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, New York City’s iconic yellow-and-blue MetroCard is being officially phased out after more than 30 years of service. MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber confirmed the news during a speech on Wednesday, announcing that MetroCards will no longer be sold after December 31, 2025.
Continue reading MTA to Retire MetroCard by End of 2025, Replacing Iconic Fare System with OMNY
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Ridgewood NJ, a tentative agreement between NJ Transit and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) was reached on May 7, offering a temporary sigh of relief for thousands of bus and light rail riders across New Jersey. However, the threat of a rail strike still looms as negotiations continue with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET).
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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
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New York NY, the controversial New York City congestion pricing toll, set to begin January 5, has sparked fierce debate and concern among New Jersey officials and businesses. With charges of $9 for cars and nearly $22 for trucks, critics argue the toll could significantly impact commuters and firms conducting business in Manhattan.
Continue reading Congestion Pricing in NYC: A Boon for New Jersey Businesses?
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Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco issued the following statement on the reinstatement of congestion pricing:
photo courtesy of Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco
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Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco met with CBS New York to discuss New York’s congestion pricing scheme and the County’s decision to join the State of New Jersey’s Congestion Pricing Lawsuit.
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Englewood Cliffs NJ, after doing nothing to stop New York’s Congestion tax on New Jersey commuters U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released a new Congressional Report on New York’s proposed Congestion Tax. It’s based on a detailed study and analysis of the MTA’s announcement this past December with the specifics of their pricing scheme. The Congestion Tax will increase commuter costs, congestion, and cancer-causing pollution in New Jersey and the outer boroughs. Gottheimer also requested a meeting with MTA Chairman Janno Lieber to discuss the findings.
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New York NY, New York City is gearing up to implement congestion pricing next year, presenting it as a solution to alleviate traffic congestion on city streets and enhance public transportation infrastructure.
Continue reading Commuters: NYC Congestion Pricing is Coming
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New York NY, the MTA has provided additional insights into its forthcoming congestion pricing initiative, set to commence next spring.
Continue reading The MTA Reveals Details on its Congestion Pricing Plan, Slated to Start Next Spring
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Teaneck NJ, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the MTA hit the milestone, thanks to Brian Jones from Teaneck, New Jersey. Brian Jones from Teaneck became the billionth New York City subway rider in 2023, tapping into the 175 Street station at 10:54 a.m. on Tuesday, as announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul. This achievement was reached six weeks ahead of the previous year, which saw the subway system reaching a billion riders on December 27. Throughout 2023, subway ridership has consistently increased. In recognition of this milestone, Jones was awarded a $100 OMNY value card, an OMNY T-shirt, an OMNY button, and a city subway map glasses cleaner during his noteworthy journey.
Continue reading Teaneck Man Becomes the Billionth New York City Subway Rider
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Fort Lee NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today announced the filing of a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to block the ill-conceived ( NJ does not get any of the money) congestion pricing plan put forward by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and New York City and State agencies. In the suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, the State of New Jersey argues that the USDOT and the FHWA violated the National Environmental Protection Act, which requires a full environmental impact review for projects of this projected impact and scope, as well as the Clean Air Act.
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Ridgewood NJ, The Federal Highway Administration approved the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s plan to add a controversial toll (congestion pricing) around Manhattan’s central business district. A group of Congress members from New Jersey both Democrats and Republicans – called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to cancel the plan, saying that it will “impose significant new costs” on New Jersey commuters and families. The signees included Reps. Thomas Kean Jr., Frank Pallone Jr., Bill Pascrell Jr., Donald Payne Jr., Mikie Sherrill, Jeff Van Drew and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
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New York NY, NY Penn Station has been the bane of commuters for as long as we can remember . Since the original Penn Stations destruction in the 1960s, the station has become something mythic, a sacrificial lamb to the cause of historic preservation. Unfortunately for commuters the current Penn Station leaves much to be desired it is and had been a dump for generations . New York Governor Kathy Hochul with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy are not the first politicians to step in and attempt to fix the current mess but hopefully the time is right and commuters could see some relief .
November 1st 2016
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Ridgewood NJ, The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and NJ TRANSIT invite the public to learn more about their recommendation for the Hudson Tunnel Project at two upcoming information sessions. During the meetings in November, the public will be able to learn more about the recommendation (Preferred Alternative) and the Environmental Impact Statement for the project.
The Preferred Alternative identifies a specific alignment that includes two new tracks extending from the Northeast Corridor in Secaucus, N.J., continuing in a tunnel beneath the Palisades, and beneath the Hudson River to connect to the existing approach tracks that lead into Penn Station New York, as well as rehabilitation of the existing North River Tunnel once the new tunnel is complete.
Both meetings will be held from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM and will be in an open house format. Although there will be no formal presentations, project staff will be available to answer questions. See attached flyer.
The new tunnel would be constructed first, so that upon completion of construction, trains could be diverted from the existing tunnel to allow its rehabilitation. When the rehabilitation is complete, both the existing and new tunnels would be in service, providing redundant capability and increased operational flexibility for Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT.
The Project is intended to preserve the current functionality of the Northeast Corridor’s Hudson River rail crossing between New Jersey and New York and strengthen the resiliency of the Northeast Corridor. FRA and NJ TRANSIT have made a recommendation (identified a Preferred Alternative) that consists of a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River and rehabilitation of the existing Northeast Corridor Hudson River crossing, the North River Tunnel.
More information about the Hudson Tunnel Project, the upcoming meetings, and the Preferred Alternative is available at the Project website,www.hudsontunnelproject.com. Project staff may be contacted via the Project website as well, at www.hudsontunnelproject.com/contact.html.
By Melkorka Licea and Abigail Gepner
July 31, 2016 | 1:37am
City subway stations are a mosquito’s paradise
The subways are swarming with skeeters.
The warm, wet summer and mild winter created a bumper crop of mosquitoes — and they’re breeding in the stagnant puddles of the steaming underground and sucking straphanger blood.
“I just wanna get home, I don’t wanna die on my way,” said Shayna Andino, 18, who claims she’s been bitten “at least 20 times” inside the 47th-50th Street Rockefeller Center station. “With Zika going around, it worries me,” she added.
Modal TriggerPhoto: Helayne Seidman
Andino, who takes the B and D trains to work as a cashier at Duane Reade in the station’s concourse, pointed to three bites on her face and arms.
https://nypost.com/2016/07/31/this-summer-is-making-the-subway-a-mosquito-hotbed/