The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
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Glen Rock NJ, Glen Rock Police and NJ Transit Police responded to investigate the death of a pedestrian trespasser, reportedly struck by a NJ Transit Bergen Line train, at the Harristown Road,rail crossing, Glen Rock, on Wednesday morning, 01/22. A paramedic unit from The Valley Hospital also responded to the scene. Glen Rock Police are detouring all traffic Harristown Road down Glen Avenue to Maple Avenue.
file photo by Boyd Loving
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Ridgewood NJ, With U.S. traffic congestion costing U.S. drivers $87 billion in 2018 and the U.S. ranked 17th in the world in road quality, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2020’s Best & Worst States to Drive in as well as accompanying videos.
Continue reading New Jersey Is 2020’s 8th Worst State to Drive in
NYC Mayor Bill Be Blazio
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NEW YORK NY, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) served four immigration subpoenas Friday on the New York Department of Corrections (NYDOC) requesting information on multiple illegal aliens who were criminally arrested in New York City, and yet under New York’s non-cooperation policies officials have refused to honor ICE detainers or even provide ICE with information about the release dates of criminal alien public safety threats. Issuance of these immigration subpoenas was necessary because the NYDOC has continued to ignore ICE’s requests for information and cooperation.
Continue reading Commuters : ICE subpoena refused under NY sanctuary policies
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Newark NJ, A United Airlines flight to Los Angeles had to return to Newark Liberty International Airport Wednesday night after passengers reported flames coming from one of the engines. Flight 1871 landed safely after fire started to come from one of the engines soon after takeoff.
United Airlines’ website says the fire was due to a “technical issue” on the plane. United Airlines told News 12 New Jersey in a statement, “United 1871 from Newark, New Jersey to Los Angeles returned to Newark due to a mechanical issue. The flight landed safely and passengers deplaned normally. We changed aircraft to get our customers to their destination as soon as possible.
Good Afternoon,
The Port Authority of NY and NJ has decided to terminate the operating agreement with Saddle River Tours to operate at the Port Authority’s George Washington Bridge Bus Station (GWBBS). Saddle River Tours has an ongoing pattern of prolonged financial delinquencies, non-responsive communication, and recent abandonment of service to commuters over the past two (2) years.
Starting on January 25, 2020, Saddle River Tours bus company, which offers two services (Route 11C & Route 20/84) from Rockland County, New York to New York City for Rockland County, NY and Bergen County, NJ residents traveling into the City, will no longer operate out of the GWBBS.
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook Page
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Glen Rock NJ, the driver of a white colored Toyota Camry escaped injury after driving directly onto a NJ Transit Bergen Line railroad track at the Harristown Road crossing in Glen Rock, Monday night, 01/13. The stuck Toyota was safely removed from the train track by a flatbed tow truck. Glen Rock Police and NJ Transit Police responded to the incident. Train traffic through the area was completely halted in both directions until after the vehicle was removed and a maintenance of way crew inspected the track for damage.
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NEW YORK – Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT today began their refresh of the Ticketed Waiting Area at New York Penn Station, the seating area for their customers at the Amtrak Concourse on the Upper Level and 8th Avenue side of the Station. As part of the refresh, customers can expect new furniture and fixtures, including communal tables and seats with electrical and USB outlets to charge devices, an upgraded ceiling complete with new LED lighting, a family area that will also feature a nursing mothers’ pod, the removal of the midpoint barrier, a new information desk and a second entrance offering easy access towards the 7th Avenue side of the Station.
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Ridgewood NJ, You may have seen Buddy sniffing around the Ridgewood ,Newark, Hoboken or Secacus train stations. NJ Transit Police K9 Buddy who helped to protect the NJ Transit system and the State of New Jersey for 11 dedicated years is retiring. Buddy is the longest tenured NJT K9 . Buddy will be enjoying his retirement by living comfortably with his longtime partner Officer Jerome Morse. Join the Ridgewood blog and NJ Transit Police in wishing K9 Buddy a happy and well-deserved retirement!
Continue reading NJ Transit Police K9 Buddy Retires after 11 years on the Force
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Fort Lee NJ, Previously approved toll increase on agency bridges and tunnels to take effect at 3 a.m. Sunday, January 5.
Effective at 3 a.m. Sunday, January 5, the bridge and tunnel cash and toll by mail rate for cars during all hours will increase from $15 to $16. The E-ZPass peak discount for cars will be reduced from $2.50 to $2.25 and the E-ZPass off-peak discount will be reduced from $4.50 to $4.25. The New York/New Jersey Staten Island Bridges Discount Plan, which allows for toll discounts on the three Port Authority bridges that connect New Jersey with Staten Island and is available to any E-ZPass account holder, will not change. The discount provides for a toll of $6.88. The Carpool Discount for the three trans-Hudson crossings – the George Washington Bridge and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels – will continue until those crossings migrate to cashless tolling operations.
Lanes will be closed this weekend and/or next week at the Goethals Bridge, George Washington Bridge and Holland Tunnel for ongoing construction and repair projects.
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West Trenton NJ, The New Jersey State Police announce motor vehicle crash fatalities in 2019 were the lowest since 2014. Preliminary statistics indicate that there were 559 fatalities on New Jersey roadways in 2019, four less than the 563 fatalities reported in 2018.
Continue reading NJ State Police Announce Traffic Fatalities are at a Five-Year Low
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Ridgewood NJ, A record of more than 20 million travelers are projected to use the agency’s airports, tunnels, bridges and PATH system during the upcoming 16-day Christmas/New Year’s holiday season. To accommodate the projected heavy volume, the agency has put measures in place, including a full complement of staff – customer service representatives at its major airports and police officers at all facilities and toll collectors at its tunnels and bridges – to make the holiday trip as smooth as possible.
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Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT is offering extra service to get you where you’re going this holiday season! Customers will have more travel options and flexibility for attending special events, family gatherings and New Year’s Eve festivities with additional service offered on buses, trains and light rail lines.
This holiday season is also a great time to ride NJ TRANSIT with your children. NJ TRANSIT is giving customers more than two weeks of continuous savings through a special extension of the Family SuperSaver Fare. For the holidays, all children, age 11 or younger, ride free with any fare-paying customer. So take advantage, grab the family and enjoy the ride! The Family SuperSaver Fare will be in effect for the entire holiday period, starting at 7 p.m. Friday, December 20 until 6 a.m. Monday, January 6, on the entire NJ TRANSIT system.
For complete schedule and fare information, download the NJ TRANSIT mobile app, visit njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555.
Continue reading NJ TRANSIT EXTRA SERVICE FOR THE HOLIDAY GETAWAY
” Finally, how great! The state of NJ has been doing everything possible to chase tax payers out of the state and make our lives difficult. Now, finally, something is being done to make our lives better. Our home values will rise, it will be easier to get to Jersey City, Hudson yards, and the ferries where so many jobs are being created, to Manhattan for work or pleasure, and Hoboken for work or pleasure.
With our high taxes and traffic we suffer with, our elected officials must do every thing possible to keep the hard working tax payers from fleeing the state. Thank you so much for the new light rail. “
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Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT anticipates regular weekend service on its rail, bus, light rail and Access Link services for Saturday and Sunday as long as weather conditions permit safe operation. Parts of New Jersey are forecasted to experience snow and icy roadway conditions with rapid freezing of wet surfaces. There is also a possibility of high wind conditions, which could impact the overhead wires on rail and light rail service.
IMPORTANT: Due to the potential snow and ice accumulation in conjunction with possible local and county travel bans, there is the potential for all bus service — including bus service to/from PABT– to be suspended at some point during the weekend. Customers will have advance notice of a service suspension. All customers should closely monitor njtransit.com, download the mobile app with push notifications, sign up for My Transit alerts, or monitor social media and broadcast news reports for the latest status of the system.
Continue reading NJ TRANSIT CUSTOMERS ADVISED TO MONITOR SERVICE INFORMATION DURING FORECASTED WEEKEND WINTER STORM 
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Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT today launched a new comprehensive communications initiative aimed at improving the customer experience. The effort, entitled “Engage. Inform. Improve.” focuses on addressing customer needs, providing more timely information, and improving all customer touchpoints including announcements, station and facility conditions, and the onboard experience.
“From day one, I’ve been committed to restoring NJ TRANSIT for the commuters of New Jersey,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “The improvements underway in this initiative will have a real and tangible impact on the lives of nearly one million daily riders who rely on trains and buses every day.”
Continue reading NJ TRANSIT LAUNCHES CUSTOMER FOCUSED COMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVE
