Tag: NJT

Posted on by — 3 Comments

Mobile Ticketing Expands to Include Interstate Travel Purchases for NJT Ridgewood Bus Customers

Ridgewood-bus_terminal_theridgewoodblog

Feature Now Available for Android, iOS Users

April 5,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  NJ TRANSIT is capitalizing on the success of the NJ TRANSIT mobile app by announcing the ability for bus customers to purchase one-way tickets for select New York/New Jersey interstate routes.

NJ TRANSIT bus customers will be able to use the popular mobile app to purchase their one-way tickets for interstate bus travel on Bus Routes Nos. 126, 156, 158 and 159. The NJ TRANSIT mobiel app’s popularity has grown steadily since its inception in 2013 as the My Tix program, with 800,000 customer accounts. This latest enhancement provides another option for ticket-purchases for customers.

The NJ TRANSIT mobile app is available for free download on any web-enabled iOS or Android device. To make a purchase, customers simply install the app and then create an account, which will securely save a customer’s profile information and purchase history for ease of use.

“Customers have told us how much they love the ease and convenience that mobile apps provide,’’ said NJ TRANSIT’s interim Executive Director Dennis Martin. “We are very excited to offer this latest expansion of the mobile app as it gives our bus customers the ability to purchase tickets for their New York/New Jersey interstate travels. With every new app release we continue to make it even better.’’

The NJ TRANSIT mobile ticketing has continued to evolve. In September 2015, NJ TRANSIT customers were offered the convenience and ease to utilize their mobile devices to access MyTix, NJ TRANSIT train schedules, DepartureVision, MyBus and trip planning functionality, allowing them to quickly make travel plans, buy tickets and get transit information. Also at that time, all customers were offered the chance to pay with PayPal, allowing NJ TRANSIT customers to transfer payments electronically.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Just weeks after “No fare hike Needed” , NJT must close $57 million budget gap

lasttraintoclarksville_theridgewoodblog
March 26,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Just weeks since a potential strike was adverted and less than a year after NJ Transit closed a $56 million budget gap by raising passenger fares 9 percent, NJT now finds itself another $57 million in the hole. Slower ridership growth leading to lower-than-projected revenues leaves the agency 128 days to close the budget gap.

The biggest single hit “surprise “was a new contract for unionized bus workers, which cost the agency $46.6 million in additional salaries and benefits. NJ Transit also spent $18 million more than it expected on services by outside companies, including a program to overhaul the agency’s double-decker train cars, plus another $13 million on materials and supplies, to renovate facilities . Federal money partially offset some of these expenses , and NJ Transit expects more federal reimbursements to help off set budget gap.

According to NJT the biggest financial challenge is the new contract with 11 rail unions to increase pay for its 4,200 train workers by 21 percent between now and the end of 2019, including retroactive pay to 2011. NJT has not yet released the contract’s total cost, but Governor Christie reiterated it will not necessitate another fare increase. NJT last raised fares in July 2015.
Besides the new contract NJT will soon pay more money yest unspecified to use Northeast Corridor tracks belonging to Amtrak, this according to the Northeast Corridor Commission.
Posted on by — 4 Comments

Ridgewood Rail Commuters May Get Direct Route to Manhattan

Ridgewood_Train_station_train-_is_coming_theridgewoodblog
March 25,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood commuters may finally get the much coveted “One seat ride ” to Manhattan . On Thursday the Port Authority committed it self to building a connection as part of a new Hudson River rail tunnel ,this connection would give Ridgewood rail commuters a direct train ride to New York City.

The agency authorized spending $35 million ,which would be matched by $35 million from Amtrak to fund the preliminary planning and environmental review for the project, known as the Gateway tunnel.

The new rail connection known as the Bergen Loop would connect NJ Transit’s Main-Bergen and Pascack Valley train lines directly to the Northeast Corridor line, bypassing Secaucus Junction and delivering commuters to New York Penn Station.

That means no more ferry rides, PATH trains or transfers in Hoboken or Secaucus. Proponents claim direct train service will increase the value of North Jersey real estate by billions of dollars.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Hudson River rail tunnel project to get funding, fast-track status

ridgewood train station

BY CHRISTOPHER MAAG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

After years of discussion and months of only preliminary progress, the Gateway Tunnel under the Hudson River took a big step forward Wednesday when officials announced $70 million in new funding for preliminary engineering work, plus a framework establishing who has decision-making power over the project.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/hudson-river-rail-tunnel-project-to-get-funding-fast-track-status-1.1532056

Posted on by — Leave a comment

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

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Report says tentative NJ Transit deal includes retroactive raises for recent retirees

lasttraintoclarksville_theridgewoodblog

BY JIM NORMAN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

The settlement of a prolonged contract dispute between NJ Transit and unions representing 4,200 of the railroad’s employees was reached only after provisions were made for recent retirees to receive retroactive pay increases, a published report said Sunday.

The unions had threatened to strike after five years of working without a contract, but on Friday night the two sides reached a tentative deal to avoid a shutdown of the commuter rail lines between North Jersey and New York City.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/report-says-tentative-nj-transit-deal-includes-retroactive-raises-for-recent-retirees-1.1527231

Posted on by — Leave a comment

NJ Transit, unions reach tentative deal to avoid strike

Ridgewood_Train_station_train-_is_coming_theridgewoodblog

Updated March 11, 2016 8:54 PM

NEWARK – New Jersey Transit and rail union negotiators have reached a deal to avert a strike ahead of the Sunday deadline.

Hundreds of thousands of New Jersey riders would have been impacted by a strike, which was set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

After nearly nine hours of negotiation Friday, transit union spokesman Steve Burkert came out with other union leaders to announce the deal.

“We have reached a tentative agreement,” he said. “Thankfully for the commuters of NJ Transit the crisis has been averted. We thank our members for having faith in us in solidarity. We’re going home to our families.”

Burkert did not take any questions from the media following the announcement.

Gov. Chris Christie held a news conference soon after the announcement. He reiterated that a deal was reached, but said that it still needed to be ratified by the rail unions involved. He said that he would not discuss the financial details of the agreement until union leaders shared it with their members, but said that it would not require any immediate fare increases.

The major issues that were being negotiated were health care and wage increases. About 4,000 NJ Transit workers had been working without a contract for nearly five years.

https://newjersey.news12.com/news/nj-transit-unions-reach-tentative-deal-to-avoid-strike-1.11562143?cmpid=News_12_New_Jersey_Breaking_News_Alert__newsletter

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Man Discovered dead on train tracks in Ridgewood

Ridgewood Train Station
photo courtesy of Boyd Lovings Facebook

Man Discovered dead on train tracks in Ridgewood

March 10, 2016
the staff of the Rmidgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A crew member of a NJ Transit train telephoned police after spotting a man lying on the tracks near the West Glen Avenue train trestle in Ridgewood on Thursday night, 03/10, at approximately 10:30 PM. Responding NJ Transit and Ridgewood police officers found the individual lying between the HoHoKus train station and West Glen Avenue. He was unresponsive when found and pronounced dead shortly thereafter by a paramedic team from The Valley Hospital. It is believed the deceased was struck and killed by a Hoboken bound NJ Transit train.

Investigators will review video footage from at least one (1) train to determine if, when, and where the victim was struck. All train traffic on the NJ Transit Bergen County and Main Lines was delayed while investigators worked at the scene. The body was removed from the scene by representatives of the Bergen County Medical Examiner’s Office shortly after 1:00 AM on Friday, 03/11. The victim was said to have been a Ridgewood resident

Posted on by — Leave a comment

NJ TRANSIT Meets Face-To-Face With Union Leaders As Strike Deadline Looms

Ridgewood-Trainstation1_theridgewoodblog

March 10, 2016 6:25 PM

NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — The clock is ticking towards a possible NJ TRANSIT strike on Sunday.

Leaders representing the 11 rail unions wrapped up talks Thursday with NJ TRANSIT officials at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Newark after taking a day off from negotiations, CBS2’s Meg Baker reported.

NJ TRANSIT negotiator Gary Dellaverson said no announcement of a deal was imminent. He said wages and health care negotiations have yet to be reached, calling agreements “very complicated.”

“I don’t have anything very exciting to say,” Dellaverson said. “What we did this morning, for the last few hours, has been to continue to be precise with one another… as to the areas where there still remain differences between us.”

NJ TRANSIT released a notice Thursday saying that in the case of a strike, all existing positions would be terminated. All employees on sick leave would no longer receive sick leave compensation and insurance positions would be discontinued.

Union members rejected the notice and said it is counterproductive to the negotiating process.

Sen. Robert Menendez said federal negotiators will get involved if they have to, saying “we cannot afford a shutdown.”

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/03/10/nj-transit-strike-negotiations-3/

Posted on by — Leave a comment

NJ Transit, unions warn Saturday rail riders to be home by midnight

NJT ticket machine

BY CHRISTOPHER MAAG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

The leaders of NJ Transit and its rail unions warned anyone planning to ride trains Saturday night to be home by midnight or make alternate plans, since a lockout or strike could start as early as 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-transit-unions-warn-saturday-rail-riders-to-be-home-by-midnight-1.1524981

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Union: Sides come closer to deal to avert NJ Transit strike

Ridgewood-Trainstation1_theridgewoodblog

 

New Jersey Transit and rail worker unions on Tuesday were closer to a contract agreement to head off a strike than they were a day earlier, a union official said. Associated Press Read more

Basics of dispute

The dispute revolves around a 5-year-old contract stalemate. Unions have demanded a deal similar to the one signed in 2014 by the Long Island Railroad, with an 18-percent pay raise over seven years plus retroactive pay from 2011, when the current contract came up for negotiation. The unions also want a modest increase in employees’ health insurance payments, capped at 2.5 percent of their base salaries.

NJ Transit told the Presidential Emergency Board, which has been mediating the latest discussions, that such a plan would cost the agency an additional $183 million by 2018. In a Feb. 19 letter to New Jersey’s Congressional delegation, NJ Transit said the union proposal was “excessive,” and included “platinum-level health benefits.”

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Flo’s Market at Ridgewood Train Station Sells Winning Jersey Cash 5 Ticket

pick 5 ridgewood

Jersey Cash 5 Ticket Wins $184,570 Jackpot in Bergen County

By staff
Monday, Mar 07, 2016

One Bergen County ticket matched all five numbers for the Jersey Cash 5 game drawn on Friday, March 4 winning the $184,570 jackpot. The ticket was purchased at Flo’s Market at Ridgewood Train Station, 6 Garber Square, Ridgewood in Bergen County.

Executive Director Carole Hedinger said the top prizewinning ticket was the only one sold for Friday’s drawing that matched all five numbers drawn. The winning numbers were: 25, 27, 30, 40 and 42.

https://bergendispatch.com/articles/37755771/Jersey-Cash-5-Ticket-Wins-184-570-Jackpot-in-Bergen-County.aspx

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Union leader says they are closer to reaching agreement with NJ Transit

Ridgewood_Train_Statin_theridgewoodblog

BY CHRISTOPHER MAAG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

In negotiations Friday, NJ Transit and its rail unions came closer to reaching an agreement in their contract dispute than they have in the last five years, said union leader Steve Burkert. But the two sides still did not settle on a package of pay and health benefits for the agency’s 4,200 rail workers.

The two sides met for negotiations at the National Mediation Board in Washington, D.C. It was the latest round of sometimes-contentious talks that have stretched on for five years. Talks will continue in Newark on Monday, Burkert said.

“We’re getting closer,” said Burkert, general chairman of the United Transportation Union Local 60 and a spokesman for the coalition of 11 unions involved in the talks. “We both gave a little bit on everything. It was a civil and productive meeting.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/union-leader-says-they-are-closer-to-reaching-agreement-with-nj-transit-1.1522891

Posted on by — 7 Comments

Ridgewood Commuters: NJT Prepares for Strike and System Wide Rail Shutdown

Ridgewood-bus_terminal_theridgewoodblog

March 4th 2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewoood NJ, NJ TRANSIT Rail Operations faces the prospect of a systemwide shutdown should the membership of its rail union opt to participate in a work stoppage. This would result in the complete suspension of NJ TRANSIT rail service, affecting more than 160,000 customers who ride the system on a typical weekday. In the event of such a stoppage,
NJ TRANSIT has developed a contingency plan that would accommodate up to about 38 percent, or about 40,000 seats, of the existing New York-bound customer base.

Regional Park-Ride Service
Park-ride service will operate on a first come, first served basis from five key regional park-ride lots, weekdays only, during four-hour AM inbound (6 a.m. to 10 a.m.) and four-hour PM outbound (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) peak periods.

  • MetLife Stadium to Port Authority Bus Terminal, New York
  • PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel to New York City (Academy Bus)
  • Hamilton Rail Station to Newark Penn Station for PATH service
  • Metropark Rail Station to Harrison PATH Station
  • Ramsey/Route 17 Rail Station to Lincoln Harbor Ferry, Weehawken

No midday, evening, weekend or reverse commute service will operate on these park-ride routes.

Park-ride locations were selected based on their size/parking capacity, access to regional highways, and geographical distribution. Access to area PATH stations and ferry service also was analyzed to minimize congestion at Hudson River crossings.

Enhanced NJ TRANSIT New York Bus Service
NJ TRANSIT will enhance peak period service on 29 existing New York bus routes in close proximity to rail stations. The routes are:

  • Northeast Corridor: 108, 112, 115 and 129 bus routes
  • North Jersey Coast Line: 116 and 133/135 bus routes
  • Raritan Valley Line: 113 and 114X bus routes
  • Morris & Essex Lines: 107X and 114X bus routes
  • Montclair-Boonton Lines: 191X and 324 bus routes
  • Main/Bergen County Lines: 145, 160L, 160T, 160P, 163P, 164SX, 190P/D, 190R, 190X and 192X bus routes
  • Pascack Valley Line: 151, 162, 163L, 165P, 165R and 165T bus routes

In addition, to accommodate Atlantic City Rail Line customers, NJ TRANSIT will enhance service on the 554 bus route, which operates between Atlantic City and Lindenwold. At Lindenwold, customers can connect with PATCO service to Philadelphia. PATCO will cross honor Atlantic City Rail Line tickets and passes to/from Philadelphia (8th & Market St. Station).

To lessen traffic congestion and delays at the Lincoln Tunnel and to take advantage of the proximity to connecting PATH and ferry service, NJ TRANSIT will make the following service adjustments in the event of a rail stoppage:

    • The 156R, 158 and 159R bus routes serving the River Road corridor will terminate at the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken on weekdays, enabling cross honoring with connecting NY Waterway ferry service. Weekend service will operate on its regular route to/from New York.
    • The 126 bus route in Hoboken will operate on a reverse routing on weekday mornings, beginning at Willow Avenue and 19th Street and operating south to Hoboken Terminal for cross honoring with PATH and ferry service. In the evening, the 126 bus route will operate from Hoboken Terminal back to Willow Avenue and 19th Street. Weekend service will operate on its regular route to/from New York.

 

Ticketing

  • All existing valid rail tickets and passes with an origin or destination of New York will be accepted for travel on all park-ride service, and will be cross-honored on NJ TRANSIT buses and light rail lines, private bus carriers, PATH, NY Waterway and Seastreak.
  • Customers who do not already have a ticket or pass may purchase round-trip tickets to/from New York during morning hours on site from the park-ride locations. Round-trip tickets for regional park-ride service also will be available via MyTix, a mobile ticketing feature on NJ TRANSIT’s mobile app.
  • Fares from regional park-rides are based on the existing fares from those locations. Adult, senior/disabled, and child fares will be available as follows:

 

ORIGIN DESTINATION ADULT
ROUND TRIP FARE		 SENIOR/DISABLED
ROUND TRIP FARE		 CHILD
ROUND TRIP FARE
MetLife Stadium Port Authority
Bus Terminal		 $11.00 $4.90 $4.90
Ramsey/
Route 17		 Lincoln Harbor
Ferry Terminal		 $24.50 $11.40 $11.40
Metropark Harrison
PATH Station		 $21.50 $9.80 $9.80
Hamilton Newark Penn Station
for PATH connection		 $32.50 $14.70 $14.70
PNC Bank Arts Center New York $36.00 $18.00 $18.00

 

Cross-Honoring
NJ TRANSIT rail tickets and passes will be cross-honored on all NJ TRANSIT bus and light rail lines as well as on private bus carriers and PATH trains. Passes also will be cross-honored on all NY Waterway service, including Weehawken, Hoboken and North Hoboken, as well as on Seastreak service into Manhattan and PATCO service at Lindenwold Station to/from Philadelphia (8th & Market St. Station).

Posted on by — 29 Comments

Resident Dana Glazer , the real agenda here is to make Ridgewood into another “Transit Village”

village council meeting

Dana H. Glazer speech from the Wednesday Night Council Meeting

I am here to express my strong belief that the real agenda here is to make Ridgewood into another “Transit Village” like

Hackensack, in which a giant garage is built to primarily serve commuters from out of town; in which the master plan is radically amended to allow for high density housing which will create a large influx of new families into the CBD – thus straining our resources and permanently altering the face of our town.

I believe this is still the case, because on February 23rd the Executive of the County said in his State of the County address “I’m sure you’ve all read our partnership with Ridgewood. They’re looking to partner with the BCIA to fund their parking garage and partner with them.” He went on to describe this proposed garage as “a commuter garage to be used by commuters all day long..”

Now, on February 21st, two days before the State of the County, Mayor Aronsohn wrote to residents an email saying “in the spirit of getting this project done –once and for all – and in the spirit of doing it together as a community, I am willing to re-introduce the January bond ordinance at our March 2 Council meeting. “

If there’s no intention of making Ridgewood into a Transit Village, why was the County Executive announcing this Ridgewood partnership in his big speech two days later? Shouldn’t someone have told him not to include it? It makes no sense.

The only way it makes sense is if making Ridgewood into a Transit Village is still the only plan. Why else wouldn’t our Village Council immediately repeal the County Bond before funding the garage through the town? 1500 residents petitioned loudly against this, in an initiative Ridgewood has not seen in years – if ever, right? Our Council Majority would never let this happen because it would jeopardize the real plan– Ridgewood as a Transit Village.

That is why the “Plan E” garage proposal that Lorraine Reynolds and Gail McCarthy have so passionately worked behind the scenes to put together, having spoken with hundreds of residents, shopkeepers and Mt. Carmel – what is being called the “People’s Garage” – I believe is going to be sabotaged – or ignored completely.

I believe this “People’s Garage” will never see the light of day because the shenanigans will continue, whether they relate to the site plan, the financials, the traffic studies or anything else deemed necessary to do this right; and then on March 23rd, if Councilwoman Knudsen and Councilman Sedon stand up and say “No” the Council Majority or even just table the issue, the Council Majority will turn this against them, loudly proclaiming, “See, they are anti-garage. Now, let’s vote for people who are pro-garage and let’s vote to go to the County because there’s no other way to do this in Ridgewood.”

But here’s the thing:  this upcoming election will not be about a garage. It will be about who votes in favor of the upcoming High Density Housing vote later this month. It will ultimately be about who trashed our town and made it into a Transit Village like Hackensack. That’s what’s at stake here.

So, Councilman Sedon and Councilwoman Knudsen, I am encouraging you to listen to the 1500 people who petitioned loudly that WE DON’T WANT A COUNTY GARAGE. I trust you will do anything and everything to keep this from happening.

Thank you.