Tag: commuters

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Weinberg sets sights on Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC

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Weinberg sets sights on Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC

The last time state Sen. Loretta Weinberg began confronting Port Authority officials, she wanted answers about lane closings at the George Washington Bridge, a traffic-snarling debacle that is now the subject of state and federal investigations. Weinberg (D-Bergen), now the co-chairwoman of a joint legislative panel that brought much of the scandal to light, plans to press the agency at its monthly board meeting on what she says is the failure to address delays, discomfort, pollution, financial waste and other problems at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. (Strunsky/The Star-Ledger)

https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/06/weinberg_sets_sights_on_port_authority_bus_terminal_in_nyc.html#incart_river

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Cuomo announces start of Goethals Bridge replacement project

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Cuomo announces start of Goethals Bridge replacement project

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York announced the start of construction of a new Goethals Bridge, a $1.5 billion project to replace the aging and congested span that links Linden and Staten Island across the Arthur Kill.

Preliminary work began in December after more than a decade of planning and environmental reviews. A contract was awarded in April 2013 to a consortium known as NYNJ Link Partnership.

Under a public-private partnership, the agreement calls for the group to invest $100 million to build the bridge and maintain it for 40 years. Nearly $1 billion of the cost will come from bonds and low-cost federal loans. (Strunsky/Star-Ledger)

https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/05/cuomo_announces_start_of_goethals_bridge_replacement_project.html#incart_river

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NJT EXPANDS ‘QUIET COMMUTE’ TO OFF-PEAK ON MAINLINE AND BERGEN LINE TRAINS

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NJT EXPANDS ‘QUIET COMMUTE’ TO OFF-PEAK ON MAINLINE AND BERGEN LINE TRAINS

Pilot program to launch May 5 on rail lines serving Hoboken Terminal
April 8, 2014

Ridgewood NJ,  In direct response to recommendations from customers seeking an improved on-board experience, NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Veronique “Ronnie” Hakim today announced the expansion of the agency’s Quiet Commute program to off-peak trains that serve Hoboken Terminal, through a pilot program starting Monday, May 5.

“We heard from our customers that they want to enjoy the benefits of Quiet Commute cars on trains during off-peak hours in addition to peak periods, and we are taking action based directly on their recommendations,” said Executive Director Hakim.   “We want our customers to know that their feedback will continue to be the driving force behind NJ TRANSIT’s ongoing efforts to improve their overall experience on our system.”

Starting May 5, NJ TRANSIT will add Quiet Commute cars to all off-peak trains arriving and departing Hoboken Terminal between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays only.  This includes trains on the Morris & Essex, Montclair-Boonton, Pascack Valley, Main, Bergen County and Port Jervis lines, along with the 2300-series trains on the North Jersey Coast Line.

The designated Quiet Commute car will be the first car on trains traveling into Hoboken, and the last car on trains departing Hoboken, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.

Quiet Commute cars are intended to provide a subdued environment for customers who wish to refrain from using cell phones and are willing to disable the sound feature on pagers, games, computers and other electronic devices.  Conversations should be conducted in quiet voices, and headphones should be used at a volume that cannot be heard by other passengers.

NJ TRANSIT will closely monitor and evaluate the off-peak Quiet Commute pilot program, with feedback received from customers and employees guiding any possible future plans for further expansion across the rail system.

As a reminder, customers may currently take advantage of the Quiet Commute amenity on all peak-period, peak-direction trains, as follows:

On all Northeast Corridor “3900-series” express trains.  The designated Quiet Commute cars are the first and last cars of each train.
On Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Midtown Direct and Raritan Valley line trains that arrive in Newark or New York between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., and trains that depart Newark or New York between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.  The designated Quiet Commute cars are the first and last cars of each train.
On Morris & Essex, Montclair-Boonton, Pascack Valley, Main, Bergen County and Port Jervis line trains that arrive in Hoboken Terminal between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., and depart Hoboken Terminal between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.  The designated Quiet Commute car is the first car on trains traveling into Hoboken, and the last car on trains departing Hoboken.

NJ TRANSIT first launched the peak period Quiet Commute program in September 2010 as a pilot on its busiest trains—“3900-series” Northeast Corridor express trains—to test the feasibility of offering the amenity on its rail system.  After receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers, NJ TRANSIT expanded the program in January 2011 to include all peak-period, peak-direction trains that begin or end their trips at New York Penn Station or Newark Penn Station.  In June 2011, NJ TRANSIT completed a systemwide rollout to peak-period trains with the expansion of Quiet Commute to include all rail lines that serve Hoboken Terminal.

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Analysis: Port Authority works under its own set of rules

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Analysis: Port Authority works under its own set of rules

MARCH 16, 2014, 12:01 AM
BY ABBOTT KOLOFF
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

Their bylaws allow spending millions of dollars of public money with just a quarter of their members voting. They almost always agree, but rarely say anything about their decisions in public. Even for people at their meetings, it’s sometimes impossible to know how they vote as individuals.

The Port Authority’s com­mis­sion­ers are under increased scrutiny as their board’s chairman, David Samson, has been the subject of a growing number of reports that he voted for projects that benefited his law firm’s clients. Agency officials recently said he meant to recuse himself two years ago from a vote to give a $1-a-year lease to one of those clients, NJ Transit, even though he was recorded as voting for it.

On Wednesday, sources have said, the Port Authority will put that lease up for another vote in an effort to quell controversies stirred when The Record reported on it last month.

Samson, an appointee of Governor Christie’s and a significant figure in the George Washington Bridge lane-closure scandal, has not denied some of the other reported votes, including the authorization of $2.8 billion for two bridge projects that reportedly benefited two of his firm’s clients. But he has maintained that all of his actions on the board are for the benefit of the region and not for personal gain.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/analysis-port-authority-works-under-its-own-set-of-rules-1.743343#sthash.5aqmhiOo.dpuf

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E-ZPass : Driver charged with $6,000 in tolls on 495 Express Lanes

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E-ZPass : Driver charged with $6,000 in tolls on 495 Express Lanes
Thursday – 3/13/2014, 6:45am  ET
By Ari Ashe

MCLEAN, Va. — A Fairfax County, Va. man who commutes on the 495 Express Lanes each day was sent a court summons and told he’d have to pay $6,000 in tolls, penalties and fees, WTOP Ticketbuster has learned.

Todd Metheny commutes from Springfield to McLean. He says the trip often took more than an hour on the Capital Beltway, but now takes less than 20 minutes on the 495 Express Lanes. But in January 2013, a problem with his E-ZPass account caused an overdraft in his account.

“I got a letter in the mail saying, ‘We weren’t able to charge you for the toll, shame on you. Take care of it immediately. Future violations will result in administrative penalties.’ But by the time I got it, the future already happened,” says Metheny.

He says he called Transurban in late January, in February and in April of 2013. Each time, he sent documents from his E-ZPass account to Transurban, the private company that operates the 495 Express Lanes in a public-private partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia.

But in mid-April, Metheny received a collections letter from Transurban. He called Transurban again on April 24.

“When I got the collections letter, I realized that about $11 now turned into nearly $800 in fines. I came unglued. Pick a word and I probably used it,” says Metheny.

Transurban agreed to research his case and call him back. But the agency never did. Metheny continued to use the 495 Express Lanes in 2013 and early 2014 without a problem. He says he didn’t hear anything from Transurban and assumed the agency just took the money out of his E-ZPass account.

https://www.wtop.com/1319/3580187/Driver-charged-with-6000-in-tolls

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NJ TRANSIT TO CROSS-HONOR TICKETS AND PASSES ON MONDAY, MARCH 3

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LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 6 AM.

SHORT TERM FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
326 AM EST MON MAR 3 2014

WESTERN PASSAIC-EASTERN PASSAIC-HUDSON-WESTERN BERGEN-
EASTERN BERGEN-WESTERN ESSEX-EASTERN ESSEX-WESTERN UNION-
EASTERN UNION-
326 AM EST MON MAR 3 2014

.NOW…
LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 6 AM. VISIBILITY MAY
OCCASIONALLY DROP TO AROUND ONE MILE IN HEAVIER POCKETS.
ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO A HALF INCH CAN BE EXPECTED.

 

NJ TRANSIT TO CROSS-HONOR TICKETS AND PASSES ON MONDAY, MARCH 3

February 28, 2014

NEWARK, NJ —NJ TRANSIT is mobilizing its operations, customer service and police personnel to ensure a ready response to the impending winter storm. For up-to-the-minute service information, all customers are strongly advised to check njtransit.com before starting their trip.

Systemwide Cross-Honoring in Effect on Monday, March 3:  To give customers additional travel options during the anticipated winter weather conditions, NJ TRANSIT will offer full systemwide cross-honoring on Monday, March 3 enabling customers to use their NJ TRANSIT ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode—rail, light rail or bus—including private bus carriers.

For example, customers who normally take the bus from Rutherford to the Port Authority Bus Terminal may use their NJ TRANSIT bus pass or ticket on the train from Rutherford to New York Penn Station.  Similarly, customers who normally take the bus between Atlantic City and Lindenwold may use the Atlantic City Rail Line instead at no additional charge.  Customers using their NJ TRANSIT tickets or passes to travel to a destination other than the destination printed on their original ticket will be subject to the appropriate additional fare if applicable.

Access Link Paratransit Service:  On Monday, March 3, Access Link service is suspended statewide except for Region 3 (Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and So. Ocean Counties) as well as all transfer trips.   Access Link Customers can call 800-955-2321 for periodic updates.

Customers are advised that possible storm-related delays and/or service disruptions may result from the impending weather system, particularly for the Monday morning commute.  NJ TRANSIT strongly encourages customers to afford themselves ample time to get to their final destinations throughout the course of this winter weather event.

The corporation is preparing to minimize storm-related disruptions and delays to the extent possible.    Bus, rail and light rail crews have begun inspections of equipment and critical infrastructure.  These inspections and further storm-related preparations will continue over the course of the weekend.

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NJT : Systemwide Cross-Honoring still in Effect on Friday, February 14

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NJT : Systemwide Cross-Honoring still in Effect on Friday, February 14

Systemwide Cross-Honoring in Effect on Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14:  To give customers additional travel options during winter weather conditions, NJ TRANSIT will offer full systemwide cross-honoring on Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14, enabling customers to use their NJ TRANSIT ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode—rail, light rail or bus—including private bus carriers.

For example, customers who normally take the bus from Rutherford to the Port Authority Bus Terminal may use their bus pass or ticket on the train from Rutherford to New York Penn Station.  Similarly, customers who normally take the bus between Atlantic City and Lindenwold may use the Atlantic City Rail Line instead at no additional charge.  Customers using their tickets or passes to travel to a destination other than the destination printed on their original ticket will be subject to the appropriate additional fare if applicable.

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NJT Winter Weather Service Information

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NJT Winter Weather Service Information

The following service advisories are in effect for Thursday, February 13, due to weather conditions:

Rail Service:  On Thursday, February 13, NJ TRANSIT will operate on a regular weekday rail schedule.  All rail service is subject to potential delays, adjustments and cancellations due to the winter weather conditions.  Customers are strongly encouraged to plan accordingly and build additional time into their travels.

Bus Service:  While every effort will be made to continue operating bus service systemwide on a regular weekday schedule on Thursday, February 13, customers may experience delays, detours or service adjustments on certain routes in the event of significant snowfall.  Customers are strongly advised to plan accordingly and build additional time into their travels as buses will be subject to local road conditions.

Light Rail Service:  On Thursday, February 13, NJ TRANSIT will operate light rail lines on a regular weekday schedule.  All light rail service is subject to potential delays, adjustments and cancellations due to the winter weather conditions.  Customers are strongly encouraged to plan accordingly and build additional time into their travels.

Access Link Paratransit Service:  On Thursday, February 13, Access Link service will be suspended statewide.  On Friday, February 14, Access Link will resume service at 12 noon should road conditions permit.  In addition, all transfer trips will be cancelled statewide on both Thursday and Friday.

In addition, NJ TRANSIT is reminding customers of the following:

Systemwide Cross-Honoring in Effect on Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14:  To give customers additional travel options during winter weather conditions, NJ TRANSIT will offer full systemwide cross-honoring on Thursday, February 13 and Friday, February 14, enabling customers to use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode—rail, light rail or bus—including private bus carriers.
Waiting Room Hours Extended on Thursday, February 13:  Due to the impending storm, all NJ TRANSIT rail station buildings and waiting rooms will remain open for extended hours Thursday evening into Friday morning.

All customers are strongly advised to check njtransit.com for up-to-the-minute service information before starting their trip.

Hotwire US

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Bus riders frozen out as fight over snow removal leaves many NJ Transit stops packed in ice

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Bus riders frozen out as fight over snow removal leaves many NJ Transit stops packed in ice
Tuesday, February 11, 2014    Last updated: Tuesday February 11, 2014, 11:25 PM
BY  ABBOTT KOLOFF, MINJAE PARK AND MATTHEW MCGRATH
STAFF WRITERS
The Record

Commuters getting on and off NJ Transit buses along highways in Bergen and Passaic counties have been climbing over boulders of ice and snow for the past week because no one seemed to know who was supposed to plow the bus stops.

One woman hung onto an NJ Transit bus stop sign that poked out of a mound of packed snow on Route 3 east at Passaic Avenue in Clifton as she waited for a bus to New York City on Tuesday morning. Others, grumbling about conditions at the bus stop, walked around the ice and onto a shoulder of the road to wait for a bus, with rush-hour traffic passing just inches away.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/clifton/Clifton_bus_riders_to_continue_to_stand_on_snow_jammed_shoulders_along_Route_3.html#sthash.jZq4EfgS.dpuf

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UPDATE: Reader says Great Job Plowing the Streets but somebody forgot the Ridgewood Park & Ride

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UPDATE : F.Y.I.

Additional snow will be cleared out of the Park and Ride this evening.

Heather A. Mailander
Acting Village Manager/Village Clerk
Village of Ridgewood
131 North Maple Ave.
Ridgewood, NJ  07451

Reader says Great Job Plowing the Streets but somebody forgot the Ridgewood Park & Ride

First to say, it appears the plowers did a very good job on Wednesday. By the Travell School, they must have come by over two dozen times.

Of course, after cleaning up my sidewalk by mid afternoon, they were still out there pushing slush to the curb, and on to my sidewalk.

With all that, no one plowed the Ridgewood Park & Ride on 17. What a mess this morning.Somebody goofed.

Chemistry.com

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Readers Question Effectiveness of Mayor’s Robocall

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Readers Question Effectiveness of Mayor’s Robocall

Just got the robocall from Village Hall. Could Aronsohn have sounded any less optimisitc? What a doom and gloom message.

No praise for our great police, fire, EMS, and Emergency Services groups and how they are there to help.

Just a very down message about the high chance of losing power and no salt for the roads. I think the Devil himself would have been able to come up with a more upbeat message. Next time let Jeremy or Brian give us the news Mr. Mayor. We’re all tired of hearing your voice anyway.

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NJ TRANSIT OUTLINES WINTER STORM SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5

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NJ TRANSIT OUTLINES WINTER STORM SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5
February 4, 2014

NEWARK, NJ — Due to the anticipated impact from the approaching, powerful winter weather system, NJ TRANSIT has adjusted its service schedule for Wednesday, February 5.  All customers are strongly advised to check njtransit.com before traveling for up-to-the-minute service information before starting their trip

The weather system is expected to generate heavy snow and freezing rain late this evening and continuing into the morning hours.  This will generate a major impact on tomorrow morning’s commute with the potential to continue throughout the entire service day.   Should customers plan to travel during the morning peak period when conditions are expected to be at their worst, NJ TRANSIT specifically encourages that they build additional time into their travel plans, expect potentially lengthy service delays, and be safe.

The following service advisories are in effect for Wednesday, February 5:

Rail Service:  On Wednesday, February 5, NJ TRANSIT will operate trains on a storm schedule on all rail lines except the Atlantic City Rail Line, which will operate a regular weekend schedule.  Service levels on the storm schedule will match the enhanced holiday schedule normally implemented on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Presidents’ Day.  Visit njtransit.com or click here to view the detailed storm schedule.

Bus Service:  While every effort will be made to continue operating bus service systemwide on a regular weekday schedule on Wednesday, February 5, customers may experience delays, detours or service adjustments on certain routes in the event of significant snowfall or ice accumulation.  Customers are advised to plan accordingly and allow additional travel time, as buses will be subject to local road conditions.

Light Rail Service:  On Wednesday, February 5, NJ TRANSIT will operate regular weekday scheduled service on the RiverLINE as well as Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.  Newark Light Rail will operate on a modified weekday schedule with service every ten minutes during the morning peak period.  All light rail customers should expect delays in service, particularly during the morning commute.

Access Link Paratransit Service:  On Wednesday, February 5, Access Link service will be suspended statewide until 12 noon.  In addition, all transfer trips will be cancelled statewide.  Access Link customers may call 1-800-955-2321 for periodic weather updates.

In addition, NJ TRANSIT is reminding customers of the following:

Systemwide Cross-Honoring in Effect on Wednesday, February 5:  To give customers additional travel options during winter weather conditions, NJ TRANSIT has implemented full systemwide cross-honoring on Wednesday, February 5, enabling customers to use their ticket or pass on an alternate travel mode—rail, light rail or bus—including private bus carriers.

Waiting Room Hours Extended Through Wednesday, February 5:  Due to the impending storm, all NJ TRANSIT rail station buildings and waiting rooms will remain open, including evenings and overnight, through Wednesday, February 5.

wine.com

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Reader says 1 multi-space pay station at the Park and Ride a Dumb move

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file photo by Boyd Loving

Reader says 1 multi-space pay station at the Park and Ride a Dumb move.

“A pay-and-display method, where a user receives and displays a parking receipt on the vehicle’s dashboard, was also considered but ultimately rejected by village officials. That process requires an enforcement officer to individually survey the parked vehicles, whereas the pay-by-space system allows the officer to examine cars based on the information stored in the pay station.”

1-Pay & display is better from a security & enforcement standpoint. Officer must see every vehicle. Can determine if someone is inside passed out, if inspection sticker is expired, or if break in to vehicle has occurred. Lazy way out is to have one station.
2-One station is no good when people are trying to catch a bus. NJ Transit has more than 1 ticket machine at train station. They are not stupid like the Village.
3-Take credit and debit cards. Cash walks away in employee’s pockets.
4-SOL when machine breaks when only 1 machine.Dumb move.

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Pay station proposed at Ridgewood park and ride

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file Photo Boyd Loving

Pay station proposed at Ridgewood park and ride
Monday January 20, 2014, 11:53 AM
BY  DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

Ridgewood’s slow progress toward advancement in parking meter technology is about to take a small step forward, with commuters who use the park and ride lot along Route 17 primed to benefit from additional payment options.

The Village Council is considering the purchase and installation of a multi-space pay station, a single unit that would essentially replace the individual, old-fashioned coin-operated meters that are currently in use at the lot. The new machine will still accept coin deposits, but users would also have the payment alternative of paper bills.

Municipal engineer Chris Rutishauser and James O’Connell, of the village’s traffic and signal department, identified the lot as a candidate for the new pay station because of its low turnover – most who use the facility likely commute each day to New York City, they said. Officials also estimated that half of the motorists who park in the lot own a Ridgewood UP3 permit.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/241156231_Pay_station_proposed_at_Ridgewood_park_and_ride.html#sthash.ujKYPULe.dpuf

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NJ TRANSIT has created a limited edition commemorative pass for Super Bowl Week 2014 – called SUPER PASS.

SUPER BOWL 2014 - Special Pass 4.125x5.5 Revised 5 rounded

NJ TRANSIT has created a limited edition commemorative pass for Super Bowl Week 2014 – called SUPER PASS.

The special $50 pass is valid for unlimited travel from Monday, January 27 through Monday, February 3, 2014 on all NJ TRANSIT rail, bus, light rail and Access Link services throughout New Jersey, including travel to and from Newark Liberty International Airport and New York City.

If you’re planning to travel to the Super Bowl and other fun activities during the week – SUPER PASS is for you. Take advantage of the savings and enjoy the convenience of not having to purchase tickets for every trip.

We also know you’ll want to keep this unique collectible as a valued souvenir of Super Bowl XLVIII. Each 3 7/8″ X 5 1/2″ pass will feature its own unique QR code and serial number.

This limited edition pass will only be available here until January 20, 2014. Your SUPER PASS, along with a matching lanyard to hang the pass around your neck, will be mailed to you in advance of Super Bowl Week.

BUY YOUR SUPER PASS HERE AND BE READY FOR ALL THE EXCITEMENT!

https://mtix.njtransit.com/masticketing/?page=superpass