NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey Transit train passenger is undergoing a psychological evaluation after authorities say he made a threat against the commuter railroad.
NJ Transit spokesman Jim Smith says 29-year-old Mohammed Mahmoud of South Amboy was riding on a North Jersey Coast Line train headed for Bay Head when he made the unspecified threat around 6 p.m. Monday.
The train was stopped and searched at the Newark Airport Station. Passengers were evacuated while Mahmoud was detained. Nothing suspicious was found.
Ridgewood Nj , according to NJT Main Line service has resumed in both directions between Glen Rock and Hoboken due to a trespasser fatality near Kingsland.
Dover, NJ man charged with tampering with Ticket Vending Machine and selling tickets
July 15, 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood bog
Dover NJ, New Jersey Transit Police have arrested a Dover, NJ man accused of tampering with a ticket vending machine and selling NJ TRANSIT rail tickets and passes. Following reports of a disabled ticket vending machine and someone selling tickets at the Dover train station, the New Jersey Transit Police Department launched an investigation.
On July 14, 2016 at approximately 4:30 p.m., 53-year-old David Mendes of Dover, NJ allegedly sold a ticket to a New Jersey Transit Police anti-crime officer at the Dover train station. Upon arrest, Mendes was discovered with 29 NJ TRANSIT tickets, including three monthly passes and one weekly pass, worth more than $1,200.
“What the actor thought was a way to make a quick buck was quickly foiled by solid police work,” said New Jersey Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo. “We encourage everyone within the NJ TRANSIT system that if they “See Something, Say Something.” Let this serve as a reminder to the criminal element that the New Jersey Transit Police Department will relentlessly pursue all leads, no matter how big or small.”
Mendes has been charged with distribution of tickets, receiving stolen property, theft by deception, criminal mischief and smoking in public.
NJ TRANSIT encourages customers to remain aware of their surroundings and to be the eyes and ears for law enforcement – If you see something, say something. To report a crime, suspicious activity or unattended packages contact the New Jersey Transit Police Department at 1-888-TIPS-NJT or send a text message to NJTPD (65873).
The charges and allegations contained in this release are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Many people who took to New Jersey’s roads on Monday witnessed an eerie sight: hundreds of road construction projects sitting idle, their workers having been sent home by Governor Christie’s executive order suspending $775 million in projects over a budget fight with legislators. Christopher Maag, The Record Read more
Ridgewood NJ, Looks like New Jersey Transit will no longer be listen to riders conversations on certain lines. New Jersey’s transit agency announced Wednesday it’s ending its use of audio surveillance systems on some of its trains.
Audio and video recording have been in use on New Jersey Transit’s River Line between Trenton and Camden, and had said it was planning to use the system on light rail trains in Newark and in Hudson County.
In a carefully worded statement NJT said , “Following a careful internal review that involved weighing security benefits, operational necessities and evolving industry practices, NJ Transit has decided to remove the audio recording feature from light rail vehicles,” it said in an email. “Customer safety remains our top priority and it was determined that removing the audio recording feature would not in any way compromise that standard.”
Objections and skepticism were raised by many rail rider groups and civil liberties advocates over privacy issues ,including this blog.
While no evidence has so far been presented that NJT was listening to conversations on the Main Line or the Bergen Line’s that service Ridgewood ,local commuters felt it was a bit invasive .
“Not only was NJ Transit collecting countless hours of train conversations, but the agency irresponsibly failed to put policies in place to prevent misuse of the recordings or to protect passengers’ privacy,” the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey said in a statement. “State agencies should think twice before dismissing New Jerseyans’ privacy rights so easily.”
After news leaked out of the audio surveillance in April, Interim Executive Director Dennis Martin defended its use and said the agency was using whatever tools at its disposal to “deter criminal activity” and keep passengers safe, citing global terror attacks.
A criminal probe into the use of $1.8 billion in Port Authority funds to repair New Jersey roads appears to have hit a dead end, according to several sources close to the investigation and experts in such issues. Paul Berger, The Record Read more
By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on June 08, 2016 at 4:23 PM, updated June 08, 2016 at 4:33 PM
NJ Transit commuters won’t gain additional trains to and from New York after new Hudson River rail tunnels are built, unless two new tracks are also built on the New Jersey side, a transit advocate said.
During a May meeting about starting an environmental study of a project to buildthe tunnels, Federal Railroad Administration officials said the tunnel project won’t increase capacity to Penn Station.
NJ Transit officials could include building new tracks as part of that study, but the opportunity to do so ends soon, said Joe Clift, a former Long Island Rail Road planning director and transit advocate.
Newark property owners could be spared a tax hike in 2017 thanks to increased lease payments from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, city officials told a gathering of local business leaders on Wednesday. Steve Strunsky, NJ.com Read more
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police Department Patrol Officer Peter Tuchol, Jr. and a New York Susquehanna & Western (NYS&W) Railroad employee who did not wish to be identified survey a downed tree in the rear of 334 Lakeview Drive, Ridgewood that stopped freight train traffic on the NYS&W’s main line between Ridgefield Park, NJ and Binghampton, NY. The tree fell at approximately 12 noon on Tuesday, 06/07, according to a nearby resident. A railroad crew was expected to clear the blockage late in the afternoon.
Ridgewood NJ, National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mathews on Tuesday urged federal leaders to fast-track necessary approvals to replace the Hudson River rail tunnels.
If the tunnels aren’t replaced in time, the New York City region could face a “transportation meltdown,” Mathews wrote in a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and New Jersey Transit.
Each day, the aging tunnels accommodate 100 trains carrying 24,000 Amtrak riders. Additionally, NJ Transit trains move 90,000 weekday passengers through the tunnels, which run between New York and New Jersey.
“Given the importance of these tunnels to the entire East Coast transportation system and to passenger rail, NARP strongly urges the government to proceed as expeditiously as possible, within the confines of applicable law, to begin desperately needed and long-overdue construction of new tunnels,” Mathews wrote.
He also advocated separating the Hudson tunnels project from Amtrak’s larger Gateway Program, which calls for a number of upgrades to improve capacity between New York City’s Penn Station and Newark, N.J. Separating the two projects would help ease the funding burden, simplify permitting and design, and “secure the widest possible agreement to proceed from elected and appointed officials throughout the region,” Mathews said.
Currently, Amtrak removes one of the tunnels from service each weekend for continuing maintenance, which results in slow, single-tracking operations. Until new ones are built, this will continue indefinitely, according to Mathews.
Additionally, the existing tubes will be removed from service for a full year for complete rehabilitation after the new ones are built.
“There is a real danger that if one of the current bores becomes permanently damaged or disabled, the throughput of trains would fall some 75 percent,” noted Mathews.
Ridgewood NJ, NJT is joining with the National Safety Council and numerous other organizations across the country in recognizing National Safety Month during the month of June. Safety is the utmost priority for the corporation and NJ TRANSIT recognizes that collaboration between the agency and the public is necessary to effectively promote safe choices around the public transportation system.
“The safety of our customers and employees remains our top priority,” said NJ TRANSIT Interim Executive Director Dennis Martin. “As we mark National Safety Month, we all should take a brief moment to review some simple ‘do’s and don’ts’ which will further promote a safe environment for our customers and our employees.”
“NJ TRANSIT is taking the message to the streets,’’ said Office of System Safety Chief Gardner Tabon. “The Office of System Safety is reminding employees of safety protocols in many ways; by visiting them at selected work sites, by printing messages on pay stubs and by hanging posters in visible locations. These reminders promote the notion that we all share in the responsibility of staying safe.’’
Rail and Light Rail Safety:
Never take a short cut along, around or across rail tracks.
Only cross railroad tracks in clearly-identified, designated areas where there are lights, signs and grade crossings.
Always stand behind the yellow safety line when waiting on the station platform. Trains can operate on any track, at any time.
Always be aware of your surroundings. Use extra caution when using headphones or using your cell phone near tracks, or while on the station platform. If you are not listening or paying attention, you may not hear a train approaching.
Listen to train personnel and watch your steps when boarding and exiting a train.
Bus Safety:
When waiting for and riding a bus:
Use designated crosswalks and sidewalks to reach the bus stop.
Never run after a bus; you may slip and fall, or may be struck by another vehicle.
Wait for the bus at designated stops and stand two to three feet from the curb.
Hold handrails while boarding the bus.
When exiting, do not cross in front of the bus. Wait for the bus to pull away, walk to the nearest crosswalk, and look both ways before crossing.
NJ TRANSIT will be hosting several employee safety day events at various work sites to remind employees of the importance of safety protocols. As part of the month-long program, there will also be an increase in safety advertising and handouts onboard bus, rail and light rail vehicles.
In April 2016, Tabon was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to serve on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Northeast Corridor Safety Committee. This committee serves as an advisory body to the Department and is responsible for evaluating proposed safety improvements on the NEC main line and providing information, advice and recommendations on policy initiatives.
New Jersey commuters passing through the Port Authority Bus Terminal have a champion: John Degnan. The Port Authority chairman has become a powerful and effective ally for the most ignored commuter in the metropolitan region. Last week, Degnan restated his unabashed support for a new bus terminal in midtown Manhattan. The Record Read more
Airport screening delays have caused more than 70,000 American Airlines (AAL.O) customers and 40,000 checked bags to miss their flights this year, an executive for the airline told a U.S. congressional subcommittee on Thursday.
A shortage of staff and a surge in air travelers have created a nightmare scenario for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), with airport wait times in places like Chicago stretching beyond two hours.
While TSA is taking steps to shorten lines such as hiring more full-time officers, it lacks the staffing to handle peak travel times this summer, Administrator Peter Neffenger said on Wednesday.
American, the world’s largest airline, wants TSA to create a senior internal role focused on traveler concerns, said American Airlines Group Inc Senior Vice President for Customer Experience Kerry Philipovitch. The request comes days after Neffenger shook up TSA’s management, removing the head of security operations, Kelly Hoggan.
Philipovitch also recommended that TSA consider reinstating a risk-based screening program that it canceled last year because of high-profile lapses.
file photo U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez at Ridgewood Train Station by Boyd Loving
May 25,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, An NJT engineer is operating trains along the nation’s third-largest commuter railroad even though his driver’s license has been suspended for 10 years because of a history of driving while intoxicated.
New Jersey Transit engineer Thomas Broschart’s license was suspended in 2007 for a decade, according to WABC-TV in New York (https://7ny.tv/1NJoUA8). Federal law doesn’t require him to have a motor vehicle driver’s license to operate a train.
“Federal law governing engineers sets forth specific regulations in dealing with DWI cases involving engineers and we are obligated to follow those Federal Railroad Administration rules,” NJ Transit said in a statement Tuesday. “The code was strictly adhered to and the engineer is certified to operate locomotives according to federal law.”
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez in perhaps the understatement of the century told WABC ,it was “pretty alarming” that Broschart can transport commuters but can’t legally drive to and from work, ah yes we agree!
John Bacon and Bart Jansen, USA TODAY8:56 a.m. EDT May 24, 2016
The Transportation Security Administration’s head of security has been ousted amid an uproar over long lines at airport security checkpoints and intense scrutiny over bonus payments.
“Kelly Hoggan has been removed from his position as head of security at TSA, following our hearing on May 12 on mismanagement at TSA,” the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform posted on its Twitter account.
Some lawmakers blasted TSA at the hearing for giving Hoggan $90,000 in bonuses at a time when watchdog tests revealed screeners routinely failed to find weapons at checkpoints. The hearing was one in a series where whistleblowers denounced the agency for rewarding top officials with large bonuses while retaliating against workers who complained about the unfair practices.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, had slammed bonuses given to Hoggan, who was paid $181,500 per year. Chaffetz said Hoggan also received $90,000 in bonuses during a 13-month period that ended in November 2014.
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