The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
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NEW YORK, NY — Federal Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed today that construction on a fully transformed Penn Station in Manhattan will begin before the end of 2027, marking one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the nation.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it is taking over direct management of Union Station, marking another aggressive move by President Trump to assert control over the nation’s capital.
photo Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole and Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton
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Newark NJ, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today kicked off construction of the agency’s project to add a new entry point to the Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station served by AirTrain Newark, Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT rail. The project will dramatically expand transit and airport access for historically underserved areas of Newark and Elizabeth.
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Newark NJ, Five Amtrak employees recently admitted participating in a health care fraud scheme to defraud Amtrak, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Continue reading Amtrak Employees Admit Participating in $11 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
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New York NY , the Trump administration has announced a major shift in the leadership of the long-awaited reconstruction of New York’s Penn Station — handing over full control to Amtrak and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), effectively sidelining the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which had been leading the project for years.
Continue reading Trump Administration Shifts Leadership of Penn Station Overhaul to Amtrak
file photo
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Trenton NJ, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) announced today that a Florida man has been indicted for aggravated assault, endangering others, and multiple weapons offenses, including possession of assault weapons, large capacity ammunition magazines, handguns, silencers, and a booby-trapped rifle that fired during his arrest at the Trenton Transit Center.
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Newark NJ, Amtrak has announced a $40 million investment to upgrade aging infrastructure on the Northeast Corridor between New York Penn Station and Trenton, as part of a major push to prevent a repeat of the “Summer of Hell” delays that plagued commuters in 2024.
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Newark Penn Station NJ, in a major shake-up for U.S. rail travel, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner has resigned after pressure from the White House, following calls for leadership changes by President Donald Trump, according to sources.
Continue reading Amtrak CEO Steps Down Amid White House Pressure
file photo NJT Police
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Trenton NJ, authorities may have disrupted a potential terrorist plot on Friday when New Jersey Transit Police arrested a man aboard an Amtrak train at the Trenton Transit Center. The suspect was found carrying three handguns and two rifles, marking the culmination of a day filled with strategic investigative work by law enforcement.
Continue reading Police Foil Potential Terrorist Plot on Amtrak Train at Trenton Transit Center
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Ridgewood NJ, Northeast Corridor rail service is suspended in both directions, North Jersey Coast Line is suspended between Long Branch and Penn Station New York and Raritan Valley Line service will originate/terminate at Newark Penn Station due to Amtrak overhead wire issues near Newark Penn Station. Eastbound Midtown Direct service is being diverted to Hoboken.
Continue reading NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor rail service is suspended in both directions
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Jersey City NJ, the Gateway Project is a monumental initiative designed to enhance rail travel between New York and New Jersey. This ambitious $16 billion plan includes constructing a new two-track rail tunnel under the Hudson River and repairing the existing North River tunnel, which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy.
Continue reading The Gateway Project: Transforming Rail Travel Between New York and New Jersey
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Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey has reached a tentative agreement with its most profitable companies to temporarily increase taxes in order to fund NJ Transit. Under this plan, the 600 corporations in the state that earn at least $10 million annually will pay a 2.5% tax on all earnings for the next five years.
Continue reading Tentative Tax Agreement Reached to Fund NJ Transit
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Newark NJ, Amtrak has entered into a contract with Alstom to manufacture 28 cutting-edge high-speed trains, slated to replace the existing fleet serving Amtrak’s premium Acela service.
Continue reading New Amtrak Acela Fleet to Travel at Speeds of 160 mph
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New York NY, New York City is experiencing its first Christmas season without Airbnb, and the cost of accommodations is on the rise. In September, the city implemented a stringent short-term rental policy that essentially excluded Airbnb, providing benefits to renters but limiting choices for tourists. Expedia Group reports a 25% year-over-year increase in hotel searches this month, with average nightly rates reaching $477, compared to last year’s still-high $416.
Continue reading New York City is experiencing its first Christmas season without Airbnb
photo courtesy of NJ TRANSIT POLICE
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