The following are links to a selection of transportation-related articles published recently by newspapers in the northern New Jersey region. This page is updated on at least a bi-weekly basis. Please note that links on this page may expire or be unreliable due to changes made by host newspapers.
The following links were posted August 19, 2010:
Delays Up On NJ Transit
Associated Press/Fox NY Published : Monday, 16 Aug 2010. NEWARK, N.J. - Summer has not been kind to NJ Transit train passengers. There were 12 incidents in July that led to major service disruptions. There were only three in July 2009.
N.J. DOT to concentrate on better maintaining state highways
Star Ledger Published: Monday, August 16, 2010. SPRINGFIELD — Vowing to make New Jersey the "cleanest state in the nation," state Department of Transportation officials launched a campaign today aimed at cleaning litter, painting over graffiti and removing brush and trees that have become overgrown along state highways.
NJ Transit seeks $885 million in federal funds
The Associated Press/Bloomberg Business Week August 13, 2010. NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Transit says it is seeking $885 million in new federal funding for infrastructure improvements on the busy Northeast Corridor rail line.
Speeding Enforcement Moving to Glen Avenue
The Millburn Patch, 8/12/10. Millburn police will be moving their new speed enforcement program to Glen Avenue in the coming weeks. The electronic sign has been stationed on Glen Avenue near the Millburn-Short Hills Volunteer First Aid Squad's building to warn drivers to slow down. The speed limit on the road is 25 miles per hour.
DOT posts travel times to Shore points on 511nj.org website
Asbury Park Press, August 12, 2010. Sitting in Friday night traffic on the Garden State Parkway, I-195 or the Atlantic City Expressway and wondering when you may finally make it to the shore? Well, the state may have an answer for you. The state Department of Transportation announced Thursday it has begun posting current travel times to various shore destinations through its 511NJ website and phone system.
Solar panels will give us shade and lower taxes (letter to editor)
The Sentinel, 8/12/10. Dow Jones recently announced that it will cover its extensive parking areas with carport solar panels. In the near future, Dow Jones employees will be able to walk from their cars to their buildings comfortably when there is blazing sun or drenching rain.
Reconstruction on tap for Route 539
The Tri-Town News, 8/12/10. PLUMSTED — Route 539 from Plumsted to Manchester will be reconstructed this fall. ... The estimated $4 million project will run 7.5 miles from Route 528 in Plumsted to Horicon Avenue in Manchester. According to a press release, work will include the deep milling of the road, followed by the laying of 4.5 inches of new asphalt.
***NJTPA Mention***
County guide promotes access for walkers, cyclists
The Independent, 8/12/10. Monmouth County has developed a county-wide plan to encourage municipalities to develop safe access for pedestrians, bicyclists and other modes of transportation. The county became the first in the state to adopt a “Complete Streets” policy when the Board of Chosen Freeholders approved the guidelines on July 22.
Left-turn lanes to be added at Plumsted intersection
The Tri-Town News, 8/12/10. PLUMSTED — The intersection of Route 537 and Route 539 in Plumsted will be improved and a nearby bridge will be replaced under an estimated $2.9 million project to begin later this year. The intersection improvements include the addition of left-turn lanes in all four directions, according to a press release from Ocean County.
Boonton paving projects on Washington and Main streets mean street closings
The Citizen, 8/12/10. BOONTON – Paving projects on Washington Street and Main Street on Friday, Aug. 20, will close both streets and police are urging motorists to plan and use alternate routes.
West Long Branch looks for solutions to traffic woes
The Atlanticville, 8/12/10. WEST LONG BRANCH — The Borough Council at its meeting on Aug. 4 continued to search for solutions to several traffic problems. The primary concerns discussed were street parking around Shore Regional High School, volume on Maryland and Delaware avenues, and speeding along Parker Road.
Group presses for improvements to Ocean Ave.
The Atlanticville, 8/12/10. LONG BRANCH — The Save Ocean Avenue Committee is pushing the newly seated Long Branch City Council for changes along the beachfront. Dennis Sherman, one of the committee’s eight members, handed the four new council members and council President Mary Jane Celli a list of priorities for improvements to Ocean Avenue, including traffic flow, the boardwalk and public facilities, at the July 27 workshop session.
Road Warrior: Crosswalks produce double standard for drivers
The Record Wednesday, August 11, 2010. In an all-too-common safety development, police are learning that the new pedestrian crosswalk law is weaker and more confusing than they thought. Under the statute that took effect April 1, motorists must make full stops for pedestrians at crosswalks instead of yielding, which had been the standard. But the old standard applied to all crosswalks, meaning yielding was mandated at marked (or painted) crosswalks as well as unmarked (or unpainted) crosswalks.
Local Lawmakers Seek Gas Tax Hike
NJToday.net, 8/11/10. While a projected $10.5 billion structural deficit in next year’s state budget has gotten a lot of attention recently, it is not the only financial problem facing New Jersey on July 1, 2011. By the beginning of next fiscal year, New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund is expected to be out of money to finance projects — all of the fund’s resources will be consumed to pay for past borrowing. ... In January, state Sen. Ray Lesniak of Elizabeth introduced a bill that would increase New Jersey’s gas tax by two cents each year, reaching 22.5 cents per gallon in 2015. In May, Assemblyman Joseph Cryan of Union proposed a bill that would raise the gas tax rate to 18.5 cents per gallon this year, 26.5 cents per gallon next year and 34.5 cents per gallon in 2012.
Backers, foes debate $8.7B rail tunnel
The Record Wednesday, August 11, 2010. Just as the federal government is close to officially committing $3 billion for a mass transit tunnel linking Manhattan and New Jersey, the merits of the project continue to be debated.
NJDOT: Route 46 bridge construction in Dover, NJ, on schedule, traffic delays 'minor'
Daily Record August 10, 2010. DOVER, NJ -- One month after the Route 46 bridge closed, construction is proceeding on schedule and only minor traffic delays have been reported according to the state Department of Transportation.
Elizabeth Rail Station Elevator Out Of Service
NJToday.net, 8/10/10. ELIZABETH — The elevator serving the outbound (westbound) platform at Elizabeth Station will remain out of service until mid-September due to significant damage to the cab car caused by vandalism.
Road rage: Cops, lawmakers try to slam brakes on aggressive drivers
The Record Tuesday, August 10, 2010. From tailgating and weaving to cutting off cars and improper passing, aggressive driving is on the rise in North Jersey, authorities are saying. "More people are using a car as a weapon," said August "Chip" Greiner, deputy director of the Bergen County Police Office of Highway Safety. "It's strange because our fatalities are down but we're starting to see more aggressive drivers."
County Workers to Repave South Orange Avenue
The Livingston Patch, 8/10/10. South Orange Avenue will be milled and paved between Tuesday and Aug. 31, weather permitting. The work area is from Prospect Street in South Orange to John F. Kennedy Parkway in Livingston.
N.J. workers fill larger number of potholes after tough winter
Star Ledger Published: Monday, August 09, 2010. Workers who fill potholes in New Jersey are a tough breed. Sweating in the sun over boiling hot patch in what is known as pothole season. Bending and shoveling, sweeping and tamping — using enough asphalt each year to pave 10 football fields.
Traffic alerts evolving for GWB commuters
Times Herald-Record Published: 08/09/10. Vicky Cross Kelly thinks it's the right thing to do. "It" being the Port Authority's efforts to give the people behind the wheels of the 130,000 vehicles that cross the George Washington Bridge every day as much information as possible about what they'll find when they get to one of the 31 toll booths.
***NJTPA Mention***
Forty-four traffic lights will be ‘modernized’
The Hudson Reporter, 8/8/10. According to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Board of Trustees, traffic lights at 44 intersections along John F. Kennedy Boulevard will soon be modernized. The upgrades are a part of the NJTPA’s fiscal year 2011 local safety and High Risk Rural Road program, which provides federal funds to municipalities that need safety improvements.
West Caldwell OKs street reconstruction
The Progress, 8/6/10. WEST CALDWELL TWP - Road construction versus resurfacing was addressed by council members at Monday’s meeting in light of two roads that have deteriorated to the extent that reconstruction is now necessary. For one, the potential exists for additional costs to the construction on the second section of Dalewood Road, Township Clerk Jock Watkins said. In addition, he added, Midvale Avenue and Glenwood Road, originally on a five-year capital improvement plan for resurfacing, were re-evaluated for reconstruction.
Federal stimulus funds might fix Main Street in Succasunna
The Roxbury Register, 8/6/10. ROXBURY TWP. – Officials are hoping some federal stimulus money might be able to jumpstart the costly Main Street, Succasunna, streetscape project.
Port Authority to pay $15M for 10 more PATH rail cars
Star Ledger Published: Thursday, August 05, 2010. Despite declines in ridership, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey plans to approve the purchase of 10 more PATH rail cars for its new trans-Hudson fleet.
Food proposed at rest stops on interstates
The Record Thursday, August 5, 2010. State transportation officials want federal permission to add restaurants at rest areas on interstate highways in New Jersey, such as along Route 80.
***NJTPA Mention***
New foot-wide LED traffic signals to be installed next year at 44 intersections along Kennedy Boulevard in Guttenberg, North Bergen, Union City and West New York
The Jersey Journal, 8/5/10. Traffic lights at 44 intersections along Kennedy Boulevard in Guttenberg, North Bergen, Union City and West New York will be getting bigger next year - by 4 inches to be exact.
***NJTPA Mention***
Red Bank corridor, traffic signal to be upgraded
The Hub, 8/5/10. RED BANK — Intersection upgrades at Front Street and Globe Court will be among the improvements to the county Route 10 corridor (Front Street/River Road). Plans call for replacement of the existing traffic signal and installation of a new flashing beacon at the existing crosswalk at Riverview Medical Center. “This project promises to make Front Street safer for people traveling on bike or foot, particularly in the area of Riverview Medical Center,” Freeholder John D’Amico, a member of the New Jersey Transportation and Planning Authority (NJTPA), said in a press release.
Transportation official: No plans to raise New Jersey gas tax; Listening sessions held on stretching transportation fund
Asbury Park Press August 3, 2010. EWING — State officials outlined steps to squeeze the last bit of cash out of the Transportation Trust Fund to finance road, bridge and transit projects next year until it is reauthorized and new revenue sources are found.
N.J. towns angry about diversion of reforestation funds
Star Ledger Published: Tuesday, August 03, 2010. Keeping New Jersey’s state parks open this summer is coming at the cost of replacing many of the 450 acres of trees being cut down because of a 35-mile widening project along the New Jersey Turnpike.
Deadline ticking for nearly bankrupt N.J. Transportation Trust Fund
Star Ledger Monday, August 02, 2010. TRENTON — State Transportation Commissioner Jim Simpson likens the situation over the state’s beleaguered Transportation Trust Fund to a homeowner who for years spent too much on credit cards and now is living paycheck to paycheck.
Essex installs 'Deer Deter' devices in effort to prevent traffic accidents
Star Ledger Published: Monday, August 02, 2010. ESSEX COUNTY — Electronic devices have been installed on county roads in Essex County to prevent deer from wandering onto roadways and causing motor vehicle accidents.
The following links were posted August 5, 2010:
***NJTPA Mention***
County guide promotes access for walkers, cyclists; Freeholders approve Complete Streets policy for municipalities
The Hub, August 5. Monmouth County has developed a county-wide plan to encourage municipalities to develop safe access for pedestrians, bicyclists and other modes of transportation.It is a comprehensive, integrated and connected multimodal network that we offer to make it easier for pedestrians and bicyclists to get to places of employment, educational institutions, retail, transit centers, recreation and public facilities,” said D’Amico, who also serves as the county representative to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.
Historic railroad to be preserved as Sayreville widens nearby intersection
Star Ledger Published: Sunday, August 01, 2010. SAYREVILLE — On bad days — and bad days are common — drivers sit in more than a half-mile of traffic on Ernston Road in Sayreville, from Bordentown Avenue to Washington Avenue. Middlesex County is seeking bids for a $14 million project to replace a railroad trestle and widen the road beneath it at Ernston Road and Bordentown Avenue.
Some drivers cheer, others jeer as motor vehicle safety inspections disappear in N.J.
Star Ledger Saturday, July 31, 2010. Under new regulations, which take effect today, safety inspections are no longer required for passenger cars in New Jersey. Cars over five years old will still need emissions testing every two years, but they don’t have to be checked for anything else.
Route 206 completion is delayed -- severe winter weather is cited
The Observer-Tribune, 7/30/10. CHESTER—State transportation officials now pinpoint the completion of the $9.5 million Route 206 expansion for November, three months behind the original schedule.
Study: Planned Trans-Hudson Tunnel Will Boost Home Values
NJ Today Friday, July 30, 2010. STATE – A study funded in part by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey finds that a planned trans-Hudson passenger rail tunnel will boost home values near train stations on NJ TRANSIT lines by $19,000 on average.
***NJTPA Mention***
Silence is a Virtue: Agency Wins Award for 'Quiet Zone' Rail Crossing
Scotch Plains/Fanwood Patch July 30, 2010. Earlier this month, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority won the 2010 Transportation Planning Excellence award for its study of rail grade crossings in New Jersey, which included an analysis of the rail grade crossing at Rahway Avenue between Westfield and Clark. It is an intersection frequented by Scotch Plains and Fanwood residents headed toward the Garden State Parkway or the stores along Central Avenue.
***NJTPA Mention***
Study Urges Traffic Light, Praises Safety at Rahway Avenue Rail Crossing; Loughlin says need for more quiet in quiet zone.
Westfield Patch July 29, 2010. Earlier this month the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority was given the 2010 Transportation Planning Excellence award for its study of rail grade crossings in New Jersey, which included an analysis of Westfield's own rail grade crossing on Rahway Avenue on the border with Clark.
Middlesex officials highlight hiking trails in county parks
The Sentinel, 7/29/10. Middlesex County’s Parks and Recreation Department recently updated its park maps, including the addition of several new trails.
Cahill Cross Road repair set to begin
The West Milford Messenger, 7/29/10. West Milford — The reconstruction of Cahill Cross Road between Macopin Road and Peter Road is scheduled to begin on or about Aug. 2, 2010.
Cameras To Be Used To Enforce Traffic Law At Woodbridge Intersection
NJToday.net, 7/29/10. WOODBRIDGE – After Aug. 3, drivers who are caught on camera running the red light at the intersection of Route 1 and Avenel Street will have to pay a $140 ticket. The intersection has been monitored by camera since July 5, but motorists benefited from a grace period when no tickets were issued.
What happens after tragedy strikes on the railroad
The Leader, 7/29/10. EAST RUTHERFORD — Tragedy struck in East Rutherford Wednesday, July 21 when a 41-year-old Carlstadt resident was fatally struck by NJ Transit Train 1266 between Paterson and Central avenues. Now, while details of the accident are sorted out, NJ Transit takes on the challenge of helping its crew cope.
Train tunnel through Hudson Co. could increase property values $29K
The Hudson Reporter, 7/29/10. HUDSON COUNTY -- Good news, residents of Hudson County's northern towns: A train tunnel presently under construction through the area into New York City could increase property values by as much as $29,000 per property, according to a recent study by the Regional Plan Association.
***NJTPA Mention***
MANVILLE: New system planned to prevent stuck trucks
Manville News Thursday, July 29, 2010. Truckers driving on Main Street will be forewarned when their vehicles won’t fit beneath the overpass, after the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board of Trustees approved the installation of a new warning system Monday. The Main Street overpass, and the overpass on Bound Brook’s South Main Street, were included in the NJTPA’s Local Safety and High Risk Rural Road program, which provides federal funds to counties and cities for safety improvements that can be quickly implemented.
***NJTPA Mention***
Somerset County breaks ground for new pedestrian bridge between Bridgewater and Somerville
Messenger-Gazette/nj.com Published: Wednesday, July 28, 2010. BRIDGEWATER – The Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a pedestrian bridge that will extend from Clarks Woods in Bridgewater, across US Route 202/206, to Mountain Avenue in Somerville. “This project is an example of a growing trend in which transportation funding is being invested to enhance ‘livability’ in our communities,” said Freeholder Peter S. Palmer, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority representative for Somerset County.
Seat belt usage in N.J. declines for back seat passengers
Star Ledger Published: Thursday, July 29, 2010. SOUTH AMBOY — Despite a new state law requiring all car passengers to fasten their seat belts, fewer New Jerseyans are buckling up in the back seat, according to a report released yesterday by the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
Seat belts required in the back seat
The Advertiser-News, 7/28/10. TRENTON — New Jersey’s primary seat belt law has been amended to require all adult back seat passengers 18 years of age and older to buckle up when riding in a motor vehicle.
DOT commissioner gets close look at road issues
The News Transcript, 7/28/10. The head of the state Department of Transportation recently got a personal look at some road woes that residents and officials would like addressed.
***NJTPA Mention***
Safety Upgrades at Irvington Intersection on Springfield Avenue
Maplewood Patch July 27, 2010. A busy intersection in Irvington—and close to the Maplewood border—will be made safer for school children and other pedestrians who regularly use it by a project approved today by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Board of Trustees.
**NJTPA Mention**
NJTPA Funds Traffic-Calming Measures in Red Bank Tuesday, 27 July 2010 11:55
The Atlantic Highlands Herald, 7/27/10. NEWARK, NJ – The Front Street/River Road (CR 10) corridor in Red Bank will receive a number of pedestrian safety and traffic-calming improvements as part of a project approved today by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Board of Trustees.
***NJTPA Mention***
PEDESTRIAN UPGRADES DUE ON FRONT STREET
Red Bank Green July 27, 2010. A stretch of Front Street in Red Bank is slated for design changes aimed at improving pedestrian and biker safety, according to a planning group that doles out federal funds for transportation projects. The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority says it plans to spend about $500,000 to make the “Front Street/River Road corridor” safer through the installation of new sidewalk and crosswalk configurations and other devices.
***NJTPA Mention***
$500G to make Red Bank street pedestrian friendly
Asbury Park Press July 26, 2010. RED BANK — Traffic calming is coming to busy Front Street in the vicinity of Riverview Medical Center, where many pedestrians have to cross the street to get to and from a parking garage. The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority board approved $500,000 for the Red Bank project on Monday, a part of $2.5 million allocated for six projects in NJTPA's 13-county region, which includes Monmouth and Ocean counties. The authority works with counties and the state Department of Transportation to allocate federal funds for transportation projects.
Drivers may lose free help on roads
The Record Monday, July 26, 2010. New Jersey could soon be out of the flat tire business. State officials are considering replacing the free roadside assistance program with a private company that would charge a fee to drivers who break down on the road.
***NJTPA Mention***
A traffic tale of two cities: Officials look at transportation issues at Jersey City/Hoboken border
Hudson Reporter Jul 25, 2010. Hudson County planners have commissioned a year-long study of the traffic patterns on the Jersey City-Hoboken border near Paterson Plank Road to ease congestion and to recommend how to accommodate vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. The Jersey City/Hoboken Sub-regional Transportation Study started in June and will end in June 2011. The $300,000 study is being funded by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and will be created by the firm Eng-Wong, Taub with assistance from Howard/Stein-Hudson, SHP and AKRF.
Fierce competition surrounds jitney buses
The Hudson Reporter, 7/25/10. Commuters in North Bergen and surrounding towns sometimes prefer to save time and money by skipping NJ Transit’s buses and taking the smaller, independent jitney vans that run to New York City and Journal Square.
Electric Avenue: Businesses Installing Electric Car Charging Stations Can Realize Profits and Marketing Rewards
New Jersey & Company, 7/25/10. With the Obama Administration committing billions of dollars to ensuring that electric cars will become a meaningful segment of the U.S. auto market and every major carmaker developing new-generation electric vehicles, an estimated 40 million plug-in electric vehicles are expected to be on the road by 2030.
NJ TRANSIT GOES ALONE: 2 sets of rail tunnels faulted
Asbury Park Press July 25, 2010. Can two rail agencies share a set of new tunnels under the Hudson River to midtown Manhattan and save billions of dollars, instead of building separate tubes under the Hudson River?
Parsippany, NJ: New intersection of Routes 10 and 53 opens
Daily Record July 23, 2010. PARSIPPANY — The Route 10 eastbound ramp to and from Route 53 was permanently closed this morning, part of an ongoing interchange overhaul aimed at reducing accidents and providing better visibility.
Senate commits $200M for rail tunnel
The Record Friday, July 23, 2010. Another $200 million has been promised to help fund the construction of an $8.7 billion rail tunnel connecting New Jersey and Manhattan.
Report: N.J. should increase funding for transportation, books for private schools
The Record Tuesday, July 20, 2010. A governor’s commission report released Tuesday urges New Jersey to support private schools and their families by boosting state funding for transportation, textbooks, technology and nursing.
NJ Transit's 'Quiet Commute' is on right track
Daily Record July 19, 2010. How to define a Quiet Commute? Here's a hint: NJ Transit used the word "subdued" twice in heralding New Jersey's boldest transportation experiment since toying with self-service gas in 2006. "Quiet commute cars are intended to provide a subdued environment for customers who wish to refrain from using cell phones and are willing to disable the sound feature on pagers, games, computers and other electronic devices," according to NJ Transit's news release.
NJ Transit riders log 25,000 complaints against drivers the past 2 years
The Record Monday, July 19, 2010. NJ Transit logged more than 25,000 complaints about bus drivers in 2008 and 2009, records show, the majority describing encounters with drivers who berated passengers, bypassed them at bus stops or drove recklessly — striking garbage cans, cars and, according to one complaint, a woman's dog.
Changes to Morris Avenue in Morristown aimed at improving safety
Star Ledger Published: Sunday, July 18, 2010. MORRISTOWN — Residents on the eastern edge of Morristown have long had to contend with traffic on Morris Avenue. Some drivers went twice the posted speed limit of 25 mph, while others would make a U-turn on the one-way road. Now, pedestrians who once had to dart across a three-lane road have only two lanes to cross, and the changes may become permanent.
NJ Transit OKs $1.79B budget that includes new multilevel rail cars
The Record Wednesday, July 14, 2010. NJ Transit approved a $1.79 billion operating budget Wednesday – which includes fare hikes that went into effect in May — and a $1.35 billion capital program that includes the purchase of at least 100 additional multilevel rail cars and rail infrastructure improvements.
NJ Transit Village Program Still Going Strong
Tri-State Transportation Campaign, July 14. Montclair and Somerville are New Jersey’s newest Transit Villages, the NJDOT announced last week. The towns are the 21st and 22nd to receive the designation, which allows them to apply for $100,000 land use planning and technical assistance grants through the Transit Village program and gives them priority when applying for other state grants.
Hoboken starts car-sharing initiative
The Record Wednesday, July 14, 2010. After building parking decks and handing out 17,000 parking permits in a 1.4-square-mile area, the city of Hoboken is trying a new solution to its parking crisis. It has a car-sharing program.
A little paint can put the brakes on speeding in Hoboken
Jersey Journal Published: Wednesday, July 14, 2010. After residents complained about excessive speeding along 15th Street in Hoboken between Hudson and Garden streets, the city used paint on the street to lower speeds by up to 8 percent, city officials said in a press statement.
Protected grass forces change in bike path in Roxbury
Star Ledger Published: Wednesday, July 14, 2010. ROXBURY- The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection isn’t about to let Roxbury cut its grass. Not when it’s an endangered species. The township sought to create a new bicycle path in Horseshoe Lake Park on Eyeland Avenue, but the proposed path would have paved over a section of Variable Sedge grass, a protected species.
Obscure Provision Helps NJ Keep Federal Matching Funds for Transportation
NJ Spotlight, July 13. As New Jersey policymakers consider a gas tax increase many say is essential to pay for the maintenance of the state’s highways, bridges and mass transit system, a little-known provision in federal transportation matching-funds legislation could lessen the urgency of the debate.
Amtrak Going Bike-Friendly: Bike to the Train, and Vice Versa!
The Infrastructurist, Posted on Monday July 12th. What if you could ride your bike right to the train, and take the train to where you bike? Behold the reality! Amtrak is adding bike access at existing train stops between Washington, D.C., and Chicago, including at trail towns along Maryland’s Great Allegheny Passage and Fayette County.
The following links were posted July 21, 2010:
NJ Transit to test "quiet cars" on Northeast Corridor
Asbury Park Press July 14, 2010. NEWARK — Some commuters annoyed by the yapping of fellow passengers on cell phones will be able to get a break starting in September.
New Jersey Transit to Test ‘Quiet Cars’ on Trains
Bloomberg Business Week July 14, 2010. July 14 (Bloomberg) -- New Jersey Transit will become the largest U.S. transit agency to provide designated quiet railcars when it begins a 90-day test of the service on its Trenton-to- New York line Sept. 7.
Hoboken starts car-sharing initiative
The Record Wednesday, July 14, 2010. After building parking decks and handing out 17,000 parking permits in a 1.4-square-mile area, the city of Hoboken is trying a new solution to its parking crisis. It has a car-sharing program.
Rt. 46 pedestrian span named after late-Denville official who lobbied for it
Daily Record July 13, 2010. The Route 46 pedestrian bridge, which opened in June 2009 amid criticism of its cost and aesthetics, was officially named in memory of a local councilwoman who lobbied for the crossing.
Another $1M in funding secured for pier design
The Atlanticville, 7/13/10. LONG BRANCH — The city will receive another infusion of funding for the completion of the design phase of the proposed Long Branch pier and ferry. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) announced earlier this month that he secured $1 million to complete the engineering and design phase from the fiscal year 2011 appropriations bill.
Scenic route through U.F. and Allentown nearly complete
The Examiner, 7/13/10. UPPER FREEHOLD — Seven years after its inception, the 31.5-mile Upper Freehold Historic Farmland Byway is close to fruition.
Bridge built at New York port is being moved down Hudson River to Bayonne
Star Ledger Published: Tuesday, July 13, 2010. BAYONNE — A 350-foot-long bridge built at an upstate Hudson River port for the New York City Department of Transportation has started its voyage downriver aboard two barges welded together.
Construction on Route 22 will close eastbound lanes in Union
Star Ledger Published: Tuesday, July 13, 2010. UNION TOWNSHIP — A patch of Route 22 in Union Township will be slowed by construction over the next few months as the state’s transportation department replaces a bridge deck.
Reflectors will aid driving visibility
Tri-Town News, 7/13/10. For the second time this year, the Ocean County Board of Freeholders will install plowable road reflectors to improve visibility on some county boulevards.
NJ/NY Ports Rank Highest Among All East Coast Ports According to Jones Lang LaSalle's PAGI Report
NJ & Company, 7/12/10. HASBROUCK HEIGHTS -- A comprehensive index of U.S. ports, included as part of Jones Lang LaSalle's recently released Ports, Airports and Global Infrastructure (PAGI) report, ranks the New Jersey/New York ports highest among all East Coast ports. It also ranks third highest nationally, for planned infrastructure investment, relatively low vacancy rates and land value-to-lease ratio, among other indicators.
Jitney minibuses offer a cheaper option for N.J. passengers, but ride can be risky
Star Ledger Sunday, July 11, 2010. PATERSON — "El caballo!" Cell phone attached to his ear, the driver of the jitney minibus responds to a warning that his nemesis is nearby. Losing to el caballo — "the horse," jitney drivers’ nickname for a large NJ Transit bus — means losing a passenger fare.
Montclair wins recognition from state for Bay Street train station
Star Ledger Published: Sunday, July 11, 2010. MONTCLAIR — Montclair has been named a Transit Village in recognition of the township’s efforts to make one of its six train stations an inviting hub of walkable, mixed-used neighborhoods, the New Jersey Department of Transportation announced last week.
Construction Will Force Perth Amboy Buses To Detour
NJToday.net, 7/9/10. NEWARK — Beginning Monday, July 12 and continuing through Monday, Sept. 6, NJ TRANSIT will perform bridge repair work on Smith Street Bridge over the North Jersey Coast Line at Perth Amboy Station. While the bridge will remain open to vehicles and pedestrians, the travel lanes will be narrowed. As a result, NJ TRANSIT buses will not be able to travel over the bridge and will operate on a detour during the construction period.
***NJTPA Mention***
Fixing Route 17's nastiest clog
The Record Saturday, July 10, 2010. A $200 million plan to fix a bottlenecked stretch of Route 17 is being pushed by Bergen County officials who have a new incentive for widening the so-called squeezer — the 2014 Super Bowl. County Executive Dennis McNerney said he doesn’t want to lose momentum, particularly with the 2014 Super Bowl coming. “I’m fighting here to make sure the plan keeps going,” said McNerney, who is also chairman of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, which oversees transportation planning for the 13-county North Jersey region.
Detours go into effect as Rt. 46 bridge in Dover closes tonight
Daily Record July 9, 2010. DOVER — Mayor James Dodd is getting the high honor of being the last motorist on the 81-year-old Route 46 bridge before it closes for good sometime this evening.
Linden Launches Traffic Camera Program
njtoday.net Thursday, July 8, 2010. LINDEN – The city is using automated cameras to enforce traffic regulations at three intersections, officials said Tuesday. During a 30-day warning period, drivers will receive warning notices if they are photographed running red lights. Beginning July 31, the vehicles’ registered owners will start receiving $85 citations
Park Avenue Bridge replacement completed
The Leader, 7/8/10. RUTHERFORD — After almost two years of construction, the Park Avenue Bridge over Route 3 in Rutherford has finally been completed by the state Department of Transportation.
River Road in Califon to be improved this year
The Hunterdon Review, 7/8/10. CALIFON – Public hearings will be held for two capital ordinances on Monday, July 19, in the Borough Hall. ... Capital ordinance 2010 –05 is for chip/seal resurfacing of about half of River Road from the Califon/Lebanon Township border to the Nellie Hoffman House.
NJ to refinance $1.4B in transportation bonds
Gannett NJ July 8, 2010. If homeowners can save some cash by refinancing, why not the state? Treasury Department officials are planning to do that by refinancing up to $1.4 billion of Transportation Trust Fund debt to take advantage of lower interest rates and plow the money saved into financing needed road, bridge and transit projects in fiscal year 2011, said Andy Pratt, treasury department spokesman.
Somerville earns Transit Village designation
mycentraljersey.com July 7, 2010. SOMERVILLE — The borough this week officially received a key designation from the state that officials say will help local redevelopment efforts.
Looking At Transportation of the PastHobokenites must travel out of state in order to visit the Garden State.
Hoboken Patch July 7, 2010 The city has been rolling out its Hertz car sharing program. The intention of this program is to eliminate the overall number of cars in this overcrowded town and help eliminate some of the parking problem.
Transit riders vocal against cuts
The Advertiser News, 7/7/10. Newton — More than 85 people attended a public hearing on transportation issues that affect seniors and the disabled. The meeting, held by the Sussex County Transportation Citizens Advisory Committee on June 16, drew a crowd of people dissatisfied with changes that will result from cuts in funding to transportation programs.
Road Warrior: DOT commissioner pledges better roadkill cleanup
The Record Wednesday, July 7, 2010. Add James Simpson to the lengthening list of readers who contact us about litter and deer carcasses that stay on public roads much too long. "I read your column on June 25, and I agree with you," Simpson said in a letter.
The Record: Signs of the times
The Record Wednesday, July 7, 2010. LAST YEAR, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which operates the state's toll roads, collected nearly $1.1 billion in revenue, including $952 million from tolls alone. While that may be sufficient for keeping the traffic-heavy toll roads operational, Transportation Commissioner Jim Simpson envisions potential along the toll roads of bringing in more widespread revenues.
Gov. Christie to borrow $1.4B to fund N.J. transportation projects
Star Ledger Published: Wednesday, July 07, 2010. TRENTON — The Christie administration plans to borrow $1.4 billion this year to pay for transportation projects, though it has not laid out a plan to fix a funding crunch that could stop work across New Jersey.
Fanwood restoring caboose to highlight ties to history, Central Railroad of New Jersey
Star Ledger Published: Wednesday, July 07, 2010. FANWOOD — A pair of eyes spray-painted on either side of the door of a rusting caboose in Fanwood peer out at the rail line that ran back and forth between Jersey City and Pennsylvania decades ago. But while the graffiti-covered rail car sits on a heavy-duty flatbed trailer in the recycling yard the borough shares with Scotch Plains, it is not bound for the scrapper’s torch.
Turnpike to consider advertisements on toll plazas
The Record Tuesday, July 6, 2010. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority plans to explore corporate sponsorships at rest areas and toll plaza advertising, among other proposals, to generate transportation revenue.
N.J. motorists to experience delays as $2B in construction projects begin
Star Ledger Published: Tuesday, July 06, 2010. More than $2 billion is being spent this year to repave highways, replace bridges, add new lanes and make other improvements on roads across the state. Though the roadways were clear of construction work for the past five days, due to the long Fourth of July holiday, starting at noon today the crews — and their orange cones will be back, and so will the delays.
New tunnel could transform NJ's landscape
mycentraljersey.com July 6, 2010. Ridership on NJ Transit's rail network has quadrupled since 1984, and is forecast to double again over the next 20 years. Even with the recent addition of new double-decker trains, NJ Transit cannot expand service between New Jersey and New York City because the Hudson River tunnel, completed in 1910, has reached its capacity.
Turnpike nixes plan for deicing system
Asbury Park Press July 6, 2010. WOODBRIDGE — Citing cost concerns, New Jersey Turnpike officials have canceled a contract for a bridge deicing system and banked the $17.3 million it would have cost.
PATH hopes $1B overhaul will keep riders on the rails
The Record Monday, July 5, 2010. Benches, posters, pavilions and retail shops will soon beautify the bleak, cramped and pale PATH stations that commuters say make for some of the worst train rides in the region's transit system.
PATH stations to receive $200M in upgrades to better commuters' train rides
Associated Press/Star Ledger Published: Monday, July 05, 2010. Get ready for extreme makeover, mass transit edition. Commuters who take PATH trains from New Jersey to Manhattan are going to notice improvements over the next several years, including more benches, cleaner surroundings and better loudspeaker systems, not to mention a nearly complete overhaul of one of the rail system's decaying stations.
Route 46 bridge will close July 9
The Citizen, 7/1/10. DOVER - The Route 46 bridge between Park Heights Avenue and Ayers Chevrolet will close on Friday, July 9, according to Town Engineer Michael Hantsen, who said the state officials in charge of the project are also responsible for the proposed detours.
PA: Try Some, Buy Some Bike Racks For Harrison
Tri State Transportation Campaign July 1. The Port Authority wants to be more bike friendly and we have the perfect place for them to get started: install bike parking at the Harrison, NJ, PATH station.
Route 1 traffic shift begins in So. Brunswick
The Sentinel, 7/1/10. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) began the replacement of the Heathcote Brook culvert under Route 1 in South Brunswick last week. The contractor, Mount Construction Inc., has announced a shifting of Route 1 southbound traffic to the west and northbound traffic to the east. Overnight lane closures will be necessary to shift traffic and establish a work zone in the center portion of the roadway to remove the existing median barrier.
Road project will begin in Jackson
The Tri-Town News, 7/1/10. JACKSON — On or about July 6, Jackson will begin reconstruction of Brewers Bridge Road.
Aging bridge will be replaced in Plumsted
The Tri-Town News, 7/1/10. PLUMSTED — Work will begin this fall on a new bridge over the Lahaway Creek along Route 537 in Plumsted.
Navesink River Road Reopened
The Atlantic Highlands Herald, 6/30/10. MIDDLETOWN, NJ – The westerly portion of Navesink River Road that was washed out by the March rains was reopened to vehicular traffic today. While some work still needs to be completed on the project, the road will remain open during that final phase of the work.
Blockbuster sale at MOTBY
The Hudson Reporter, 6/30/10. After what some have described as “visions of grandeur,” the decade long struggle to develop the former Military Ocean Terminal (MOTBY) came to an end at the June 24 meeting of the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority when that body authorized Executive Director Chris Patella to negotiate with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to sell three key parcels of the former Military Ocean Terminal (MOTBY) to the Port Authority.
The following links were posted July 6, 2010:
Edison Traffic Signal Fully Funded By Developer
NJToday.net, 6/29/10. EDISON — With the flip of a switch by Edison Mayor Antonia Ricigliano, the newly installed traffic signal at Carter Drive & Talmadge Road, is up and running. The $300,000 safety project, funded by Edison developer Wick Companies, LLC and Avidan Management, LLC, was an enhancement the Edison Commerce Center built two years ago.
Report: Toll collector complaints are down
Asbury Park Press June 29, 2010. WOODBRIDGE — There are fewer toll collectors behaving badly these days. The number of complaints made by patrons against toll collectors on the Garden State Parkway and New Jersey Turnpike dropped by 28 percent for the the first quarter of 2010, officials reported at Tuesday's Turnpike Authority meeting.
Metuchen businesses suffer from Route 27 bridge closure
Star Ledger Published: Sunday, June 27, 2010. METUCHEN — Business has been beyond slow at the Delta gas station in Metuchen. “Sometimes, I will go an hour without seeing a customer,” said Omar Mir, the station’s manager. “I could take a nap.” Over the last two months, gas sales have dropped 90 percent at the station, according to the owner. But the problem isn’t the economy. In April, the state Department of Transportation unexpectedly closed a heavily traveled stretch of Route 27 until October because of safety issues that sprang from a bridge reconstruction project.
Port Authority acquires Bayonne, Jersey City sites for giant container vessels to come; Port Authority acquires two sites for giant container vessels to come
Asbury Park Press June 26, 2010. NEW YORK — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have made two significant land deals to expand port operations in Bayonne and Jersey City, buying more than 200 acres on the Jersey side of the Hudson River waterfront.
Route 46 bridge closure: NJ Department of Transportation defends Dover bridge replacement; Residents sound off at first public hearing
Daily Record, June 25, 2010. DOVER — Impacted residents, motorists and business owners questioned the state Department of Transportation on Thursday evening over various aspects of the impending Route 46 bridge closure. More than 110 people attended the 6 p.m. hearing at Dover High School, with more than a dozen posing often critical queries to DOT representatives. It was the first DOT public hearing on the bridge closure, which is scheduled for July 9 and expected to last about six months.
L.B. looks at options for pier, ferry; Projected cost put at $91.5M
The Atlanticville, June 24. If Long Branch residents learned one thing at the pier and ferry charrette last week, it was that piers and ferries come in many different shapes, sizes and designs. One of eight options for the pier design.
Port Authority to buy former Military Ocean Terminal in Bayonne in effort to expand ports
Star Ledger Published: Thursday, June 24, 2010. BAYONNE — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is buying a huge chunk of the former Military Ocean Terminal at Bayonne and all of the Global Terminal container port in Jersey City as part of a plan to ensure the future growth of the region’s ports.
Montclair seeks to implement 24-hour quiet zone after train whistle ban expires
Star Ledger Published: Thursday, June 24, 2010. MONTCLAIR — Sleep easy, Montclairians. Montclair’s nearly four-decade-old nighttime train “whistle ban,” which is set to expire tonight, has been granted an 11th hour reprieve while the township works with federal rail officials to implement a 24-hour quiet zone.
Port Authority Chief Calls for Green Overhaul of Region’s Freight System
streetsblog.org June 23, 2010. Port Authority exec Chris Ward pointed to Dresden's CarGoTram as a sustainable freight mover that the region could learn from. Image: Wikimedia.In a region where passenger transportation is being reimagined, freight needs to catch up. That's the message Chris Ward, the executive director of the Port Authority, delivered in a "call to arms" at Baruch College this morning. After outlining the importance and challenges of moving freight, Ward put forward the beginning of a plan to rationalize cargo movement, calling for a combination of new infrastructure, new pricing schemes, and centralized distribution centers scattered across the New York region.
Lyndhurst may purchase train stations
LYNDHURST Leader June 22, 2010. The Lyndhurst Board of Commissioners may purchase the two dilapidated train stations located in the township as part of a plan to improve the façades that greet commuters as they enter and exit the municipality.
NJ Transit returns $4M from Hudson River tunnel study
Star Ledger Published: Tuesday, June 22, 2010. A $4 million Trans-Hudson Midtown Corridor Study for NJ Transit appeared on a list of Federal Transit Administration earmarks that were introduced and approved by Congress, yet lapsed after the money was never spent.
Port Authority reviews 'best' methods to finance raising of Bayonne Bridge
Star Ledger Published: Tuesday, June 22, 2010. BAYONNE — The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is using the "best" methods to finance the raising of the Bayonne Bridge, according to Gov. Chris Christie, in a report by NewJerseyNewsroom.com.
NY-NJ Port Seeks Bayonne Bridge Proposals
Journal of Commerce Jun 22, 2010. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey issued a request for proposals from engineering companies and consulting firms to provide technical information on the environmental and regulatory issues related to modifying or replacing the Bayonne Bridge.
Flemington shakes money tree, gets $1M for Park Avenue project
Hunterdon Democrat Published: Tuesday, June 22, 2010. FLEMINGTON — Faced with hard choices on the Park Avenue realignment project, the borough gave the money tree another shake — and a million dollars fell out. While Flemington was poised to reluctantly add $1 million to its debt burden before contractors’ bids expired, N.J. Department of Transportation officials were facing a deadline of their own. They had to award federal stimulus money to shovel-ready projects quickly or face the bureaucratically unthinkable contingency of letting the money flow to another state.
N.J. motorists say local road conditions are worst in seven years
Star Ledger Published: Tuesday, June 22, 2010. That rattle of teeth and that rumbling you keep hearing? It’s not you. It’s your road. The approval rating for local roads in New Jersey is the worst it’s been, according to a AAA Clubs of New Jersey biennial survey of Garden State motorists. And, judging from past results, they have been getting a little worse each year since 2003.
Commuting: Dover's Rt. 46 bridge closure will have a ripple effect on gridlock
Daily Record June 21, 2010. DOVER — The impending closure of the Route 46 bridge is one of those rare transportation issues that will affect a vast portion of Morris County.
In case you missed it: Taking a tour of Morris County's worst traffic corridors
Daily Record June 21, 2010. The requests ranged from changing the timing of traffic lights to rebuilding a portion of a highway, adding material to a fence for soundproofing to major intersection reconstruction. State Assemblyman Alex DeCroce, R-Parsippany, and a half dozen local officials accompanied state Department of Transportation Commissioner James Simpson on a bus tour of some of the worst traffic problems in the area a little more than a week ago.
Shuttle bus service returns today to Liberty State Park in Jersey City; will run weekends-only through summer
Jersey Journal Saturday, June 19, 2010. A shuttle service through Liberty State Park in Jersey City will resume today, just in time for an event expected to draw 35,000 people to the park.
DOT: Route 46 bridge in Dover will close for 6 months
Daily Record June 17, 2010. DOVER — The Route 46 bridge closure is expected to last for approximately six months, the state Department of Transportation said Wednesday.
Amtrak considers another N.J.-to-N.Y.C. rail tunnel under Hudson River
Star Ledger, June 17, 2010. NEW YORK — Amtrak is considering the need for another rail tunnel under the Hudson River complimenting an NJ Transit rail being built to handle a ridership that is expected to double in the coming decades, a report on NorthJersey.com said.
Op-Ed: Why we should support ARC rail tunnel project
The Record Wednesday, June 16, 2010. IT’S DISHEARTENING to see so many respected and intelligent columnists for major daily newspapers in New Jersey drinking the Sierra Club Kool-Aid and getting suckered into attacking the ARC Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel project. ARC is a generational project — a once-in-a-hundred years project — that will benefit the entire region for the next century. Instead of questioning portions of the project after the fact, ARC should be fully embraced by all regional environmental and transportation groups.
NJ Transit hopes real-estate deals generate $100M
Asbury Park Press June 16, 2010. NEWARK — NJ Transit officials took another step toward public-private partnerships with its real estate holdings that Executive Director James Weinstein said could earn the agency $100 million in revenue, which could go toward covering operating costs.
NJ Transit seeks legal advice on privatizing parking lots
Star Ledger, Published: Wednesday, June 16, 2010. On the heels of fare hikes, service cuts and decreasing ridership, cash-strapped NJ Transit is now hiring lawyers who will provide legal advice as the agency begins exploring ways to make more money from its 40,000 parking spaces.
N.J. joins regional effort to improve air quality
Newsroom NJ, Wednesday, 16 June 2010. 11 states seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through transportation improvements and efficiencies. New Jersey is one of 11 states and the District of Columbia to join in the creation of the Transportation and Climate Initiative, described as a regional group designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through transportation improvements and efficiencies.
By 2030, Penn Station New York will be maxed-out. The Record Monday, June 14, 2010.That's after the nearly $9 billion new Hudson River tunnel and its subterranean train station is completed under 34th Street.
In short, $9 billion buys a short-term solution to a long-term problem.
A Quick Kiss of Plastic, and Ready to Ride
NY TimesPublished: June 11, 2010. It was there, at the corner of 110th Street and Lexington Avenue, between a neighborhood botanica and the DeWitt Clinton Houses: the future of New York transportation. One flight down in the No. 6 subway station, the left-most turnstile bore a new electronic reader. Clutching my specially enabled credit card, I made an initial approach, only to be cut off by a rider attempting to swipe a plain old MetroCard — a MetroCard, can you believe these people? — and experiencing all the usual setbacks. But eventually she made it through, and my turn was at hand.
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