By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on June 08, 2016 at 4:23 PM, updated June 08, 2016 at 4:33 PM
NJ Transit commuters won’t gain additional trains to and from New York after new Hudson River rail tunnels are built, unless two new tracks are also built on the New Jersey side, a transit advocate said.
During a May meeting about starting an environmental study of a project to buildthe tunnels, Federal Railroad Administration officials said the tunnel project won’t increase capacity to Penn Station.
NJ Transit officials could include building new tracks as part of that study, but the opportunity to do so ends soon, said Joe Clift, a former Long Island Rail Road planning director and transit advocate.
Need an experienced, certified NJ plumber for basement renovation plumbing in NJ? Call us today at A1 Sewer & Drain Services:
201-645-0888
Many homes in New Jersey are built with a basement, which may or may not have been converted yet into useable living space. A finished basement is a great way to add hundreds of square feet of useable living space to your home, with less cost and hassle than building a whole new addition. Many homes have over a thousand square feet of basement, meaning there’s plenty of space for that new bedroom, rec room, or man cave you’ve always wanted.
Basement renovation often involves installing plumbing to create an extra bathroom. At A1 Sewer & Drain Service, we’re drainage and sewer service contractors who specialize in wastewater, outdoor drainage, and bathroom plumbing. If you’re planning a new bathroom addition, call us any time for a free consultation and cost estimate from our experienced local plumbers, at 201-645-0888.
Adding a New Bathroom Addition in your Basement
Need an extra bathroom to accommodate a growing family? If you have an existing basement, you may not even need to build a new addition. Finishing all or part of your basement can add a great deal of extra living space, including much-needed extra toilets and showers. A new basement bathroom addition can even add market value to your home.
Basements are almost always located below the level of the main sewer line. Because of this, installing bathroom plumbing can be complicated. Vent, waste pipe, and drain pipe installation is the most difficult part of basement plumbing, and you’ll need experienced renovation plumbing and sewer service contractors to make sure that everything is installed correctly.
Basement Plumbing for a New Bathroom Addition
Any new drain lines in your basement bathroom addition will need to flow into your existing main sewer line. Before construction begins, contractors need to locate the sewer pipe, generally by finding the main stack and the cleanout. In urban and most suburban areas, the main sewer line runs into a municipal sewer system. If you have a private septic tank, the pipe will run toward the septic drain field.
To flow correctly, drains and sewer lines need a downward slope of at least ¼” per linear foot. This ensures that liquids and solids move at the same rate through the pipe via gravity, preventing clogs and sewer backflow. This can be tricky in basements, where the main line may not be deep enough to allow the correct drop per foot. To send water and effluent through the drain pipes against the force of gravity, you may need sewer ejector pump installation.
Sewage Ejector Pumps for Bathroom Plumbing
When the level of the main sewer line is too high for wastewater to flow in the right direction due to gravity, you may need sewage ejector pump installation to ensure that wastewater doesn’t back up inside the drain pipes. Ejector pumps are equipped with float switches, which trigger the pump to activate when the water in the ejector pump tank reaches a certain level. The wastewater is forced into the drain pipes, allowing wastewater from toilets and other fixtures to be safely removed without relying on gravity.
For toilets, many homeowners opt to install a grinder pump. This type of ejector pump grinds up solid waste into a fine slurry, helping to prevent clogged drain pipes and backflow.
Basement Sump Pump Installation in NJ
Regardless of whether your basement is used as living space, or whether it contains a bathroom, you may need to consider sump pump installation. Sump pumps remove water into the drainage system, preventing flooding and costly water damage. Because basements are located below grade, they’re at heightened risk for flooding from severe weather, burst plumbing pipes, sewer backups, and other emergencies.
Installing a basement sump pump can prevent thousands of dollars of costly water damage, making it a worthwhile investment for New Jersey homeowners.
Local NJ Sewer Service Contractors for Basement Bathroom Plumbing
Need an experienced plumber for toilet, shower, vent, and drain pipe installation in NJ? At A1 Sewer & Drain Services, we’re sewer service experts. We work with homeowners to install reliable, high quality plumbing for basement bathrooms and new bathroom additions. For a free cost estimate, call us today at 201-645-0888.
Ridgewood NJ, National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mathews on Tuesday urged federal leaders to fast-track necessary approvals to replace the Hudson River rail tunnels.
If the tunnels aren’t replaced in time, the New York City region could face a “transportation meltdown,” Mathews wrote in a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and New Jersey Transit.
Each day, the aging tunnels accommodate 100 trains carrying 24,000 Amtrak riders. Additionally, NJ Transit trains move 90,000 weekday passengers through the tunnels, which run between New York and New Jersey.
“Given the importance of these tunnels to the entire East Coast transportation system and to passenger rail, NARP strongly urges the government to proceed as expeditiously as possible, within the confines of applicable law, to begin desperately needed and long-overdue construction of new tunnels,” Mathews wrote.
He also advocated separating the Hudson tunnels project from Amtrak’s larger Gateway Program, which calls for a number of upgrades to improve capacity between New York City’s Penn Station and Newark, N.J. Separating the two projects would help ease the funding burden, simplify permitting and design, and “secure the widest possible agreement to proceed from elected and appointed officials throughout the region,” Mathews said.
Currently, Amtrak removes one of the tunnels from service each weekend for continuing maintenance, which results in slow, single-tracking operations. Until new ones are built, this will continue indefinitely, according to Mathews.
Additionally, the existing tubes will be removed from service for a full year for complete rehabilitation after the new ones are built.
“There is a real danger that if one of the current bores becomes permanently damaged or disabled, the throughput of trains would fall some 75 percent,” noted Mathews.
Ridgewood NJ, With Memorial Day marking the “unofficial” start of the summer recreational season, this weekend is a great time for customers to take advantage of NJ TRANSIT’s discounted travel packages to destinations including the Jersey Shore, Six Flags, Monmouth Park and Liberty Science Center:
Beach Packages: Save up to $5.00 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 discounted beach pass for one price at NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Beach/Monmouth Park Packages” and select “Beach Package”) or at ticket windows. Customers can purchase the package at all NJ TRANSIT rail stations, excluding stations on the Atlantic City Rail Line. Beach Packages go on sale on the following four Fridays: May 27, June 3, 10 and 17 at 7 a.m. and are valid throughout the weekend and on holidays. Beach Packages will be available daily starting Saturday, June 18 and continuing through Labor Day, Monday, September 5.
Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari or Hurricane Harbor: Save up to $30 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 and Newark Penn Station.
Monmouth Park: Board a train anywhere on NJ TRANSIT’s rail system, excluding Atlantic City Rail Line stations, and save $5.50 when you travel to Monmouth Park Racetrack. Simply purchase a package to Monmouth Park from NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Beach/Monmouth Park Packages” and select “Monmouth Park”) or at ticket windows, and receive round-trip transportation, Grandstand Admission and an official track program for $3.50 plus the regular cost of a round-trip rail ticket.
Liberty Science Center: Beginning June 1, save $5 per person for up to four general admission, combo ticket and/or all-access passes when you travel on NJ TRANSIT and show your ticket, pass or fare receipt at Liberty Science Center. General admission passes include live science demonstrations, hands-on labs, and a variety of daily activities. Combo and all-access passes provide options for films and premium exhibits.
Ridgewood NJ, NJT is joining with the National Safety Council and numerous other organizations across the country in recognizing National Safety Month during the month of June. Safety is the utmost priority for the corporation and NJ TRANSIT recognizes that collaboration between the agency and the public is necessary to effectively promote safe choices around the public transportation system.
“The safety of our customers and employees remains our top priority,” said NJ TRANSIT Interim Executive Director Dennis Martin. “As we mark National Safety Month, we all should take a brief moment to review some simple ‘do’s and don’ts’ which will further promote a safe environment for our customers and our employees.”
“NJ TRANSIT is taking the message to the streets,’’ said Office of System Safety Chief Gardner Tabon. “The Office of System Safety is reminding employees of safety protocols in many ways; by visiting them at selected work sites, by printing messages on pay stubs and by hanging posters in visible locations. These reminders promote the notion that we all share in the responsibility of staying safe.’’
Rail and Light Rail Safety:
Never take a short cut along, around or across rail tracks.
Only cross railroad tracks in clearly-identified, designated areas where there are lights, signs and grade crossings.
Always stand behind the yellow safety line when waiting on the station platform. Trains can operate on any track, at any time.
Always be aware of your surroundings. Use extra caution when using headphones or using your cell phone near tracks, or while on the station platform. If you are not listening or paying attention, you may not hear a train approaching.
Listen to train personnel and watch your steps when boarding and exiting a train.
Bus Safety:
When waiting for and riding a bus:
Use designated crosswalks and sidewalks to reach the bus stop.
Never run after a bus; you may slip and fall, or may be struck by another vehicle.
Wait for the bus at designated stops and stand two to three feet from the curb.
Hold handrails while boarding the bus.
When exiting, do not cross in front of the bus. Wait for the bus to pull away, walk to the nearest crosswalk, and look both ways before crossing.
NJ TRANSIT will be hosting several employee safety day events at various work sites to remind employees of the importance of safety protocols. As part of the month-long program, there will also be an increase in safety advertising and handouts onboard bus, rail and light rail vehicles.
In April 2016, Tabon was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to serve on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Northeast Corridor Safety Committee. This committee serves as an advisory body to the Department and is responsible for evaluating proposed safety improvements on the NEC main line and providing information, advice and recommendations on policy initiatives.
Special offers include money-saving beach packages; Kids ride free all weekend with Family SuperSaver Fare
May 25, 2016
Ridgewood NJ, NJ TRANSIT will kick off the Memorial Day weekend with “early getaway” rail and bus service on Friday, May 27, for the benefit of customers leaving work early. To help speed the getaway, customers are reminded that they can enjoy the convenience of purchasing tickets through the MyTix feature of the NJ TRANSIT mobile app. Besides giving customers a jump on the unofficial start of summer, NJ TRANSIT is making it easy and affordable to get to fun in the sun around the state with a variety of discounted packages.
On Friday, May 27:
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.
One outbound Pascack Valley train (#9653, leaving Hoboken at 2:51 p.m.) will extend its existing service to terminate in Spring Valley.
Extra buses will operate from the Port Authority Bus Terminal on more than two dozen bus routes starting around noon. Visit njtransit.com for details.
All light rail systems will operate on regular weekday schedules.
On Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29:
The Bay Head-Long Branch shuttle is enhanced to hourly service (8 a.m.-10 p.m.)
Weekend shuttle service resumes between Toms River and Seaside Park on bus route no. 137. The bus leaves Toms River at 11:25 a.m. with the return departure from Seaside Park at 6:25 p.m. This service runs every weekend and holiday through the end of June, when direct service resumes from New York on bus route no. 137 and Newark bus route no. 67. See schedule for details.
All light rail systems will operate on regular Saturday/Sunday or Weekend schedules.
On Memorial Day, Monday, May 30:
Trains will operate on a weekend/major holiday schedule on all lines.
The Bay Head-Long Branch shuttle is enhanced to hourly service (8 a.m.-10 p.m.)
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. Many routes serving shopping malls will operate on weekend/holiday schedules. Consult timetable for details. NOTE: Buses may be subject to detours and service delays for Memorial Day parades through various towns. See njtransit.com for details.
Summer Savings
With Memorial Day marking the “unofficial” start of the summer recreational season, this weekend is a great time for customers to take advantage of NJ TRANSIT’s discounted travel packages to destinations including the Jersey Shore, Six Flags, Monmouth Park and Liberty Science Center:
Beach Packages: Save up to $5.00 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 discounted beach pass for one price at NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Beach/Monmouth Park Packages” and select “Beach Package”) or at ticket windows. Customers can purchase the package at all NJ TRANSIT rail stations, excluding stations on the Atlantic City Rail Line. Beach Packages go on sale on the following four Fridays: May 27, June 3, 10 and 17 at 7 a.m. and are valid throughout the weekend and on holidays. Beach Packages will be available daily starting Saturday, June 18 and continuing through Labor Day, Monday, September 5.
Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari or Hurricane Harbor: Save up to $30 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 and Newark Penn Station.
Monmouth Park: Board a train anywhere on NJ TRANSIT’s rail system, excluding Atlantic City Rail Line stations, and save $5.50 when you travel to Monmouth Park Racetrack. Simply purchase a package to Monmouth Park from NJ TRANSIT ticket vending machines (choose “Beach/Monmouth Park Packages” and select “Monmouth Park”) or at ticket windows, and receive round-trip transportation, Grandstand Admission and an official track program for $3.50 plus the regular cost of a round-trip rail ticket.
Liberty Science Center: Beginning June 1, save $5 per person for up to four general admission, combo ticket and/or all-access passes when you travel on NJ TRANSIT and show your ticket, pass or fare receipt at Liberty Science Center. General admission passes include live science demonstrations, hands-on labs, and a variety of daily activities. Combo and all-access passes provide options for films and premium exhibits.
Visit njtransit.com for more information on NJ TRANSIT summer travel deals.
On weekends, kids ride free on NJ TRANSIT
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 Memorial Day holiday weekend, the program will be extended and in effect from 7 p.m. Friday, May 27 until 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 31.
file photo U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez at Ridgewood Train Station by Boyd Loving
May 25,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, An NJT engineer is operating trains along the nation’s third-largest commuter railroad even though his driver’s license has been suspended for 10 years because of a history of driving while intoxicated.
New Jersey Transit engineer Thomas Broschart’s license was suspended in 2007 for a decade, according to WABC-TV in New York (https://7ny.tv/1NJoUA8). Federal law doesn’t require him to have a motor vehicle driver’s license to operate a train.
“Federal law governing engineers sets forth specific regulations in dealing with DWI cases involving engineers and we are obligated to follow those Federal Railroad Administration rules,” NJ Transit said in a statement Tuesday. “The code was strictly adhered to and the engineer is certified to operate locomotives according to federal law.”
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez in perhaps the understatement of the century told WABC ,it was “pretty alarming” that Broschart can transport commuters but can’t legally drive to and from work, ah yes we agree!
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog has received complaint from a commuter that NJ Transit is doing very little to maintain the area surrounding the Ridge Road train station access point. The dumpster is theirs, weeds are sky high, and there is garbage strewn everywhere.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood commuters ,the Federal Railroad Administration and NJ TRANSIT are jointly preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the Hudson Tunnel Project. Two public meetings have been set up with will offer a presentation and take comments .
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and NJ TRANSIT are jointly preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the Hudson Tunnel Project. The Project is intended to preserve the current functionality of the Northeast Corridor’s (NEC) Hudson River rail crossing between New Jersey and New York and strengthen the resilience of the NEC. The Project would consist of construction of a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River, including railroad infrastructure in New Jersey and New York connecting the new rail tunnel to the existing NEC, and rehabilitation of the existing NEC tunnel beneath the Hudson River, referred to as the North River Tunnel.
The North River Tunnel is used by Amtrak for intercity passenger rail service and by NJ TRANSIT for commuter rail service. The approach to the tunnel begins east of NJ TRANSIT’s Frank R. Lautenberg Station in Secaucus, NJ (which is 5 miles east of Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT’s Newark Penn Station). East of the Secaucus station, the NEC has two tracks that approach the tunnel on a raised embankment through the towns of Secaucus and North Bergen, NJ. Tracks enter a tunnel portal in North Bergen, passing beneath Union City and Weehawken, NJ and the Hudson River before emerging within the Penn Station New York (PSNY) rail complex in New York City. The tunnel has two separate tubes, each accommodating a single track for electrically powered trains, and extends approximately 2.5 miles from the tunnel portal in North Bergen to PSNY. The existing North River Tunnel is a critical NEC asset and is the only intercity passenger rail crossing into New York City from New Jersey and areas west and south.
Service reliability throughout the tunnel has been compromised because of the damage to tunnel components caused by Superstorm Sandy, which inundated both tubes in the North River Tunnel with seawater in October 2012, resulting in the cancellation of all Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT service into New York City for five days. While the tunnel was restored to service and is now safe for travel, chlorides from the seawater remain in the tunnel’s concrete liner and bench walls, causing ongoing damage to the bench walls, imbedded steel, track, and signaling and electrical components.
The damage caused by Superstorm Sandy is compounded by the tunnel’s age and the intensity of its current use (operating at capacity to meet current demands), resulting in frequent delays due to component failures within the tunnel.
Public Scoping Meetings
FRA and NJ TRANSIT will hold two public scoping meetings on the following dates:
May 17, 2016
Hotel Pennsylvania
Gold Ballroom, 3rd Floor
401 Seventh Avenue at West 33rd Street
New York, NY
May 19, 2016
Union City High School
2500 Kennedy Boulevard
Union City, NJ
Both days will include an afternoon session from 3 to 5 PM with a brief presentation about the Project at 4 PM, and an evening session from 6 to 8 PM with a brief presentation about the Project at 7 PM. The public will be able to review Project information, talk informally with members of the study staff, and formally submit comments to the FRA (to a stenographer or in writing). The meeting facilities will be accessible to persons with disabilities. Spanish language translators will be present. If special translation or signing services or other special accommodations are needed, please contact the Project team five days prior to the meeting at 973-261-8115, or email [email protected].
Two rail workers unions that recently rejected tentative contracts with New Jersey Transit are resuming efforts to reach new deals. Associated Press Read more
If the Gateway project to dig a new tunnel under the Hudson River proceeds like other big projects, the permitting process alone could take seven years and cost taxpayers $13 billion. That’s before the first shovel of dirt is even moved, according to a report released Monday by Common Good, a nonprofit group. Christopher Maag, The Record Read more
Ridgewood NJ, now two unions representing New Jersey Transit’s conductors and locomotive engineers have voted against ratifying recently negotiated labor agreements.The United Transportation Union’s C&T division and the NJ Transit Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen are the two unions that rejected the contracts.
The new contract reached March 13th ,averted a strike that would have shut down the agency’s commuter-rail system.The tentative agreements have both failed ratifications by narrow margins. Despite two rejections, 14 other unions ratified their contracts by significant majorities,and the 14 contracts have been approved by the board of NJ Transit and are now in effect
The two dissenting unions have the right, under the Federal Railway Labor Act, to request the resumption of negotiations, earlier agreements, have instituted an additional 60-day “cooling off” period currently in effect now that precludes strikes or lockouts. So it looks like for the time being that Ridgewood rail commuters are safe to assume trains will still be ariving at the station for the time being.
Ridgewood NJ, Members of a union representing some New Jersey Transit rail workers have decided not ratify the new contract with the agency.
The New Jersey Transit Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen announced its decision to say No in a statement posted Friday on its website.The Vote tally was undisclosed.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen was part of an 11-member coalition that reached deals with New Jersey Transit in March averting a strike . Eight other unions have ratified their deals, while the two remaining unions planned to vote Saturday.
Ridgewood NJ, from the “take back Ridgewood ” Facebook group ,Glen Rock is removing ‘non resident parking’ from the train station and moving non residents a block away. In Ridgewood, our Mayor and his team want to add more non resident commuter parking near the train station for political gains. We need to be informed and vote against his team on May 10th. We can’t afford 4 more years of this.
Glen Rock’s Borough Hall station parking lot to be designated for local commuters beginning May 1
BY RICHARD DE SANTA
STAFF WRITER |
GLEN ROCK GAZETTE
Ridgewood NJ, Homeless man spotted sleeping midday at Ridgewood train station on Wednesday 4 20 2016 photo doc. Critics of the Hudson Garage claim the garage will bring many more especially in winters. It is of coarse very sad to see.
While some readers insist , “this town is quickly becoming a dump just another NJ town… nothing special.
No compelling reason to aspire to live here.
