Category: Hackensack NJ

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NJ TRANSIT ADDS EXTRA BUS SERVICE TO NEW YORK FOR ST PATRICKS DAY PARADE

St
March 12,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  NJ TRANSIT will operate extra bus service on selected routes to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) on Friday, March 17, to accommodate customers traveling to the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City.  Trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule.  Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, Newark Light Rail and River Line will also operate regular weekday schedules.

Please note: liquid containers of any kind, open or closed, will not be permitted on any train to and from New York/Hoboken on March 17.  Beverages of any kind are prohibited at all times on board buses.

NJ TRANSIT will have Ambassadors will be on hand at Secaucus Junction, Aberdeen/Matawan, Middletown, N.J., and Penn Station New York to assist customers.

Extra trips to and from New York will be offered on the following bus routes:

To New York – PABT:

No. 163 (Ridgewood – New York) additional local trips from Hackensack (Summit Ave. and Essex St.) to PABT from 8:46 a.m. until 10:42 a.m. operating via the Boulevard in Hasbrouck Heights, Wood-Ridge, Carlstadt, and East Rutherford. Additional Turnpike Express (T) trips from Paramus (Paramus Rd. and Ridgewood Ave.) to NY/PABT at 8:57 a.m. and 9:17 a.m.From New York – PABT:

No. 163 (New York – Ridgewood) additional local service from PABT to Hackensack (Summit Ave. and Essex St.) operating via East Rutherford, Carlstadt, Wood Ridge, and Hasbrouck Heights at 4:25 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.  Additional Turnpike Express (T) service from PABT to Ridgewood Terminal operating via Hackensack, Maywood, Rochelle Park, Paramus and Ridgewood at 3:20 p.m. and 4:58 p.m.

No. 321 (Vince Lombardi Park & Ride – New York) frequent express service from the PABT to Vince Lombardi Park & Ride every 30 minutes beginning at 12:45 p.m. through the late afternoon, then every 10-15 minutes during the afternoon peak hours.

Travel Tips

Ticketing:  To speed your return, purchase round-trip tickets at the start of your trip from bus operators inbound to New York or at ticket vending machines where available.  Bus customers departing Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) are reminded that tickets must be purchased before boarding the bus.
Allow Extra Travel Time:  Traffic congestion during the morning period and early to mid-afternoon hours before and after the parade may affect bus travel times to New York City.  Customers should plan accordingly.
Plan Ahead:  Extra bus service will operate a few minutes ahead of regularly scheduled trips on the routes listed above.  Customers should arrive at their bus boarding location 10 minutes earlier than the departure time.
Parking:  Customers traveling from Park/Rides at Allwood Road, North Bergen, Willowbrook Mall, Mothers and Wayne/Route 23 Transit Center are advised that parking fees still apply.
IMPORTANT NOTE:  No liquids of any kind, in any type of container, open or closed, will be permitted on any train to and from New York/Hoboken.  This policy will be strictly enforced.  Beverages of any kind are prohibited at all times on board buses.

For schedules and fares, visit njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555.

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NARCOTICS TASK FORCE ARRESTS FOUR MEN INVOLVED IN DRUG MILL OPERATION IN EDGEWATER, NJ

Drug Mill

March 4,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Edgewater NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrests of DARNELL MILLER (DOB: 5/24/1982; single; and unemployed) of 52 Myrtle Avenue, Edgewater, New Jersey; ALLEN STATAM (DOB: 06/02/1961; single; and unemployed) of 8831 SW 22nd Street, Miramar, Florida; Juan NORZAGARAY (DOB: 05/04/1983; single; and unemployed) of 6473 East Garden Stone Drive, Tucson, Arizona; and GARY MERTIL (DOB: 11/14/1984; single, and employed as Uber driver) of 407 56th Street, Apt. 406, West New York, New Jersey on drug-related charges. These arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert ANZILOTTI, the Edgewater Police Department under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Alex HANNA, the Hackensack Police Department under the direction of Officer-in-Charge Francesco AQUILA, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of Sheriff Michael SAUDINO, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) West Paterson Post of Duty under the direction of Group Supervisor Steve ORTMAN.

On Thursday, March 2, 2017, members of the Hackensack Police Department responded to a call of two suspicious males in the parking lot of the Riverside Square Mall, located at 400 Hackensack Avenue, Hackensack, New Jersey. An investigation revealed that ALLEN STATAM and JUAN NORZAGARAY were found to be in possession of approximately $68,881.00, which was believed to be derived from criminal activity. Following additional investigation, they were both arrested on money laundering charges.

Shortly thereafter, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office were contacted and advised of the money laundering arrest. The Hackensack Police Department was then assisted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office in this investigation. Thereafter, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office coordinated with members of the Hackensack Police Department, the Edgewater Police Department and the DEA, and responded to an address in Edgewater, New Jersey that was suspected to contain narcotics and additional U.S. currency.

Upon their arrival, GARY MERTIL was located outside of the residence, and was found to be in possession of marijuana. He was placed under arrest without incident. Based upon further intelligence, a court-authorized search warrant was obtained for the residence in Edgewater, in which DARNELL MILLER was located. During the execution of the search warrant, detectives located a “drug mill” on the lower level, which included approximately three kilograms of cocaine, approximately thirty pounds of marijuana, approximately one ounce of heroin, a kilogram press machine, U.S. currency counting machine, large digital scales, one hand gun, and approximately $181,885.00 in U.S. currency.

DARNELL MILLER was arrested without incident and charged with one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance, namely Cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b (1), a First Degree Crime; one count of Possession With the Intent to Distribute Marijuana, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b10a, a First Degree Crime; one count of Maintaining or Operating a Premise for the Manufacturing of Cocaine / Heroin / Marijuana, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-4, a First Degree Crime; one count of Possession With the Intent to Distribute Heroin 2C:35-5b (2), a Second Degree Crime; one count of Possession of a Firearm while committing a controlled dangerous substance crime in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4.1, a Second Degree Crime; one count of Money Laundering in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25, a Second Degree Crime; one count of Tampering with Evidence in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:28-6(1), a Fourth Degree Crime; three counts of Possession With the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Heroin, and Marijuana, While Within a School Zone in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7, a Third Degree Crime; three counts of Possession With the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Heroin, and Marijuana, While Within a Park Zone in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7.1, a Second Degree Crime. MILLER was issued a warrant and held at the Bergen County Jail pending a first appearance in the Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court.

ALLEN STATAM was charged with one count of Money Laundering, specifically by possessing $68,881.00 which is believed to be derived from Criminal Activity, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25, a Third Degree Crime. He was released on his own recognizance pending a first appearance date in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court.

JUAN NORZAGARAY was charged with one count of Money Laundering, specifically by possessing $68,881.00 which is believed to be derived from Criminal Activity, in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25, a Third Degree Crime. He was released on his own recognizance pending a first appearance date in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court.

GARY MERTIL was charged with one count of Possession of Marijuana in an amount under fifty grams in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10A(4). He was released on his own recognizance pending a first appearance date in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court.

Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would also like to thank the Hackensack Police Department, Edgewater Police Department, DEA, and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.

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BREAKING: Gottheimer Fraud Flagged for NJ AG and US Attorney Investigation

Josh Gottheimer
November 4,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, The Attorney General Christopher Porrino and U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman have been formally notified of Josh Gottheimer’s deliberate and fraudulent alteration of a government document by the Office of Congressional Ethics in a desperate attempt to mislead the public.

The actions by the Gottheimer campaign violated both state and federal laws including 18 U.S.C. 1001 (false or fraudulent statement or document within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch of the Government of the United States), 18 U.S.C. 912 (impersonating any department or agency of the U.S.), §2C:21-1 (forgery) and §2C:21-4 (falsifying or tampering with records).

Gottheimer’s campaign admitted his forgery to the Star-Ledger: “An official with the Gottheimer campaign confirmed that it had produced the ad and manipulated the image.”

Yesterday, the billboards propping up the lies from the Gottheimer campaign were swiftly pulled.

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Gov. Christie Highlights PSE&G Post-Sandy Investments to Improve Reliability with Visit to Hackensack

PSEG

file photo by Boyd Loving

$1.2 billion infrastructure upgrades are making New Jersey Energy Strong

October 29,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie joined PSE&G President and COO Ralph LaRossa at a Hackensack substation to highlight the infrastructure investments made since Superstorm Sandy left millions of people without power in the state four years ago tomorrow. Two-thirds of the equipment at the substation, which flooded during Sandy, has been raised 4.5 feet, and the remaining switchgear will be raised in the spring, ensuring more reliable service during future storms.

“Sandy was the second-worst natural disaster in American history that shook the lives of just about everyone,” Governor Christie said. “Unseen before in modern New Jersey, this superstorm interrupted 71 percent of New Jersey’s electric distribution system, cut power for 2.8 million residential and commercial customers and taught us difficult lessons about energy reliability and utility infrastructure. Over the last four years, under my administration, PSE&G has made significant progress raising and rebuilding switching and substations like Hackensack, as well as making other improvements, to increase the resiliency of New Jersey’s infrastructure and create a distribution grid that is far stronger and smarter than before.”

During Sandy, 2 million of PSE&G’s 2.2 million electric customers lost power. “Hackensack is one of 29 switching and substations that are being raised or rebuilt to make them more resilient against storms,” LaRossa said. “Because of our infrastructure investments to date, if a Sandy-like storm were to occur today, about 225,000 customers impacted by flooded substations and switching stations during Sandy would not lose power. And customers who did lose power would be restored more quickly. We appreciate the support of the Governor and the BPU in getting this program started.”

LaRossa added, “This work is also benefitting New Jersey’s economy by creating thousands of jobs over the life of the program.”

The newly fortified stations are part of PSE&G’s $1.2 billion, multi-year Energy Strong program to make its infrastructure more reliable and resilient to severe weather. When the Energy Strong upgrades are complete, 460,000 PSE&G customers previously impacted would not lose power from flooding and all PSE&G electric customers would experience faster restoration times.

“When our Energy Strong program is complete, more than 250 hospitals and other critical customers who lost power during Sandy would either stay in service or have their restoration time greatly reduced,” said LaRossa.

Since Superstorm Sandy, PSE&G has invested $74 million in technology to reduce the number and duration of outages for hospitals and other critical customers. For example, when the Somerset Medical Center in Somerville experienced an outage during bad weather last year, the new technology enabled technicians to remotely switch them back into service in just 10 minutes – one-fifth of the time it would have taken without the upgrade. Also benefiting from this work are 400,000 customers and businesses in close proximity to critical customers where the technology has been installed.

In addition to Energy Strong electric upgrades, PSE&G has made great strides ensuring a more reliable and resilient natural gas system during flooding. The utility has installed 240 miles of new, sturdy and durable plastic natural gas pipes in flood-prone areas. Approximately 90,000 customers served by those pipes are no longer at risk of losing gas service from floodwaters seeping into these previously leak-prone mains. In addition, the danger of leaks of methane gas has been virtually eliminated in the new pipes.

The Energy Strong programs also provide the capability to remotely restore large numbers of customers. The program gives PSE&G the ability to remotely make changes on the circuits so they can be worked safely in the field, significantly improving crew productivity and restoration times.

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Democratic Lobbyists Openly Looking to Buy NJ5 Congressional Seat

Josh Gottheimer

“Nobody is even putting up a pretense here that the Democratic lobbying establishment isn’t trying to buy an election”

(Hackensack, New Jersey) – BuzzFeed News just posted an explosive story about how the Democratic lobbying establishment is looking to help buy Josh Gottheimer New Jersey’s Fifth District congressional seat:

“Josh Gottheimer has the entire D.C. Democratic political establishment working to help buy him this election. He doesn’t care about the views and values of Fifth District residents — he’s working to win the approval of the D.C. elite like lobbyist Steve Elmendorf and Goldman Sachs. This is merely a preview of what Josh Gottheimer would be like as a member of Congress. If Josh Gottheimer is so interested in representing Goldman Sachs’ values, maybe he should be their lobbyist, rather than a congressional candidate. Scott Garrett’s values are not for sale. He represents the people of the Fifth District — not the check-writing lobbyists in Washington, D.C.,” Neibart said in a statement to BuzzFeed News.

Gottheimer is a former aide in the Clinton White House, and has not only the support of the Clinton machine but also Washington’s Democratic establishment. He also has outraised Garrett this cycle by a wide margin, taking in $2.9 million compared to Garrett’s $1.3 million, according to Open Secrets.

Democrats have made toppling him a priority. Last week, a political action committee connected to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi began running ads against him. And as election-day approaches, Garrett can expect that more is on the way, Democratic operatives warn.

But most damning for Garrett has been the campaign by Elmendorf and a group of other financial and technology lobbyists to end Garrett’s tenure in Congress by drying up his pool of potential corporate contributions.

Elmendorf and his allies began meeting with lobbyists for major corporations, focusing particularly on investment firms and banks, Garrett’s campaign finance life-blood.

[A] Republican campaign strategist insisted that regardless of where the business community stands on LGBT issues, the involvement of powerful lobbyists is little more than the sort of backroom dealings most Americans believe happen every day in Washington. “Normally, we like to pretend that lobbyists don’t have the kind of influence the rest of America thinks they do. But nobody is even putting up a pretense here that the Democratic lobbying establishment isn’t trying to buy an election,” the strategist said.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/johnstanton/the-surprisingly-huge-role-lgbt-issues-are-playing-in-a-new?utm_term=.gpnwN4vLr#.ghbZv98pD

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86-year-old Paramus woman was injured Thursday morning when a car hit her as she walked her dog

86-year-old Paramus woman was injured

photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

July 30,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Paramus NJ, An 86-year-old Paramus woman was injured Thursday morning when a car hit her as she walked her dog, police said. The woman was in “guarded condition” at Hackensack University Medical Center, said a police spokesperson. A car backing out of a driveway near 392 Hickory Avenue around 11:30 a.m. struck her, said the spokesperson. The dog was not hurt. The driver did not receive any summons or charges at the scene but a spokesperson said the investigation was ongoing.

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Hackensack University Medical Center delivers First Zika Baby

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June 1,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, According to the Bergen Record , “A 31-year-old woman from Honduras, a nation ravaged by the Zika virus, gave birth to a baby suffering from the devastating effects of the virus on Tuesday at Hackensack University Medical Center, the first apparent case in the tri-state area, her physician said.”

It is believed the mother contracted the disease in Honduras after being bitten by a mosquito early in her pregnancy, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed she was infected with the Zika virus, according to Dr. Manny Alvarez, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Hackensack.

Dr. Alvarez said that the baby delivered by Cesarean-section on Tuesday suffered from low birth weight and severe microcephaly, in which the baby’s head is smaller than expected. This condition can lead to seizures, developmental delays, hearing loss and severe mental disabilities. The baby was also born with intestinal issues and visual issues,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has previously issued a travelers alert for Honduras.

According to the CDC website a total of 591 cases of Zika virus have been reported in the United States, including 14 in New Jersey and 127 in New York, and in each case the victims contracted the virus while travelling abroad.

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Man sustained a serious head injury after falling 20 feet from a ladder at construction site in HoHoKus

Ho Ho Kus fall

photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

May 6,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

HoHo Kus Nj, HoHoKus PD and EMS were called to the scene of an early afternoon construction accident on Wednesday, 05/04. An adult male sustained a serious head injury after falling 20 feet from a ladder at a home under construction on Hollywood Place in HoHoKus; there was no LOC. The victim was transported by ambulance to Hackensack University Medical Center. HoHoKus EMS was assisted by a paramedic unit from The Valley Hospital

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NJ Transit budget plan delays repairs

Ridgewood_Train_station_train-_is_coming_theridgewoodblog

BY CHRISTOPHER MAAG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

In New York, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority received a $3 billion budget cut last year, endangering completion of the long-awaited Second Avenue subway. In San Francisco, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission faces $1 billion in budget cuts over the next two years, forcing the agency to scrap seven projects aimed at reducing congestion.

In Washington, D.C., chronic underfunding of maintenance and safety programs at the Metro transit system has contributed to numerous accidents and more than a dozen deaths over the last 33 years, including an electrical problem in January 2015 that killed one passenger and injured more than 80. Earlier this month, the entire subway system was shut down for a day to conduct emergency inspections.

NJ Transit faces similar financial problems. The agency’s current budget diverts $450 million from long-term construction projects, intended to improve safety and reliability, to pay for day-to-day operations. Since the practice started in 1990, governors and legislators of both parties have diverted $6.5 billion, according to NJ Transit.

That’s enough money to build the long-awaited extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line into Bergen County and contribute to the replacement of the century-old Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River in Kearny as well as the proposed train tunnel under the Hudson River, experts say. All of those projects, which include repairs to parts of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line that NJ Transit relies heavily upon, would help the agency accommodate its recent surge in ridership more reliably and safely, said Martin Robins, a former deputy executive director of NJ Transit.

Still, how the funding deficit affects maintenance, performance and system upgrades is a matter of debate among transportation experts. NJ Transit leaders defend the practice, saying it helps the agency maintain its aging fleet and keep trains running on time.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-transit-budget-plan-delays-repairs-1.1530733

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$10M set aside in proposed NJ budget for medical school planned by Hackensack University Health Network and Seton Hall University

HUMC_theridgewoodblog

BY LINDY WASHBURN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Governor Christie’s proposed state budget includes a $10 million grant to help launch the new medical school planned by Hackensack University Health Network and Seton Hall University, and contains several other items that affect hospitals, including a major reduction in charity care funding.

The governor pointed with pride to the impact of his 2014 decision to expand Medicaid to include poor, childless adults, through funding from the federal government under the Affordable Care Act. “More of our poor [are] receiving good health care,” he said, “and charity care in our hospitals [is] dramatically reduced.”

The addition of 434,000 people to the Medicaid rolls over the last two years has meant fewer uninsured patients in the state’s hospitals. Calling this a “fundamental shift,” Christie proposed cutting the state’s allocation for charity care, which compensates hospitals for the treatment they provide the uninsured, by $75 million. When federal matching funds are included, that means hospitals will lose $150 million, a reduction of 30 percent from the current level of funding, to $352 million.

At the same time, the budget would increase funding for graduate medical education — the extra costs incurred by hospitals when they train interns and residents — by $61 million. The net effect is an $89 million reduction in aid to hospitals.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/10m-set-aside-in-proposed-nj-budget-for-medical-school-1.1512818

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Body found in snow-covered car outside Hackensack Burger King

Hackensack police

By Anthony G. Attrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on January 25, 2016 at 9:51 AM, updated January 25, 2016 at 12:31 PM

HACKENSACK – Police on Monday were at the scene of a Burger King parking lot amid reports that a dead body had been found.

The body was found inside car parked at the fast food restaurant.

The car is a gold-colored Cadillac with New York plates. The rear passenger window was down and a police officer was seen looking inside the vehicle.

The car had been covered in snow early this morning as two Burger King employees arrived to work, according to one witness.

https://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2016/01/body_found_in_parked_car_outside_hackensack_burger.html?ath=9c46bfc08d76232bb5a5e00eeaf0bfa2#cmpid=nsltr_stryheadline

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Wyckoff police: Hackensack man accused of recording female co-worker in bathroom

wyckoffpolicecarboyd1

 

DECEMBER 31, 2015, 9:50 AM    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015, 9:57 AM
BY STEFANIE DAZIO
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

WYCKOFF — A 39-year-old Hackensack man who allegedly recorded a co-worker using the bathroom at a Wyckoff business for up to two years was arrested Wednesday.

German G. Gonzales, 39, of Hackensack

LAW ENFORCEMENT PHOTO
German G. Gonzales, 39, of Hackensack

German G. Gonzales is charged with invasion of privacy, Chief Benjamin C. Fox said in a statement.

His co-worker, a 56-year-old woman, saw Gonzales bend down near the bathroom sink, Fox said. While Gonzales said he was just picking something up off the floor, the woman later found a cellphone taped to a water supply line under the sink.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/wyckoff-police-hackensack-man-accused-of-recording-female-co-worker-in-bathroom-1.1483297

 

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Contractor Airlifted to Hackensack University Medical Center after severed fingers

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photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook

Contractor Airlifted to Hackensack University Medical Center after severed fingers

August 7,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blogUpper Saddle River NJ, A contractor reportedly severed multiple fingers while using a power saw at a home in Upper Saddle River on Thursday afternoon, 08/06. He was airlifted from 1 Lake Street to Hackensack University Medical Center’s main campus shortly after 4 PM. Upper Saddle River PD, EMS, assisted in the victim’s treatment and transport. A paramedic unit from The Valley Hospital also responded.

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Local Veteran Receives Korean War Honor At Ridgewood 4th of July Parade from NJTPC

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July 4, 2015

RIDGEWOOD, NJ , Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) honored Korean War Veteran and Wanaque resident Thomas Falato, during today’s flag raising ceremony, which traditionally starts the Annual Ridgewood 4th of July Parade.  Reaching the rank of Corporal, Mr. Falato served in the Second Korean Winter of 1951-1952, where his many medals included the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953 and the U.S. Army reserves from 1953-1957.

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“What better time of the year to be reminded of what great country we live in, then to pay tribute to our veterans, especially those who fought in the dangerous and often inhospitable battle conditions of Korea,” said Garrett while presenting a congressional resolution to Mr. Falato, which recognizes his dedicated and unselfish service to his country.

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Born and raised in Hackensack, Mr. Falato has stayed active in veteran activities, serving as Post Commander of Korean War Veterans Association Taejon Chapter #170 in Saddle Brook.  He is also a retired manager from Verizon.

Mr. Falato’s complete list of medals and honors:

Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars

Army Good Conduct Medal

United Nations Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Combat Infantry Badge

 

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NJ Transit rail riders’ wish list unlikely to get out of the station

Ridgewood-Trainstation1_theridgewoodblog

MAY 3, 2015, 10:59 PM    LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015, 11:09 PM
BY CHRISTOPHER MAAG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

More buses. More trains. Big improvements, like a new tunnel under the Hudson River, and small ones, like better Internet connections. Getting home in time to tuck the kids into bed.

That’s what commuters say a proposed 9 percent jump in NJ Transit fares should help fund.

Oh, and spare riders the middle seat on trains.

“I loathe the middle seat. Who doesn’t?” said Tara Allerton, 41, an advertising executive and frequent NJ Transit commuter who wants more double-decker trains between New York City and her home in Ridgewood “to spend more time at home with my family.”

But NJ Transit officials say that the money — and some service cuts — are needed to close the agency’s $60 million budget gap.

Most transit riders said they understand that NJ Transit is not considering any service improvements, a fact confirmed by Nancy Snyder, an NJ Transit spokeswoman. Instead the proposed fare increase — the first one since a 2010 fare increase of 25 percent — is intended only to pay for basic operating expenses. But that alone won’t be enough. Late-night service cuts will be felt on the Pascack Valley and Montclair-Boonton rail lines.

“It’s a fare hike to keep the lights on, but it’s worse than that because there are service cuts,” said Janna Cherwitz, New Jersey policy analyst for Tri-State Transportation Campaign, which advocates for better mass transit.

Commuters will get their say this month, in a series of 10 hearings and public information sessions held at sites throughout the state, including Secaucus, Hackensack and Paterson. And it’s likely NJ Transit officials could get an earful.

Officials already know the agency has a problem with the on-time performance of its buses, and they know how riders feel about it. Only 69 percent of NJ Transit’s buses left on time during the first three months of 2015, according to a report presented to the agency’s customer service committee late last month. The agency received 3,459 complaints in March, according to the report. The most common problems included delayed and canceled trips, missed connections and no-show buses.

Train riders fare much better. During the 12 months that ended in March, 94 percent of trains left on time, according to NJ Transit.

Meanwhile, ridership continues to grow, increasing by 2.3 percent over the last year to 271.3 million passenger trips, a record, according to the agency’s latest financial report.

That has only increased the cries for better service, it seems.

“If they’re going to ask for more money, they should give us more trains,” said Randy Pernicone, who commutes from River Edge to his job in Manhattan as a finance executive for Anthem Insurance. “It’s frustrating.”

Michael McDaid of Ho-Ho-Kus echoed that sentiment.

“I would like to see more trains in the evenings and weekends,” said the 42-year-old, who rides the train to his job in Hoboken. “I guess they’re not really talking about that. But still, it would be nice.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-transit-rail-riders-wish-list-unlikely-to-get-out-of-the-station-1.1324711