In The News:
Regional Roundup of the News 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.
County Wants Residents to Weigh in on Transportation Needs The Two River Times, 11/24/2023 - The Monmouth County Division of Planning, Transportation and Community Services ask residents to provide feedback on how to improve mobility throughout the county, as well as report any transportation-related issues in their neighborhoods through an online form.
Toll hikes of 3.7% planned for NJ bridge and tunnel crossings as congestion pricing looms NorthJersey.com, 11/21/2923 - If you use the George Washington Bridge, the Lincoln or Holland tunnels or other crossings operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, expect a 3.7% toll hike starting in January. And that's on top of New York's congestion pricing scheme lurking on the horizon. The Port Authority's proposed $9.3 billion spending plan for 2024 relies in part on a proposed toll increase of 63 cents at the agency's six bridges and tunnels starting Jan. 7, 2024.
PATH will spend $230M to fix delay-causing track and train issues NJ.com, 11/21/2023 - PATH riders who’ve become used to daily delays due to track and train problems, will see relief over the next several years after Port Authority commissioners approved a $230 million “state of good repair” program Tuesday intended to address those infrastructure issues.
N.J. to require all new car sales to be electric by 2035 NJ.com, 11/20/2023 (PAYWALL) - New Jersey will require all new car sales to be electric by 2035 with some requirements starting in 2026 as part of a series of new regulations, an administrative official in Gov. Phil Murphy’s office confirmed to NJ Advance Media on Monday.
Thanksgiving travel: N.J. gas prices down compared to last year NJ.com, 11/20/2023 (PAYWALL) - If the expected dessert at your Thanksgiving feast isn’t enough of a treat, consider this – gas prices have dropped low enough that New Jersey drivers are saving at least $6 to $10 per fill up, depending on the vehicle, said a leading petroleum expert.
Port Authority’s big spending plan matches plenty on NJ wish list NJ Spotlight News, 11/20/2023 - A more than $9 billion annual budget up for final consideration next month at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey calls for a big increase in capital investments after the agency reduced such spending in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can NJ achieve gas car sales ban by 2035? Electric vehicle registrations may be indicator MyCentralJersey.com/ 11/20/2023 - According to the New Jersey Coalition of Automobile Dealers (NJCAR), EVs accounted for 9.3% of new vehicle registrations in New Jersey in the first quarter of 2023. And dealerships are making major investments to prepare for the sale and service of EVs. NJCAR reports that dealerships spent $169 million in 2022 and 2023, an average of $338,000 per dealer, to get ready for a possible market surge.
At a train station where some have nowhere to go, there is compassion NJSpotlight.com, 11/16/2023 - Michael Fuller and his family sit quietly on a bench inside Newark’s Penn Station. It’s early morning on a weekday and at first glance, the trio appears to be waiting for a train in anticipation of a journey. In reality, the Fuller family has nowhere to go. They have no train tickets or home.
NJ Transit to Buy Electric Shuttles for Seniors, Disabled Riders Tapinto.net, 11/16/2023 - NJ Transit plans to start replacing older gasoline-fueled vans with modern, battery-powered electric ones to shuttle senior citizens and people with disabilities. To accomplish this sustainability switch, NJ Transit said it will piggyback on a Michigan Department of Transportation procurement deal for the reduced-cost acquisition of 19 electric battery vans at a price the agency says is “not to exceed $3.8 million.”
Gateway rail tunnel crosses milestone on path to $6.8 billion in federal money NJ.com, 11/16/2023 (PAYWALL) - Efforts to secure Federal Transit Administration funding to build the $16 billion Gateway rail tunnel under the Hudson River passed what officials called a “significant milestone” with a letter designating the bi-state commission overseeing the project eligible to receive federal funds to build it.
NJ plans to widen Route 202 in Branchburg this decade MyCentralJersey.com, 11/15/2023 - The state will be performing an "interim" project on Route 202 before it starts major construction to widen the highway in 2028. Township Administrator Greg Bonin said at Monday's Township Committee meeting that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) has already begun preliminary work on the highway - the primary connection between Somerville and Flemington - from Chubb Way to the Bridgewater border.
MTA in talks to possibly settle N.J. congestion pricing lawsuit NJ.com, 11/13/2023 - Top officials from New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority traveled to Newark Monday to talk to New Jersey officials about a potential settlement to Gov. Phil Murphy’s lawsuit that challenged a federal approval green-lighting the congestion pricing plan.
Red Bank could become a vibrant 'transit village,' but hurdles and opposition remain APP.com, 11/13/2023 - Should Red Bank become a “transit village?” Borough council is looking into the benefits and drawbacks of such a designation. According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Transit Village Initiative would “create incentives for municipalities to redevelop or revitalize the areas around transit stations.”
Carteret takes another step toward offering ferry to NYC MyCentralJersey.com, 11/9/23 - The borough has moved another step closer to offering ferry service by going out to bid recently for waterside improvements to the ferry terminal and Intermodal Transportation Building on a remediated seven-acre former DuPont Chemical site.
NJ Transit launches NaviLens technology pilot program MassTransitMag.com, 11/8/2023 - The NaviLens program technology uses special QR-style codes to enable customers to use their smart devices at NJ Transit bus stops to get a host of service information and assistance.
NJ Transit gets $241M for train storage, Newark Penn improvements NewJerseyMonitor.com, 11/6/23 - New Jersey will receive $241 million in federal aid for improvements to Newark Penn Station and a North Brunswick train inspection facility, federal lawmakers and transportation officials announced a day before New Jersey's legislative elections.
Clean hydrogen will complement NJ offshore wind and solar PressofAtlanticCity.com, 11/4/23 - New Jersey has heavily subsidized the installation of solar panels by residents and businesses, and is paying an increasing price in its effort to be the first U.S. large developer of offshore wind power.
Feds to contribute $3.8B more for new Hudson train tunnel NJ Spotight News, 11/3/23 - An exultant Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced construction of the Gateway train tunnel under the Hudson River began in earnest Friday, fueled by the Biden administration’s promise to kick in another $3.8 billion in funding.
'This will make a big difference' NJTPA Mention
CentralJersey.com, 11/1/23 - The Southern Middlesex County Freight Movement Study has officially completed as short-term recommendations will take place in the following months to help lessen truck traffic impacting residential roads in towns such as Cranbury.
New Jersey Starts Transition to Cashless Toll Collection Governing.com, 10/31/23 - The eventual end of the ritual of stopping to pay a toll took the first steps Monday, Oct. 30, with a ceremonial start of construction of the first all-electronic toll collection system in the state on the Atlantic City Expressway in Egg Harbor, N.J.
South Amboy’s new ferry service to NYC launches today. Here’s what to know. News12 New Jersey, 10/30/23 - The new ferry service from South Amboy to New York City launched Monday. Each morning, the service begins at 5:45 a.m. and then continues every hour. The ferry will drop riders off at Downtown Brookfield Place and Midtown at West 39th Street. There will also be free transfers to Weehawken, Hoboken and Jersey City.
Middlesex County truck traffic study assesses local impacts NJTPA Mention
NJBIZ, 10/30/23 - Officials announced the completion of the Southern Middlesex County Freight Movement Study, which began last spring to assess the impact of truck traffic on local roads and neighborhoods throughout that area.
South Amboy ferry to NYC will begin Oct. 30 MyCentralJersey.com, 10/17/2023 - The service will be available Monday through Friday for morning and evening commutes. Free connecting shuttles will be available locally and in New York City. Fees for the service are $18 for one-way adult, $17 one-way senior, $165 for 10 trips, $600 for 40 trips and $588 monthly.
Gateway Program leaders detail progress – and what’s ahead NJ BIZ, 10/9/23 - The Gateway Program has been taking major steps in recent months to move the long-delayed, much-anticipated project toward reality. A recent panel discussion reflected just how rapidly events are moving on the next iteration of the once-scrapped ARC Tunnel Project.
Extend NYC subway to New Jersey? NJ Spotlight News, 10/3/23 - Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9th) and Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8th) sent a letter to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Traffic Mobility Review Board last week urging the agency to couple congestion pricing with the extension of the 7 train line to Secaucus via a new subway tunnel under the Hudson River.
Manhattan congestion pricing scenarios would give credits for tunnels, but not GW Bridge NorthJersey.com, 10/2/2023 - Four scenarios of how toll credits and exemptions would work under a Manhattan congestion pricing program were presented to the Traffic Mobility Review Board on Monday. None of the scenarios presented included a credit for those taking the George Washington Bridge, which is a point of contention for New Jersey drivers, especially those in and around Bergen County who don't have direct train access to Manhattan.
Maplewood NJ Transit Bus Garage Getting $68M Upgrade for EV Buses VillageGreenNJ.com, 10/1/2023 - In case you missed it: Earlier this month (Sept. 6 ,2023), New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced that the Federal Highway Administration awarded an additional $425 million in federal transportation dollars to the New Jersey Department of Transportation....
Maplewood NJ Transit Bus Garage Getting $68M Upgrade for EV Buses VillageGreenNJ.com, 10/1/2023 - In case you missed it: Earlier this month (Sept. 6 ,2023), New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced that the Federal Highway Administration awarded an additional $425 million in federal transportation dollars to the New Jersey Department of Transportation....
With $1M From State, Union County Plans New Bikeway Tapinto.net, 9/30/2023 - Construction on a new bikeway to give riders and pedestrians more access to the East Coast Greenway is expected within the next two years, thanks to funding awarded to the county this month by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Robotic Shuttle Van Drives Itself Around Newark Airport (VIDEOS) Patch.com, 9/14/2023 - At first glance, it almost reads like the setup to a joke: “Let’s put a robot in charge of driving a shuttle bus around Newark Airport.” But according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the experiment that’s been taking place at the airport for the past month is no laughing matter – in fact, it could be a glimpse into the future of the travel industry.
Newark Riders Riled by Planned Elimination of Coach USA Bus Routes Tapinto.net, 9/12/2023 - The 24 Coach USA bus line is Abdul Salaam's main mode of transportation. So, the news that Coach USA will discontinue the O.N.E. Bus routes 24, 31, and 44, beginning Oct. 8 did not sit well with Salaam, who was on his way home from a doctor’s appointment Monday afternoon, and said he’d been waiting two hours for his ride.
New Jersey releases plan for walking, biking network NJTPA Mention
TransportationTodayNews, 9/6/2023 - The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) recently released its plan for creating a walking and biking network in northern and central New Jersey.
New Jersey’s gas tax is set to rise, but not by much NJ Spotlight News, 9/1/23 - The 0.9-cent increase announced by Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration Friday morning will push the per-gallon tax on gasoline that motorists pay to 42.3 cents, and the per-gallon rate for diesel fuel to 49.3 cents. It’s the first increase in three years, and New Jersey’s gas tax will remain the seventh-highest in the country once the adjustment goes into effect.
Flight crews appeal to travelers at Newark Airport for sanity in the skies NJ.com, 8/30/2023 - With stories about breaking up fights, hiding behind carts and having had luggage thrown at them, flight crews appealed to travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday for sanity in the skies and support for a law that would ground the most violent passengers.
These 3 New York City toll plazas will soon be a thing of the past NJ.com, 8/30/2023 (PAYWALL) - The disliked toll booths at the George Washington Bridge are almost no more as ongoing demolition marks the final phase of the transition from paying cash to a toll taker to all-electronic toll collection at all Port Authority crossings.
Penn Station overhaul sparks feud between MTA and Amtrak Gothamist, 8/25/23 - MTA officials have said they want to complete the overhaul to the existing station by 2027, when work is slated to finish on the agency’s Penn Access project that will allow Metro-North trains to run into Penn Station. The work will affect areas used by Amtrak and NJ Transit.
NJ Transit engineers face long road to strike NewJerseyMonitor.com, 8/11/2023 - NJ Transit engineers are due to vote this month whether to strike amid a yearslong collective bargaining standstill, but federal law that imposes strict procedures on rail worker strikes could delay any job action for months.
NJ Transit engineers face long road to strike NewJerseyMonitor.com, 8/11/2023 - NJ Transit engineers are due to vote this month whether to strike amid a yearslong collective bargaining standstill, but federal law that imposes strict procedures on rail worker strikes could delay any job action for months.
Work underway to expand NJ Transit service in Sussex County NJ Spotlight News, 8/8/23 - The push to expand commuter rail service to Sussex County is still on. Work is under way in Andover to build a new train station that will be served by NJ Transit's restoration of the Lackawanna Cutoff, a rail line buidling in the early 1900s, part of a main line between Hoboken and Buffalo, New York.
New front opening in battles against warehouse sprawl NJ Spotlight News, 8/8/23 - On a rural road just south of Interstate 195 in Monmouth County, residents waved handmade signs protesting plans to build two giant warehouses on farmland. The event was the first of what organizers hope will be a series of protests against the warehouse projects. It represents another front in a fight against warehouse sprawl being waged by communities in New Jersey.
Port Authority doubles down on technology and innovation NJBiz.com, 8/7/2023 (Paywall) - The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is employing a strategy of embracing technology and innovation, as part of its plan to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world that is emerging from the throes of the pandemic.
New Jersey Transit receive funding redesign Paterson-Passaic bus service NJToday.news, 8/2/2023 - New Jersey Transit will receive funding to conduct a study and network redesign of bus service between Paterson and Passaic, as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s award of $20 million to 47 communities to help improve public transportation options in areas that are experiencing what the agency calls, “long-term economic distress.”
Route 202 in Somerset, Hunterdon to be studied MyCentralJersey.com, 7/27/23 (Paywall) - The state Department of Transportation will be studying ways of improving traffic flow and safety on Route 202 from Old York Road at the municipal building to the Readington border and beyond.
End of the line: Nearly century-old Jersey City bus company shutting down NJ.com, 7/25/2023 - A nearly century-old bus company that has served the southern half of Jersey City is running on empty. The A&C Bus Corp., based on Danforth Avenue, will be shutting down the operation of its Jersey City bus routes, according to NJ Transit, leaving residents on the West Side with few options of getting around.
Shore towns focus on pedestrian safety, especially in summer NJTPA Mention
PressofAtlanticCity.com, 7/25/2023 - ...New Jersey is among the states with the most pedestrian fatalities, reaching a 30-year high in 2021 with about 220 people dying on the state’s roads, according to a study that year by Smart Growth America.
NJ Transit OKs $4.7M For Bloomfield Train Station Upgrades Patch.com, 7/24/2023 - A major renovation project at Bloomfield Station is moving full speed ahead, officials say. Last week, NJ Transit’s board of directors gave a green light to a $4.73 million work contract for design and construction support – with five percent for contingencies – that will fuel several upgrades at the Bloomfield train station.
N.J. plans to sue the Federal Highway Administration over N.Y.C. toll approval NJ.com, 7/22/2023 (Paywall)- New Jersey plans to sue the Federal Highway Administration over its approval of New York’s controversial congestion pricing plan to charge a toll to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street and will demand a more comprehensive environmental study be conducted, Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday.
New Jersey sues to block New York City’s congestion pricing plan New Jersey Monitor, 7/21/23 - New Jersey sued the federal government Friday to block New York’s plan to add tolls on Manhattan’s busiest roads, calling it a “misguided scheme” that will reap billions for the city while spiking congestion and air pollution in New Jersey.
No fare hikes in NJ Transit’s $2.9B budget, but fiscal cliff still looms New Jersey Monitor, 7/20/23 - NJ Transit’s board approved roughly $2.9 billion in spending for the 2024 fiscal year Wednesday night that comes with no fare hikes, but it remains unclear how the long-struggling agency will meet the $1 billion-plus funding shortfall it faces in the coming years.
NJ Transit officially signs lease on new headquarters NJSpotlight, 7/18/2023 - The lease agreement was finally released for New Jersey Transit’s new headquarters at Two Gateway in Newark. The transit agency will spend more than $440 million over 25 years to rent eight floors of Two Gateway Center – moving its operations from the building it owns just down the street.
Governor Murphy announces rule requiring electric car sales New Jersey Monitor, 7/17/23 - Gov. Phil Murphy announced the filing of an administrative rule that would require car manufacturers to ramp up sales of electric vehicles before barring them from producing fossil fuel vehicles altogether in 2035. The rule, which Murphy said he expects will be published on Aug. 21, mirrors regulations adopted in California and would require electric vehicles to account for a growing share of car manufacturers’ sales, reaching 100% in 2035.
Camden Loop officially launches app-based ‘micro-transit’ service NJBiz.com, 7/14/2023 - During a press conference in Camden July 13, Camden County Partnership and Via announced the launch of the Camden Loop — an innovative, on-demand, app-based public transit service designed at filling transportation access gaps in the city.
Commissioner John Bartlett Brings NJTPA to Passaic County NJTPA Mention
Tapinto.net, 7/14/2023 - The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) held its Summer Board of Trustees meeting at the Great Falls Center earlier this week. After the meeting, the Board, staff, and attendees were treated to a tour of the Great Falls National Historical Park.
Penn Station Is a Perpetual Mess. Change May Be at Hand. NYTimes.com, 7/7/2023 - If the latest flurry of news around two dueling plans to fix New York’s Pennsylvania Station has left you scratching your head, you’re not alone. Various officials I have spoken with are also fuzzy on details.
Architects proceed with designs for overhaul of NYC Penn Station NorthJersey.com, 6/28/2023 - Renowned architects and engineers are clamoring to land the prized job to design the long-overdue reconstruction of New York Penn Station, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced her own revisions to the state’s approach to the busiest transportation hub in North America.
New York Penn Station Reconstruction Project begins preliminary design MassTransitMag.com, 6/27/2023 - The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and its railroad partners have issued a Notice to Proceed to begin preliminary design on the New York Penn Station Reconstruction Project, which will transform the western hemisphere’s busiest rail station into a world-class transit hub.
Congestion Pricing Plan in New York City Clears Final Federal Hurdle New York Times, 6/26/23 - Final approval was granted by the Federal Highway Administration, a spokeswoman said Monday, and a local panel appointed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority can now decide on final toll rates, including any discounts, exemptions and other allowances.
NY-NJ port industry powers up region’s economy NJTPA Mention
PortCalls, 6/26/23 - The New York-New Jersey port industry powered up the region’s economy in 2022, accounting for nearly $15.7 billion in tax revenue, supporting more than 563,700 jobs, and generated $47.2 billion in personal and $135.3 billion in business income, says a new economic impact study released on June 22 by the Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey.
Feds give $25M to build N.J. highway bridge that was started and canceled in 2010 NJ.com, 6/24/2023 - In October of 2010, then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie cancled the controversial Hudson River Tunnel Project, then known as “ARC,” leaving unfinished the beginnings of a highway that was to carry routes 1 & 9 over the mouth of the new tunnel. Now, more than a dozen years later the highway is going to be finished.
Is Route 9 going to be safer? Old Bridge hopes so MyCentralJersey.com, 6/22/23 - Earlier this month, the DOT began installing guardrails along a 1.2 mile stretch of Route 9 between Throckmorton Lane/Ticetown Road to near Jake Brown Road due to safety concerns of vehicle crossovers.The work is expected to be completed by the end of June. The cost of the project is approximately $700,000,
NJ Transit to spend $19M on system that can help prevent train wrecks NJ.com, 6/17/2023 - NJ Transit is spending another $19 million on Positive Train Control, a federally-mandated safety system that stops trains that speed or ignore signals. The work will keep the system current with changes made by other railroads NJ Transit uses, and to keep current with new federal requirements.
East Brunswick: Electric School Buses are Ready to Roll as Legislation, Funding Move Forward Tapinto.net, 6/15/2023 - Just when you thought it was time to pull the plug on this school year, electric school buses have come to New Jersey. Advocates, educators, and legislators gathered at Memorial Elementary School in East Brunswick today to support funding in the New Jersey 2024 budget for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Electric School Bus Program to jumpstart a three-year pilot program signed into law last summer.
Recycled glass will temporarily fill the hole on I-95 NJ.com, 6/15/2023 - A section of I-95 that collapsed earlier this week after a tanker truck fire damaged overpasses in North Philadelphia will be filled in with glass aggregate to support a temporary roadway until permanent structures can be built, officials announced Wednesday.
NJ TRANSIT Launches 'Know Your ABCs' Campaign Metro-magazine.com, 6/14/2023 - NJ TRANSIT is launching a campaign entitled “Know Your ABCs,” which encourages customers to be familiar with their “alternates, backups and contingencies” should there be a disruption to their usual mode of travel.
NJ Transit wants to help you learn the ABCs NJ1015.com, 6/14/2023 - If you don’t know your ABCs, NJ Transit wants to help. The nation’s largest statewide public transportation system is launching a campaign called "Know Your ABCs,” which encourages customers to be familiar with their “alternates, backups and contingencies” in case of a disruption during their normal route.
NJ TRANSIT begins website ticketing pilot programme for ACRL IntelligentTransport.com, 6/2/2023 - NJ TRANSIT has announced that it has introduced a pilot programme enabling customers to buy tickets for the Atlantic City Rail Line (ACRL) online through its website. The programme had officially launched on 31 May 2023.
RFQs issued for two major parts of Hudson Tunnel Project NJBiz.com, 5/31/2023 (Paywall) - The long-anticipated Hudson Tunnel Project marked another major step forward May 31, as the Gateway Development Commission announced it has issued a Request for Qualifications for two major components of the work.
NJ Transit links with Uber and Lyft ITSInternational.com, 5/25/2023 - NJ Transit is piloting ride-hail on its paratransit service Access Link. The New Jersey transportation agency is allowing users to opt in - on a voluntary basis - to taking trips with Uber and Lyft "to reduce wait and trip times while maintaining Access Link prices and the reservation process to which customers are accustomed".
Hudson County announces $760K grant for Hackensack River walkway The Jersey Journal, 5/25/23 - Hudson County plans to use the funding, from the DOT’s “Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program (TAP),” to connect Lincoln Park West behind the Department of Roads & Public Property building to Duncan Avenue along the Hackensack River.
New Jersey awards $35.8M in transportation alternatives grants TransportationTodayNews.com, 5/24/2023
- NJTPA MENTION - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), recently awarded 32 grants totaling $35.8 million under the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA Set-Aside) program.
Phillipsburg’s Riverfront Heritage Trail will get $1.3M to start Phase I of construction Lehigh Valley Live, 5/24/2023 -
NJTPA MENTION The decade-long wait is over, and construction of the Phillipsburg Riverfront Heritage Trail can now begin — almost. The North Jersey Transportation Planning Association and New Jersey Department of Transportation announced Phillipsburg will receive $1.36 million to begin Phase I construction on the state border-crossing trail system. It’s the beginning of a massive endeavor.
Shortlist Released for $16B NY-NJ Hudson River Tunnel ENR.com, 5/23/2023- Gateway Development Commission has shortlisted three teams in its search for a project delivery partner to help it deliver a $16-billion rail tunnelproject connecting New York and New Jersey under the Hudson River.
NJ Transit at 40 RailFan.com, 5/22/2023 - ...New Jersey Transit was created in 1979, primarily to operate the state’s bus lines. Its role in commuter rail operation slowly expanded, with timetables as early as 1980 bearing the NJT logo, even though those services were still being operated by Conrail. The new branding was a sign of things to come.
https://railfan.com/nj-transit-at-40/
A.C. Expressway takes the first step to ending cash toll collection in N.J. NJ.com, 5/17/2023 - Your cash will be no good here in roughly one year. Moving to cashless all electronic toll collection on the state’s three toll roads took a major step forward Wednesday when the South Jersey Transportation Authority awarded a $30.59 million contract to begin construction of an all-electronic toll collection system on the Atlantic City Expressway, a design that could be used on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.
Let's Talk Transportation - Share Your Ride Patch.com, 5/16/2023 (Paywall), NJTPA Mention - North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) is the federally authorized Metropolitan Planning Organization for the 13-county northern New Jersey region.
Could GW Bridge traffic increase from congestion pricing? Here's what one report said NorthJersey.com, 5/15/2023 (Paywall) - Traffic on the George Washington Bridge and the eastern spur of the New Jersey Turnpike in North Jersey could increase under some Manhattan congestion pricing scenarios studied, but such tolling would have a minimal impact on mass transit options from New Jersey into Manhattan, according to the latest report on the potential impact of the policy.
Congestion pricing is close to approval. Here’s what it could cost N.J. drivers. NJ.com, 5/15/2023 (Paywall) - Supporters of New York’s congestion pricing plan were doing a victory lap earlier this month over a decision by federal officials to accept an environmental assessment and not require a more in-depth study, moving the plan to toll traffic driving south of 60th street in Manhattan closer to implementation.
Congressmen vow to continue congestion pricing fight, say it will increase N.J. pollution NJ.com, 5/9/2023 (Paywall) - With the clock running on a 30-day comment period about New York City's controversial congestion pricing plan to charge a toll to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street, U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Rob Menendez said they found evidence the plan will worsen air pollution in Bergen County as drivers try to skirt the congestion zone.
What is congestion pricing? Answering all your questions about toll program for NJ drivers NorthJersey.com, 5/9/23 - The idea of congestion pricing dates back at least to 1976, when it was adopted in Singapore to cut down on vehicle traffic and pollution and improve public transportation into its busiest region — all of which was achieved. These are the same principles that guided congestion tolling programs in Sweden, London and now New York City.
$23 to enter Manhattan? Murphy seeks legal options after 'unfair' congestion pricing OK'd Asbury Park Press, 5/5/23 - The Federal Highway Administration approved the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s plan to add a controversial toll around Manhattan’s central business district, just hours after Gov. Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy rubbed shoulders at a Regional Plan Association event where they discussed their partnership on transportation issues.
NJ gets grant money to promote rail safety NJ1015.com, 5/5/2023 - Earlier this week NJ Transit suspended service on the Northeast Corridor line for hours because of a report of children playing on railroad tracks. Service suspensions take place more frequently than you might imagine because New Jersey is so densely populated and many rail lines throughout the state are close to residential areas.
Hoboken Celebrates Cycling Safely During National Bicycle Safety Month TapInto.net, May 1, 2023 - This May, the City of Hoboken and the Hoboken Public Safety Department have announced they are joining the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to encourage more people to bike, ride safely, and wear helmets during National Bicycle Safety Month, according to Public Safety Spokesperson Marci Rubin.
NJ council sets first regional curbs on warehouses NJ Spotlight News, 4/25/2023 - The Highlands Council voted late Thursday to accept new policy standards that ban new warehouses in some areas, and set a series of new requirements including proximity to major roads and limits to impervious surface for any warehouse development in other parts of the region.
Kids Ride Free On New Jersey Transit Trains On Take Your Child To Work Day ShoreNewsNetwork.com, 4/24/2023 - NJ Transit is offering free rides for kids under 18 on “Take Your Children to Work Day,” which is set to take place on Thursday, April 27th. Up to two children can ride for free with a paying adult, and no ticket is needed for the kids. The initiative is part of the company’s efforts to encourage future generations to pursue careers in transportation.
NJ Transit passes the mic to mark Autism Acceptance Month WHYY.org, 4/23/2023 - In recognition of Autism Acceptance Month, some station announcements on NJ Transit lines feature special guest voices. The agency worked with Happy Hour 4 Kids Station Announcements Program to record local children with autism warning passengers that train doors are closing, among other announcements.
NJ Transit passes the mic to mark Autism Acceptance Month WHYY.org, 4/23/2023 - In recognition of Autism Acceptance Month, some station announcements on NJ Transit lines feature special guest voices. The agency worked with Happy Hour 4 Kids Station Announcements Program to record local children with autism warning passengers that train doors are closing, among other announcements.
New Jersey halts electric vehicle rebates, demand too high APNews.com, 4/18/2023 - New Jersey residents looking to buy or lease an electric vehicle won’t be able to get a government rebate — at least temporarily — because the state program is so popular that it’s already running out of money, officials said.
Petition to Build a Bike and Pedestrian Bridge Over Route 22 In Union NJ Tapinto.net, 4/14/2023 - Please see the following message from Kenilworth resident and Secretary/Treasurer of Union County Connects Stephen Dunn. US Route 22 is a deadly road. If you live in Union County or drive on Route 22 through Union, you have seen people regularly risking their lives to cross the highway.
Academy Bus Expands Commuter Service Metro-magazine.com, 4/14/2023 - Academy Bus announced it has expanded service on eight of its 17 commuter routes between New Jersey and New York City.
New Jersey awards $30M to encourage movement of freight by truck TransportationTodayNews.com, 4/13/2023 - The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) recently awarded $30.1 million in fiscal year 2023 Local Freight Impact Fund grants to 13 municipalities and three counties to promote the safe movement of large truck traffic.
N.J. airport needs new terminal, lawmakers tell feds NJ.com, 4/13/2023 - U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., is no stranger to Trenton-Mercer airport. As a frequent flier, she and Mercer County officials gave the U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg an insider’s tour Wednesday to make the case for federal funding to relocate an air traffic control tower and replace the small and aging terminal.
Traffic Mural, Improvements Near Belleville School; More May Follow NJTPA Mention
Tapinto.net, 4/13/2023 - There’s no doubt that the cherry blossom mural that now graces the intersection of Holmes and High streets in Belleville simply looks cool. But it may also help to make the busy roadway near Belleville Middle School safer for drivers, pedestrians and bicycle riders, too.
NJ Transit all in for Autism Acceptance Month EssexNewsDaily.com, 4/13/2023 - NJ Transit is recognizing Autism Acceptance Month with station announcements recorded by local autistic children and buses wrapped in messaging to promote acceptance.
New trains hit PATH tracks with plans to boost commutes Gothamist, 4/13/2023 - The Port Authority on Thursday unveiled new PATH train cars, which officials said are key to boosting service on the cross-Hudson subway. Three of the cars made their debut at Hoboken Terminal, and are the first of 72 the Port Authority ordered for the system from Japan-based manufacturer Kawasaki.
Camden Council to Urge State to Examine Rail Transport Precautions Tapinto.net, 4/11/2023 - Expressing concern about trains carrying hazardous materials in or near Camden, City Council members on Tuesday are scheduled to vote on a resolution urging state agencies to consider the safety of city residents when examining transport precautions.
Safety Improvements Planned For Downtown Bound Brook NJTPA Mention
Patch.com, 3/28/2023 - Somerset County secured $7.7 million in federal funds to upgrade and improve intersections along highly traveled Talmage Avenue, Columbus Place, and Main Street through the full length of Bound Brook from Tea Street to the Queen’s Bridge.
N.J. Turnpike, Parkway authority director announces retirement NJ.com, 3/28/2023 - New Jersey Turnpike Authority Executive Director John Keller, who managed the Turnpike's largest widening project, surprised his colleagues Tuesday morning, announcing he plans to retire in June after a 25-year long career at the agency.
N.J. drivers now can show police a digital vehicle registration NJ.com, 3/27/2023 - New Jersey drivers now no longer have to search their vehicle to find their paper motor vehicle registration during traffic stops. The state Motor Vehicle Commission started issuing electronic registrations on Friday that can be displayed on a smartphone or other electronic device.
A new Amtrak train ride from NYC to Scranton could hit 110 mph NJ.com, 3/27/2023 - New Amtrak train service that could whisk riders at speeds hitting up to 110 mph between New York City and Scranton in Pennsylvania could move almost a half a million riders annually by 2030, but it’s estimated to cost between $169 million to $266 million to start up, according to a study of the proposed rail line.
NJ Transit to revitalize Mahwah train station Mass Transit, 3/24/23 - New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) is moving forward with plans to revitalize the Mahwah train station to enhance the customer experience. Phase One of the project will include critical state of good repair work to the station’s roof, replacement of retaining walls and electrical and lighting upgrades.
Another major project proposed for Main Street in Bound Brook NJTPA Mention
MyCentralJersey.com, 3/23/2023 - Somerset County has been awarded a $7.69 million grant for safety improvements along Talmage Avenue, Columbus Place and Main Street from Tea Street to the Queens Bridge, the stretch of road which has seen hundreds of apartments built in recent years. The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) voted to approve the road improvement project that will be funded by federal money.
Truckers must stay right or pay big, under bill Assembly panel to mull Thursday New Jersey Monitor, 3/22/23 - Big rig drivers who defy state law and loiter in the left lane on New Jersey’s roadways would face heftier fines under a bill legislators will consider Thursday. Fines would double for operators of trucks weighing five tons or more who drive in the leftmost lane of roadways with two or more lanes under a bill introduced in September by Assemblymen Joseph Egan (D-Middlesex) and Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer).
Hoboken receives $150K grant for fast EV chargers NJBiz.com, 3/21/2023 - Hoboken has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to install two publicly accessible DC fast chargers, which enable electric vehicle owners to fully charge their batteries in less than an hour.
N.J.’s oldest bus company to end commuter bus service NJ.com, 3/20/23 - One of New Jersey’s legacy bus companies, that started as a stagecoach line in 1870, is ceasing commuter bus service on April 7. DeCamp Bus Lines, which will continue to operate charter and Atlantic City service, will stop operating its seven commuter routes due to ridership that never returned to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.
NJ TRANSIT to Establish Regional Training Center Metro-Magazine.com, 3/17/2023 - NJ TRANSIT CEO Kevin S. Corbett, along with International Association of Public Transport (UITP) secretary general Mohamed Mezghani, and Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) director Dr. Ali Maher, announced that NJ TRANSIT, UITP, and CAIT at Rutgers University will partner to establish UITP’s first North American Regional Training Center (RTC).
Port Authority advances plan to improve EWR access for Newark, Elizabeth NJBiz.com, 3/17/2023 - The Port Authority Board of Commissioners authorized $12 million for the planning and preliminary design of the EWR Station Access Project during its March 16 meeting, which will increase public transit access and connectivity for underserved communities in Newark and Elizabeth.
N.J.’s most populous county needs promised light rail extension, lawmaker says NJ.com, 3/14/23 - More than 20 years ago, the first NJ Transit Hudson-Bergen Light Rail trains began running in Hudson County, with a promise to extend north beyond the line’s current terminus in North Bergen. Tuesday night, a Bergen County legislator reminded NJ Transit officials that the line still has yet to reach one of its namesake counties.
$700M allocated for Gateway rail tunnel in 2024 federal budget NJ.com, 3/9/23 - Top Biden administration officials wetted the appetites of transit commuters Thursday by outlining $4.45 billion in the proposed 2024 federal budget for 18 “community transforming” projects in 11 states, including $700 million for the Gateway rail tunnel project between New Jersey and New York.
Phil Murphy Unveils $53.1B NJ Budget, Renewing Property Tax Rebates NBCNewYork.com, 2/28/2023 - New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday unveiled a $53.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2024, about 5% more than the spending plan he signed for the current year, proposing more school aid, a renewed property tax rebate program and billions more for public pensions, transportation and other projects.
NJ Transit tried out Sunday service 8 bus routes. Should they be made permanent? NJ.com, 3/5/2023 - For people who depend on public transportation, Sunday can be the worst day. The frequency of service typically is less robust than weekday service and depending on the route, lighter than Saturday service. Some routes don’t operate on Sundays at all. For riders who depend on the bus to go shopping, to church or to see family, that can be an added ordeal.
Why the New York Area Is Seeing an Explosive Growth in Electric Cars NYTimes.com, 3/5/2023 - On weekdays, John Sibley motors down NY-17 from his home north of New York City, eventually crossing the George Washington Bridge into Manhattan and lurching through stop-and-go traffic to his job near Times Square. The 65-mile commute used to cost him a lot in gas.
Phil Murphy Unveils $53.1B NJ Budget, Renewing Property Tax Rebates NBCNewYork.com, 2/28/2023 - New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday unveiled a $53.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2024, about 5% more than the spending plan he signed for the current year, proposing more school aid, a renewed property tax rebate program and billions more for public pensions, transportation and other projects.
NJ Paratransit Workers To Get Pay Bump During States Of Emergency Patch.com, 2/28/2023 - They go above and beyond to provide public transportation for thousands of New Jersey residents with disabilities. But according to advocates, whenever a “state of emergency” has been called during a severe storm, Access Link workers and contractors with NJ Transit have found themselves facing long hours as essential workers – without the pay to back it up.
Public Meeting for Accident-Prone Roxbury Rail Span Fix TAPinto, 2/28/23 - The best way to stop tall trucks from slamming into the railroad bridge over Berkshire Valley Road in Kenvil is to make the span higher, according to Morris County, which also wants to improve the way Dell Avenue intersects with the road nearby. The county, which owns Berkshire Valley Road, plans to publicly announce that proposal at a March 15 virtual meeting.
Saturdays with Bernie: The North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority NJTPA Mention
Tapinto.net, 2/25/2023 - This week, Bernie Wagenblast goes to her broadcast roots and talks transportation. David Behrend serves as the executive director of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA). Wagenblast's second guest is Ted Ritter, the manager of external affairs for NJTPA.
NYC’s congestion pricing could mean N.J. toll hikes, Gottheimer says NJ.com, 2/23/2023 - The most vocal opponent of New York City's congestion pricing plan to charge a $23 peak period toll to enter south of 60th Street issued a warning that it could put a dozen Port Authority projects in jeopardy and trigger a $2 toll hike on the agency’s bridges and tunnels, if enacted as it’s been proposed.
Dredging Clears Waterway for Carteret’s Ferry Terminal TapInto 2/21/2023 — The NJ. Department of Transportation has completed a $5 million dredging project on the Arthur Kill to make it more navigable for ferries and increase the depth of boat slips that are in this borough’s future.
Murphy pushes green-energy goal posts closer NJ Spotlight News, 2/16/23 - Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday outlined the next big steps for his climate plan, vowing to push a ban on the sale of gasoline-fueled vehicles in 2035 and putting in place zero-emission heating and cooling systems in nearly a half-million homes and businesses by the end of this decade.
As budget begins, so does push for stronger NJ Transit funding NJ Spotlight News, 2/13/23 - With a new budget season about to get underway in Trenton, another one of the state’s long-standing fiscal issues — the financial stability of New Jersey Transit — may be next in line for Gov. Phil Murphy and lawmakers.
North Brunswick Train Station Achieves Key Design Milestone Tapinto.net, 2/7/2023 - The Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA) has achieved a significant design milestone with formal approval by NJ TRANSIT of 10% of the concept design. With this announcement of progress, the MCIA is unveiling a North Brunswick Train Station project webpage to inform community stakeholders of the progress and activities around its development.
N.J. Turnpike Authority adds 40 new positions for 2023 N.J. Turnpike Authority adds 40 new positions for 2023
NJ.com, 2/2/2023 - New Jersey Turnpike Authority commissioners added 40 new positions to the toll roads on Tuesday with most of them filling holes in the operations and maintenance divisions to respond to incidents on the state’s two biggest toll roads.
New NJ law promises more accessible public transit for all New NJ law promises more accessible public transit for all
NJSpotlightNews.org, 2/2/2023 - For many New Jersey residents, mass transit is a critical piece of their ability to get around. But for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, it’s often their only option for travel.