The Village of Ridgewood: Brand-New Van Neste Square Bus Shelter

New Era for Ridgewood Commuters:  Brand-New Van Neste Square Bus Shelter

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Downtown Ridgewood is officially turning the page on a decades-long transportation saga. The Village of Ridgewood has announced that the completion of the physical installation of the new bus shelter at Van Neste Square .

The  downtown upgrade is being fully funded through a $147,000 State New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) grant that was successfully secured last year. The funding breakthrough was achieved through a collaborative push involving District 40 representatives: Republican Senator Kristin Corrado, Assemblyman Chris DePhillips, and Assemblyman Al Barlas alongside local village officials.

The Village is looking forward to putting the finishing touches on the space—including the arrival and installation of premium passenger benches—before hosting an official grand opening ceremony.

But Comments on Facebook were not encouraging:

• An unnecessary expense, grant or no grant.
• $147,000 for that?!  someone needs to follow that money
• Looks nice, but is it ventilated or heated? Looks like a greenhouse in the summer, and hopefully not too cold in the winter. If it’s not comfortable, it won’t be used.
• As someone who relies on public transportation, I’m glad to see this.
• No talent involved
• Unbelievable
• Ridiculous…. go ridgewood
• Benches…?This is $147,000?
• Alot of money for a simple structure…..
• What a waste of money lmao
• Blah…
• I was expecting it to be as big as the previous one, disappointing
• Not great.
• I wish the Village had kept the old bus shelter, designed by Vincent Parrillo. I know it was structurally unsound but we could have put the find towards rehabilitating it vs something new that is very generi

 

 

 

Looking Back: The Story of the Old Mid-Century Terminal

The arrival of this sleek, modern shelter marks the final chapter in the evolution of the site. For over half a century, the lot was defined by the iconic, 1950s-era brick bus terminal designed by noted Bergen County architect J. Robert Gilchrist, celebrated for its unique mid-century modern style.

While the historic brick overhang held nostalgic value for generations of commuters, it faced serious structural and operational challenges over the years:

• The Closure: Due to escalating safety concerns and deteriorating infrastructure, the interior terminal was shuttered to the public for nearly a decade.

• The Safety Debate: In 2018, the Ridgewood Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) advocated heavily to preserve the mid-century aesthetics, leading the Village to initially attempt renovations rather than accept a full transit replacement.

• The Demolition: Ultimately, time and weather took their toll. Separate assessments by independent structural engineers and architects concluded that the old terminal building was profoundly unsound and entirely beyond practical repair. In March 2025, the long-closed brick shelter was officially demolished by the Village’s Signal Division to clear the way for a safer, cleaner environment.

A Modern Upgrade with Historic Appeal

Following the removal of the old structure, a temporary shelter was utilized to keep commuter transit routes active. Local officials have worked closely with the Historic Preservation Commission and the Central Business District Advisory Committee to ensure the newly arriving permanent structure complements the distinct historic charm of downtown Ridgewood.

The $147,000 investment brings clean, highly functional amenities back to the central business district, offering commuters a comfortable and secure space to wait for regional transit buses without disrupting the tight gridlock or local events like the beloved seasonal Farmers Market.

Stay tuned for more updates as final details and benches are finalized ahead of the official ribbon-cutting ceremony!

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