Tag: Ridgewood Park and Ride

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5 ways commuting ruins your life

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file photo by Boyd Loving
By Quentin Fottrell

Published: Sept 9, 2015 5:45 a.m. ET

Hours spent driving can wreck finances, health, and marriage

There’s one more reason to love Paris in the Fall. On Sept. 27, Paris will go car-free for one day. In an effort to address the city’s concerns about worsening pollution, the inaugural “Paris Sans Voiture” will free up everywhere from the Left Bank to the Champ Élysées for pedestrians and cyclists.

Around 2.2 million U.S. workers have a daily commute of at least an hour to and from work, according to the “American Community Survey” by the U.S. Census, and 600,000 full-time workers are so-called super-commuters, spending 90 minutes and traveling 50 miles to get to work every day. In fact, more people drove 50 miles or more this past Labor Day Weekend than they had since 2008, and more Americans arewasting time stuck in traffic.

“Many people aren’t aware of how much they actually spend on commuting,” says Rob Perks, transportation campaign director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. The NRDC found that commuters spend $2,180 per year on maintaining a car and paying for gas to get to and from work in urban areas and $3,347 in the suburbs, while rural commuters spend $4,272 a year. Those who don’t commute to work only spend $1,857 a year.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/5-ways-commuting-ruins-your-life-2013-07-30

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Port Authority bus depot: the great gate reshuffle

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AUGUST 10, 2015, 6:19 PM    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2015, 7:39 AM
BY MARY DIDUCH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

After Labor Day, about a third of commuters rushing to the Port Authority Bus Terminal after work will have to get used to racing toward different bus gates.

The Port Authority is reassigning 40 bus routes, affecting six of the facility’s 21 bus carriers, as part of a plan to improve operational efficiency at the aged terminal, Port Authority administrators announced Monday.

That could lead to less crowding and easier commutes home, they said.

The gate reassignments will happen as the bistate agency consolidates its bus operations, making it easier for the facility’s largest carriers — NJ Transit and Coach USA — to operate, which hopefully will translate into a smoother commute, said Diannae Ehler, general manager of the Lincoln Tunnel and Port Authority Bus Terminal.

The facility has never seen permanent gate reassignments on this scale —  “This is an extremely ambitious change to undertake,” Ehler said.

In a statement, NJ Transit Executive Director Veronique Hakim said the change will improve commutes by giving the carrier its own dedicated service area, shortening customers’ waiting time and streamlining the platform queuing process. Coach USA Executive Vice President Don Carmichael, also in a statement, said the realignment will allow Coach also to improve its efficiency.

The changes will affect about 30 percent of weekday passengers at the terminal for some routes of these carriers: NJ Transit, Lakeland and DeCamp, and Coach’s Community, Shortline and Rockland lines. Around 220,000 use the facility daily.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/latest-bid-to-better-port-authority-bus-depot-the-great-gate-reshuffle-1.1390259

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Commuters could soon sit on NJ Transit board, but wouldn’t be able to vote

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A bill that would add two members to NJ Transit’s Board of Directors advanced to the state senate for a future vote.

(Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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on May 11, 2015 at 12:52 PM, updated May 11, 2015 at 12:54 PM

A bill that would add two commuters to NJ Transit’s board is rolling down the tracks toward a vote.

The bill, proposed by state Senators Nicholas Sacco, D-Bergen, and Raymond Lesnaik, D-Union, was unanimously cleared by the five members of the senate Transportation Committee Monday morning and will go to the full senate for a vote.

The bill would add two non-voting commuter members to NJ Transit’s eight member board of directors.

“It’s difficult to get public input into decisions that affect people’s lives by people who take public transportation to get to work,” Lesniak said. “By having two public members, who will be able to make a motion, to have it voted on, we will be doing better by giving (the board) more public input.”

Lesniak used the upcoming NJ Transit fare increase public hearings as an example of why riders need representation on the board. Some of them are at inconvenient locations or times for commuters to attend and voice their opinion.

The idea was supported by founders of the state’s newest commuter commuter group, the New Jersey Commuter Action Coalition. They questioned why the proposed members wouldn’t have a vote.

“If these individuals are allowed to attend meetings in their entirety and engage with the rest of the group to truly exchange ideas, I think it is a great start,” said Michael Phelan, NJCAN co-founder. “If they will sit there and observe and be asked to leave so that the adults can talk for real after the meeting, then it’s not good. Why wouldn’t these members of the public be as capable of absorbing facts and voting as those who are on the board?”

Phelan suggested that bill should require that the two commuter board members take the next two available voting seats, as they become available, and that those seats continue to be held by commuters going forward.

https://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2015/05/commuters_could_soon_sit_on_nj_transit_board_but_wouldnt_be_able_to_vote.html

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NJ Transit to test WiFi in Port Authority bus terminal

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NJ Transit to test WiFi in Port Authority bus terminal
By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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on November 13, 2014 at 7:55 AM, updated November 13, 2014 at 7:58 AM

NJ Transit officials want to bring some of the communications of the future to the aging Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Commuters will be asked to test drive part of it, a WiFi system designed to help them get travel information faster in a bus terminal with less than optimal cellphone reception now.

To make that happen, NJ Transit and the Port Authority have formed a Customer Information and Technology group,  said Dennis Martin, NJ Transit general manger of bus operations.

A WiFi network inside the terminal would allow commuters to access NJ Transit’s “My Tix” app, which allows riders to buy tickets using their smart phone. My Tix is being tested on Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia NJ Transit bus routes, Martin said. Riders have complained about waiting in line to use ticket vending machines in the terminal.

“The next thing is the Wi-FI and we’re talking about launching a beta site and encouraging customers to test it,” said Veronique Hakim, NJ Transit executive director. “We’ll notify them when begins.”

That WiFi network is different than the existing WiFi service offered through the Optimum network in select NJ Transit stations and terminals, said Nancy Snyder, an NJ Transit spokeswoman.

https://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2014/11/nj_transits_to_add_this_centurys_communications_in.html

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NJ TRANSIT OFFERS ‘EARLY GETAWAY’ SERVICE FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND

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NJ TRANSIT OFFERS ‘EARLY GETAWAY’ SERVICE FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Kids ride free all weekend with Family SuperSaver Fare
August 27, 2014

NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT will offer “early getaway” rail and bus service on Friday, August 29, for the benefit of customers leaving work early for the Labor Day holiday weekend.

On Friday, August 29, extra outbound trains will operate on the Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Raritan Valley, Morris & Essex and Port Jervis lines starting at approximately 1 p.m.  Extra buses will operate from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on more than a dozen bus routes starting around noon.  Visit njtransit.com for details.

On Labor Day, Monday, September 1, trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule on all lines.  Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will operate on a weekend schedule. Newark Light Rail will operate on a Saturday schedule.  River Line will operate on a Sunday schedule.  Bus schedules vary by route—customers are advised to check their timetables or visit njtransit.com for schedule information.

For complete schedules and fares, visit njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555.

Summer Savings

With summer winding down, there is still time to take advantage of NJ TRANSIT’s discounted travel packages to destinations including the Jersey Shore, Six Flags Great Adventure, Monmouth Park Racetrack and Mountain Creek Action Park:

Beach Packages:  Save up to $6.50 on admission to one of five beaches— Long Branch, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach and Belmar—by purchasing round-trip train fare and a beach pass for one price at NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Special Promotions” and select “Beach Package”) or at ticket windows.  Customers can purchase the package for $31.50 from New York Penn Station or any station on the Main, Bergen County or Pascack Valley lines (except from Metro-North stations), and for $23.50 from Hoboken Terminal or Newark Penn Station.  Beach packages are now on sale daily through Labor Day, Monday, September 1.

Shore Express:  Enjoy a shorter trip and one-seat ride to the Jersey Shore with NJ TRANSIT’s new express service, departing New York Penn Station at 7:52 a.m. and 10:01 a.m. and stopping at Secaucus Junction, Newark Penn Station, Elizabeth, Rahway, Aberdeen-Matawan, Red Bank, Long Branch, Asbury Park, Bradley Beach, Belmar, Spring Lake, Manasquan, Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head without having to change trains in Long Branch.  Return trips will depart Bay Head at 4:54 p.m. and 6:54 p.m. This express service will operate on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through September 1, supplementing NJ TRANSIT’s hourly rail service between Long Branch and Bay Head.
Shore EZride Jitney provides shuttle service to beaches, shopping and dining locations from Long Branch Station.  NJ TRANSIT customers can ride the jitney for free with a coupon available on njtransit.com/shore.

Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari or Hurricane Harbor:  Save up to $40 by purchasing round-trip bus transportation and park admission together.  NJ TRANSIT provides express bus service to Six Flags from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York, Newark Penn Station, Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal, Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden, and from Freehold.
Monmouth Park:  Board a train anywhere on NJ TRANSIT’s rail system and save up to $5.50 when you travel to Monmouth Park Racetrack.  Simply purchase a round-trip package to Monmouth Park from NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Special Promotions” and select “Monmouth Park Racetrack”) or at ticket windows, and receive Grandstand Admission and an official track program for $1 plus round-trip train fare.
Mountain Creek Action Park:  Save $8 on the adult admission price when you ride Bus No. 304 from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Weehawken, Union City, North Bergen or Wayne/Route 23 Transit Center on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through September 1.

For details on NJ TRANSIT’s Summer Services and customer discounts, visit njtransit.com/summer.

On weekends, kids ride free on NJT

Every weekend, families riding NJ TRANSIT can save with the Family SuperSaver Fare, which allows two children 11 and younger to travel free with each fare-paying adult.  For the Labor Day holiday weekend, the program will be in effect from 7 p.m. Friday, August 29 until 6 a.m. Tuesday, September 2.

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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