The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, the driver of a black colored Maserati, believed to have been stolen in Franklin Lakes, was captured near the Route 17 Park & Ride in Ridgewood after he led police from multiple agencies on an early Wednesday morning, 05/03, chase through northwest Bergen County.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT is monitoring severe weather expected to pass through the region late Thursday, January 6, and Friday, January 7.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police were called in when crews for Congressman Gottheimer’s office were caught stealing and destroying GOP Candidate Frank Pallotta yard signs near the Ridgewood Park and Ride . Several calls were made to the Ridgewood Police . The vandals were confronted and driven off by police and representatives from the Pallotta campaign.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Police Department is aware of the problem with parking this Wednesday at the Park and Ride. We have been in contact with Levin Mgmt, the company responsible for the Stop and Shop Paramus property. Those that parked there this morning are given a pass for today only. Please resume parking at the Ridgewood Park and Ride tomorrow.
“So. This photo is from the second N.J. Transit “If You See Something, Say Something” Commercial. They both depict three different suspicions “people” leaving things behind and / or taking photos of surveillance cameras. All three suspicious people? You guessed it. White males. Nice message N.J. Transit!!! Personally, I’m appalled. “
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT anticipates regular weekend service on its rail, bus, light rail and Access Link services for Saturday and Sunday as long as weather conditions permit safe operation. Parts of New Jersey are forecasted to experience snow and icy roadway conditions with rapid freezing of wet surfaces. There is also a possibility of high wind conditions, which could impact the overhead wires on rail and light rail service.
IMPORTANT: Due to the potential snow and ice accumulation in conjunction with possible local and county travel bans, there is the potential for all bus service — including bus service to/from PABT– to be suspended at some point during the weekend. Customers will have advance notice of a service suspension. All customers should closely monitor njtransit.com, download the mobile app with push notifications, sign up for My Transit alerts, or monitor social media and broadcast news reports for the latest status of the system.
Continue reading NJ TRANSIT CUSTOMERS ADVISED TO MONITOR SERVICE INFORMATION DURING FORECASTED WEEKEND WINTER STORM 
March 20,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, ShortLine/Coach USA riders:Due to Winter Storm Toby, ShortLine/Coach USA scheduled services are suspended on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. Service will resume on Thursday, March 22, 2018.
We will run the 1:30 a.m to Middletown tonight as well as the 3:05 a.m from Binghamton to NYC on Wednesday. Local service from Binghamton to Ithaca, Olean, Albany and Utica will still run on Wednesday but only as far as Binghamton, No connections to NYC.As always, the safety of our customers and employees will be our top priority throughout this storm and we will provide any further schedule changes via Facebook, email and our website.
PORT AUTHORITY BOARD AUTHORIZES PLANNING FOR NEW BUS TERMINAL, INTERIM SOLUTIONS FOR EXISTING TERMINAL
February 17,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Port Authority Board of Commissioners today authorized the agency to begin the first phase of a comprehensive planning process for the replacement of the midtown bus terminal – including the hiring of environmental and technical consultants to ensure compliance with federal, state and local review processes.
The planning process will include evaluation of potential intermediate bus staging and storage facilities and other initiatives to sustain and meet capacity requirements for efficient operations of the interstate bus network, including the existing PABT facility. These initiatives will help ensure the existing Port Authority Bus Terminal is able to continue to meet current bus and passenger demand.
“We continue to acknowledge that, while the new Port Authority Bus Terminal is a critical first step in improving trans-Hudson commuting, it is only one piece of a menu of options that must be in place to meet the needs created by future demand increases,” said Port Authority Chairman John Degnan. “The Port Authority will work with our stakeholders to take their important views into account, as we did at the 2015 Trans-Hudson Summit and in the 2016 Trans-Hudson Commuting Capacity Study.”
“Meeting the needs of the growing number of the region’s bus commuters is an essential component of the Port Authority’s transportation mission, and this project will be done while fully respecting and minimizing the impacts on Manhattan’s West Side after and considering the input of residents there in a formal environmental process,’’ said Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye.
The board authorized the agency to hire environmental and technical consultants to provide project management and planning services for the bus terminal replacement, and to evaluate interim solutions for the existing terminal. These consultants would ensure that all planning stages comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and/or all applicable review processes, and that there is coordination with stakeholders and adherence to eligibility requirements for federal funding.
Planning for a new bus terminal will include identifying an optimal location based on ongoing engagement with the City of New York and other New York and New Jersey stakeholders. Additionally, it will include reviewing the agency’s previous midtown bus master planning effort, the analysis and suggestions of the Port Authority Bus Terminal International Design + Deliverability Competition and the findings of the Trans-Hudson Commuting Capacity Study commissioned by the board.
The Port Authority Bus Terminal, located on Manhattan’s West Side, opened in 1950 and last underwent a major expansion in 1979. Each weekday it accommodates approximately 232,000 passenger trips and 7,800 bus movements. Demand is expected to increase by 51 percent, with up to 337,000 weekday passenger trips, by 2040.
Even at today’s levels of bus demand, the bus terminal routinely operates beyond capacity during peak travel hours. Through an ongoing Quality of Commute initiative, the Port Authority has partnered with bus operators on operational changes that have reduced crowding within the terminal and relieved congestion caused by buses on nearby streets.
However, a lack of strategically located bus parking, and facilities for the staging of empty buses ready to enter the terminal to pick up afternoon commuters, remains a persistent problem. The Trans-Hudson Commuting Capacity Study suggested that the addition of parking and staging facilities is needed to help the bus terminal accommodate growing demand.
December 24,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, 2017 Annual Parking Permits – Annual Resident, Non-resident and CBD employee parking permits are available for purchase at Village Hall. Driver’s License and car registration are required to apply for all parking permits. The Annual Parking Permits for residents cost $750 or $1,000 annually, depending on which lots are chosen for parking.
Parking Permits
Ho Ho Kus $350
Glen Rock $150 and $80 for the second tag
By Steve Cronin • 12/07/16 9:05pm
It’s Thursday, and the political battle over building a new Port Authority Bus Terminal is calling harsh public scrutiny over the dysfunctional operations of the scandal-plagued bi-state agency.
The harsh spotlight is also continuing to shine on Gov. Chris Christie’s tenure in New Jersey, with Vanity Fair now weighing in on his dwindling political fortunes. With cabinet positions closing and his bid to head the Republican National Committee still in doubt, the governor is giving some indication of how he’d like to spend his time after leaving Trenton if he must leave the national stage. In Atlantic City, where the administration has stepped in because it contends the city can’t control spending, critics are complaining about the hundreds of thousands of dollars the state is paying out to the departing head of the Casino Redevelopment Investment Authority.
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.
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:
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:
Ticketing
| 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).
BY CHRISTOPHER MAAG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
After five years of occasionally hostile negotiations, NJ Transit and its rail unions will meet on March 4 at the National Mediation Board in Washington, D.C., both sides confirmed Friday. The gathering is one last attempt to avert a strike that could cripple transportation across the region’s.
“The National Mediation Board called a meeting, and NJT will attend,” said Nancy Snyder, a spokeswoman for NJ Transit.
The sides remain far apart. From the unions’ perspective, NJ Transit’s offer of a modest wage increase would be wiped out by significantly higher health insurance costs for workers.
“The fact is Ridgewood was designated by NJT as a major transit hub several years ago and to a large extent that is why so many residents who work on Wall St have chosen to live here. Ridgewood has the reputation as the town that “has it all” great schools, charming neighborhoods, a lively downtown……and an easy commute to the city. When one gets past all the current rhetoric the three amigos are simply executing a plan and a vision for Ridgewood that was put in place long before they arrived on the scene.” Ed S
From
https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/village/faq.shtm
Transit Village Initiative Overview
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a designated Transit Village?
A. A designated Transit Village is a municipality that has been recommended for designation by the interagency Transit Village Task Force. These municipalities have demonstrated a commitment to revitalizing and redeveloping the area around their transit facilities into compact, mixed-use neighborhoods with a strong residential component.
A municipality can be designated a Transit Village only after much of the planning and background work has already been done on the municipal level. It may only be designated a Transit Village after the Transit Village Criteria have been met.
Q. How many designated Transit Villages are there?
A. There are currently 30 designated Transit Villages. They are Pleasantville (1999), Morristown (1999), Rutherford (1999), South Amboy (1999), South Orange (1999), Riverside (2001), Rahway (2002), Metuchen (2003), Belmar (2003), Bloomfield (2003), Bound Brook (2003), Collingswood (2003), Cranford (2003), Matawan (2003), New Brunswick (2005), Journal Square/Jersey City (2005), Netcong (2005), Elizabeth/Midtown (2007), Burlington City (2007), City of Orange Township (2009), Montclair (2010), Somerville (2010), Linden (2010), West Windsor (2012), East Orange (2012), Dunellen (2012), Summit (2013), Plainfield (2014), Borough of Park Ridge (2015) and Irvington Township (2015).
file photo
January 25,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Yes, town workers did a pretty decent job in town.As usual, the business district always gets taken care of.
What about the park and ride on route 17?? again this year, the Ridgewood Park And Ride was mostly neglected. The main section was o.k. for those using the meters. The section for the yearly commuters is a disaster. Only 20% done. Maybe the town prefers clearing the meter area only.
The section for the commuters with a yearly pass, was horrible this morning at 7:30 AM, maybe 20% done.
Worse yet Shortline resumed bus service first thing Sunday morning .
So, town is certainly making sure we can put money in the meters.Last year, same situation but much worse.
Our town manager made a comment last year after I complained, she would get in plowed by the following day and actually was.
So why wasn’t the whole lot plowed??
SEPTEMBER 24, 2015, 7:06 AM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015, 7:14 AM
BY SHAWN BOBURG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Leading Port Authority officials today are expected to recommend building a new Manhattan bus terminal one block west of the current station, following months of deliberation over several options with price tags as high as $10 billion, according to three people familiar with the discussions.
The endorsement of a broad plan that includes a specific location for the new terminal and a way to keep commuter buses running during construction would be a significant step in the long-running effort to replace the current 1950s-era mass transit facility with a modern alternative. But more time is needed to determine the new building’s design, the precise cost and how to finance it, said the three sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to preempt a presentation planned for today’s meeting of commissioners.
In March, in response to increasing calls to address the condition of the world’s busiest bus terminal, commissioners were given five options for replacing it. They ranged widely in estimated cost and in their impact on the bus system, depending on where the new terminal would sit and whether the current one would stay open during construction.
A four-commissioner group that considered the five options is expected to recommend that the bi-state agency build a new terminal between Ninth and Tenth avenues, keeping the current terminal on Eighth Avenue open during construction.
Once the new structure is up and running, the old terminal would be demolished and the development rights for the property, located on 42nd Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues, would be sold to help pay for the project. The location of the new terminal would force commuters connecting to the New York City subway system to walk one block, the three people said, whereas direct connections are possible through the current building
