’’ said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Steven H. Santoro. “I heard first hand from our customers that they also want service information right on the app – this version does just that.”

“Our mobile app users also demand a clean, functional interface, and this redesigned look provides for one-tap access to each of the most popular features. We are proud to be an industry leader in mobile ticketing, and we will continue to look for ways to put the latest technology in the hands of our customers,’’ Santoro added.

Visually, the crisp look features a new home screen with a tile layout, larger buttons, and clearer colors for easier viewing and selection of the options. Tiles provide access to tickets, train schedules, DepartureVision and MyBus right from the home screen. A Quick Buy tile provides for one-tap purchases of favorite tickets. DepartureVision and MyBus will display and auto refresh right on the home screen.

Additionally, DepartureVision and MyBus information on the home screen are auto populated based upon your favorites.

NJ TRANSIT bus customers can now purchase monthly passes, discounted 10-trips, roundtrip and one-way tickets for both interstate and intrastate travel.

The use of mobile ticketing through the MyTIX program has grown steadily since its introduction in 2013 and now has more than 1.25 million customer accounts.

The NJ TRANSIT mobile app is available for free download on any web-enabled iOS or Android device. To purchase tickets, customers simply install the app and create an account, which will securely save a customer’s profile information and purchase history.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

PORT AUTHORITY AUTHORIZES PLANNING FUNDS FOR FIRST PHASE OF PATH EXTENSION TO NEWARK LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

300px-33rd_St_PATH_platform_jeh
May 2,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, Extension would provide access to the airport via a one-seat ride from Manhattan and add transit access to the Dayton Street neighborhood in Newark’s South Ward

The Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners today authorized $57 million in planning funds for the first phase of the PATH system extension to Newark Liberty International Airport, a projected $1.7-billion project that is a key component of the board’s 2017-2026 capital plan and essential to improved regional rail service for the commuting public.

“The Port Authority is committed to making critical investments in a transportation network that supports regional growth and meets the demands of the millions of people who live, work and visit the region,” said Port Authority Chairman John Degnan. “This planning effort will provide analysis of key components – ridership data, cost updates, environmental and economic impacts – to help the agency continue to evaluate the project before moving forward with construction.”

“Our 10-year capital plan dedicates $32 billion towards strategic investments to support the modernization of critical transportation infrastructure,” said Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye. “This project improves transportation access to Newark Airport while extending PATH’s trans-Hudson network in Newark.”

Subject to completion of the environmental review process and project authorization by the Port Authority board, the project would include a new station in Newark’s South Ward Dayton Street neighborhood, a new rail yard facility and modification of existing platforms at Newark Penn Station to accommodate increased passenger flow.

Today’s authorization provides funding critical to move the project through preliminary design and the required environmental review process. It includes funds for environmental and transportation services, including preliminary engineering work as well as program and project management services.

Currently, the PATH Newark-to-World Trade Center line’s western-most point is Newark Penn Station. The project will extend the line west through the Dayton Street neighborhood in Newark’s South Ward, ending at the Newark Liberty rail link station.

Once approved, construction of the extension is expected to begin in 2020 with full revenue service to start in 2026. As a multimodal transportation hub, the new station also will reduce traffic congestion and provide environmental benefits through increased use of public transportation.

Posted on by — 7 Comments

Reader asks why this plan was not considered less than eight years ago when the train station parking lot was last altered

ridgewood train station parkiong

I am curious why this plan was not considered less than eight years ago when the train station parking lot was last altered. Did Chris R not think it was a good idea then, was it never considered? Parking was surely an issue 10 years ago. Why are we considering renovations to a parking lot that was so recently modified – are we admitting that it wasn’t done very well, or at least did not maximize parking back then? Perhaps this was considered and determined to be a bad idea.

Would like to see the town engineers at the parking lot at 7am and again between 6 and 7pm when the traffic is at it’s highest. Adding more cars will only serve to create more gridlock at the traffic light on Ridgewood Ave. If more cars are added maybe something could be done to the traffic light to allow the cars to get out of the parking lot when trains arrive.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

NJT Apologizes for the Mess

penn station njt

April 25, 2017

Dear Valued Customer,

First, I want to thank you for your continued patience and understanding during the recent and ongoing delays to your train service, especially traveling in and out of Penn Station New York.

These delays have caused considerable frustration, inconvenience and stress for many of you as you travel to work, appointments, events and then back home. Traveling on NJ TRANSIT should be the easy part of your day, not the most challenging.

We share your frustration and are committed to earning back your trust. I personally met with Amtrak’s CEO recently to discuss the importance of NJ TRANSIT having a voice at the table around prioritization of track and other maintenance, tunnel evacuation protocols, customer flow at Penn Station New York among other topics. These issues are important to NJ TRANSIT, have a direct impact on you our customers, and must be addressed.

If you have experienced delays that have compromised your work situation, please stop by one of our Customer Service offices and pick up a delay letter for your employer. You also can obtain a letter by visiting our website and clicking here to access our Contact Us form on the website.

I will work every day to ensure that we do everything we can to improve your trip, and sincerely apologize for the inconveniences you, your families and fellow commuters may have experienced in recent days.

Thank you for remaining a loyal NJ TRANSIT customer.

Steven H. Santoro
Executive Director, NJ TRANSIT

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Christie’s Successor Will Face Transportation Tests

Hoboken Train Station Crash

file photo fatal Hoboken train crash

New Jersey’s next governor stands to inherit a still-stalled plan to build a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, a transit system racked recently by maintenance and safety issues. and a driving public unhappy about recent gas tax increases.

| April 29, 2017, at 9:22 a.m.

By MICHAEL CATALINI, Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey’s next governor stands to inherit a still-stalled plan to build a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, a transit system racked by recent maintenance and safety issues, and a driving public unhappy about gas tax increases.

The issues were highlighted this week after Amtrak announced repair work at New York’s Penn Station that would stretch rail delays into the summer and after state transportation officials hailed an eight-year funding plan financed by a gas tax hike during a hearing before New Jersey’s Democrat-led Legislature.

New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states with governor races this year.

Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican who is term limited and can’t seek re-election, has remained on the defensive over his 2010 decision to scrap a trans-Hudson rail project. That project’s successor, called Gateway, has broad support but an uncertain funding source.

But Christie has gone on the offense against Amtrak and all but declared victory, saying that Amtrak’s plans to repair tracks satisfied his demands that the railway certify its tracks before the state resumes making nearly $200 million monthly maintenance payments.

Christie’s ultimatum came after recent derailments at the station.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/new-jersey/articles/2017-04-29/christies-successor-will-face-transportation-tests

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Angry NJ Transit riders urge ‘NoPayMay’ protest for shoddy service

penn station njt

By Jeff Goldman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 28, 2017 at 9:59 AM, updated April 28, 2017 at 4:33 PM

Frustrated NJ Transit commuters have been circulating fliers on trains and waging a nascent social media campaign dubbed “NoPayMay” to encourage rail riders to attempt to use April monthly passes next month as a form of protest.

A flier left on a New Jersey Transit train on Friday morning, imploring customers not to pay for their May monthly pass.Larry Higgs/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The #NoPayMay movement comes after weeks of delayed trains, two derailments and other mishaps that have left commuters at their breaking point.

Though hundreds of tweets on Twitter implore riders not to purchase a new monthly rail passes for May, one commuter noted that a conductor said that anyone who tries to use an old ticket will face arrest.

https://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2017/04/angry_nj_transit_commuters_pushing_for_nopaymay.html#incart_river_index

Posted on by — 1 Comment

NJ TRANSIT ANNOUNCES SPRING RAIL SCHEDULE TIME CHANGES

ridgewoodtrainstation_theridgewoodblog1

April 27,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  NJ TRANSIT’s spring rail schedule change continues the effort to best match equipment and timetables to customers’ travel needs.  Highlights of the plan, to go into effect on May 7th, include adding additional seating capacity to ease overcrowding on heavily traveled trains and adjusting the schedules on certain trains to provide improved connections at Secaucus and Newark Penn Station in response to customer feedback.  An additional weekday evening stop at Newark Airport also will be available for North Jersey Coast Line customers.

The following is a summary of some of the improvements:

Easing weekday overcrowding:

Main Line train #1206, the 8:22 a.m. arrival in Hoboken from Waldwick, will add an additional car, making it a total of seven cars.

Extended connection times at Secaucus:

Eight Main/Bergen County (ML/BC) and Pascack Valley Line (PVL) trains in the late afternoon and early evening will depart Hoboken several minutes later to extend connection times at Secaucus from seven minutes to ten minutes.  This is in response to customer feedback received at a recent “We Are Listening” forum in Secaucus suggesting improved connection times.

#1271 – (BC) Departs Hoboken 2 minutes later at 6:02 p.m.
#1175 – (BC) Departs Hoboken 3 minutes later at 7:18 p.m.
#1277 – (BC) Departs Hoboken 1 minute later at 8:41 p.m.
#1127 – (ML) Departs Hoboken 1 minute later at 7:46 p.m.
#1129 – (ML) Departs Hoboken 1 minute later at 8:46 p.m.
#1641 – (PVL) Departs Hoboken 3 minutes later at 7:29 p.m.
#1643 – (PVL) Departs Hoboken 3 minutes later at 8:23 p.m.
#1645 – (PVL) Departs Hoboken 2 minutes later at 9:44 p.m. to Spring Valley

Adjustments to accommodate customer travel patterns

NEC train #3817, the 6:34 a.m. departure from PSNY to Trenton will depart PSNY 5 minutes later at 6:39 a.m.
NEC train #3897, the 12:14 a.m. departure from PSNY to Trenton will arrive in Trenton 6 minutes later at 1:55 a.m.
NJCL train #3269, the 5:34 p.m. departure from PSNY to Long Branch will no longer stop at Secaucus to improve Raritan Valley Line connections at Newark Penn Station. Train #3267 will add a Secaucus stop at 5:35 p.m.
NJCL train #3271, the 5:52 p.m. departure from PSNY to Long Branch will depart PSNY 3 minutes later at 5:55 p.m.

NJCL train #3283, the 8:22 p.m. departure from PSNY to Long Branch, will make a stop at Newark Airport at 8:46 p.m.

IMPORTANT CUSTOMER NOTE:  Customers are advised to carefully check the new timetables, which are available at major stations and online at www.njtransit.com, for changes that may affect their itinerary.  Customers with questions may call NJ TRANSIT at 973-275-5555

Posted on by — Leave a comment

NJT: Expect 15-30 Minutes Delays for the Foreseeable Future

Ridgewood-Trainstation1_theridgewoodblog

file photo

April 26,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, ,Due to ongoing Amtrak track maintenance work and track inspections leading to speed restrictions, effective immediately and continuing until further notice, NJT customers traveling to and from New York Penn Station will experience estimated delays of 15 minutes on weekdays and 30 minutes on weekends.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Reader says Another Horrible Commute to Penn Monday Morning

Ridgewood_Train_station_train-_is_coming_theridgewoodblog

Another horrible commute to Penn this morning. Train conductor said over the weekend service was even worse. The frequency with which these incidents and slow downs in service are happening tells me there’s something fishy. I wouldn’t bet against conspiracies that NJT and Amtrak and others are trying to justify another fare increase for “capital improvements”. As long as people do not display their anger for not getting the service they paid for this situation will continue.

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Reader says The next big shift will be work itself and working from home The technology already exists

coffee blogging

The next big shift will be work itself and working from home The technology already exists, but fairly soon we will see major corporations eliminating expensive office spaces where millions of people commute into every day to punch keyboards in buildings located in some of the most expensive places on earth. The cost benefits will drive this, and although there is a reluctance to go in this direction, as soon as one or two major companies start, it will happen quickly due to the obvious savings. This is going to impact public transport and commercial real estate in a big way. Forget about productivity dropping and people pretending to work, modern technology makes everything we do so measurable now, there’s no way you can pretend to work any longer.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Amtrak at a Junction: Invest in Improvements, or Risk Worsening Problems

Ridgewood-Trainstation1_theridgewoodblog

By EMMA G. FITZSIMMONSAPRIL 24, 2017

When Amtrak’s new chief executive took responsibility for two recent train derailments at Pennsylvania Station in New York, it was a low point for a railroad already confronting a series of urgent challenges.

Commuters have long complained that the station is overcrowded and dreary, but now Amtrak had acknowledged that its tracks were in poor shape and not being properly maintained.

The derailments have set off alarms over Amtrak’s management of the station, its safety record and the railroad’s perennial funding problems. The days of commuting turmoil prompted by the accidents also offered an ominous preview of the future if the railroad’s aging infrastructure is not soon overhauled.

Today, Amtrak finds itself at a crossroad: Is the 46-year-old national railroad at the cusp of a new era of investment as it pushes to build a train tunnel between New York and New Jersey — one of the country’s largest infrastructure proposals — or will service deteriorate to levels that could damage the economy in the corridor between Washington and Boston?

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/24/nyregion/amtrak-infrastructure-crisis.html?_r=0