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.
Boro receives $752,000 grant for new sidewalks
The Ocean Star, 7/19/2024
NJTPA MENTION - A flurry of new sidewalks, courtesy of a $752,000 grant from Safe Routes to School (SRTS), are coming to the Ocean Road Elementary School area. Currently, there are several sidewalks already in the area, most immediately around the school, located at 1210 Benedict St. However, this project aims to connect these sidewalks that are incomplete or disjointed and install several long strips so roads are safer to travel.
Bergen Square Facelift Dedicated as Fulop Revives Hope for Pompidou x
Jersey City Times, 7/24/2024 - A rare green space – or, least, quasi-green – in the heart of a heavily-trafficked, construction-dominated section of Jersey City was dedicated Monday. Mayor Steven Fulop presided over a ceremonial ribbon-cutting in the heart of Bergen Square, which he characterized as “one of the oldest established town squares in America, dating back to 1660.”
NJ Transit will spend $178M on new trains. Commuters say they need fixes now.
NJ.com, 7/25/2024 - Wednesday was shopping day for NJ Transit — and the airing of grievances for rail commuters who also came armed with some solutions to make their rides better. Some long-term relief for riders will be coming down the track as the commuter agency’s board of directors approved spending $178 million to buy 36 new Multilevel III rail cars. They are intended to replace some of the agency’s problematic single-level cars, that are over 40-years-old, for use during rush hour transportation to Penn Station New York.
White House agrees to board to mediate labor dispute between New Jersey Transit and its engineers
AP, 7/25/2024 - New Jersey Transit and a union representing its rail engineers will have more time try work out a labor dispute under an executive order President Joe Biden signed Wednesday. The White House said in a statement that the president authorized the creation of a Presidential Emergency Board aimed at helping the state's transit agency and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen resolve disputes over a labor agreement.
NJ Transit orders 36 new EMU railcars from Alstom
Trains.com, 7/25/2024 - The NJ Transit board of directors on Wednesday approved the purchase of 36 Multilevel III electric multiple-unit railcars from Alstom Transportation, increasing to 174 the number of the new railcars ordered since 2018.
First contract for $10B new Manhattan bus terminal approved by Port Authority
NorthJersey.com, 7/29/2024 - The Port Authority authorized the first construction contract for a new bus terminal in midtown Manhattan on Thursday. The authorization was for $271 million, with $187.7 million of that to pave over areas of Dyer Avenue, which will be a staging area for construction of new ramps, the new terminal and bus storage. The construction contract is expected to go to New York-based MLJ Contracting Corp.
NJ Transit approves $3B budget amid outcry over fare hikes
New Jersey Monitor, 7/25/2024 - Agency officials during a Wednesday board meeting predicted farebox revenue that has struggled to recover from a post-pandemic ridership loss would rise 22% to $947 million, due mostly to a 15% fare hike approved in April.
The Jerseyiest place in Paris is the biggest Olympic ring of them all
NJ.com, 7/26/2024 - Jackie Dubrovich is a two-time Olympic fencer who grew up in Riverdale and now lives in Maplewood. She noticed the intense traffic around the Arc during a visit to the city for a tournament, and despite her fierce home-state pride, she concluded that Paris had her home state beat.
Two New Jersey Transportation Projects Win Awards
transportationtodaynews.com, 7/30/2024 - The New Jersey Department of Transportation recently announced that two of its projects had been named regional winners in the 2024 America’s Transportation Awards Competition. The two projects – the Route 3, Route 46, Valley Road & Notch/Rifle Camp Road Interchanges and the I-76/I-676, Bridges and Pavement, Contract 1 – were chosen from a wide array of projects across the country.
Port Authority Airports Report Busiest First Half of Year Ever
New Jersey Business Magazine, 7/30/2024 - The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced that the agency’s commercial airports soared to new heights over the first half of 2024, recording their busiest January-June first half ever. The period was capped by the busiest June on record for the region’s commercial airports.
How to use your E-ZPass to pay for gas and parking in N.J., N.Y. and Pennsylvania
NJ.com, 7/31/2024 - Drivers who park at the regions’ three major airports have done it since 2003 and soon millions of drivers in 19 states, including New Jersey, will be able to use their E-ZPass tag to pay for parking and to buy gas. The expansion of the Driven by E-ZPass non-toll payment program across the 19-state E-ZPass Group network, including New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, was announced Tuesday by PayByCar, Inc., a mobile payment company that is making the service possible.
Backed by big companies and labor, Supply Chain Council debuts
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Against a backdrop of New York Harbor and cranes looming over the Port of Newark, the Supply Chain Council announced its formation Wednesday, boasting that it will fill a void among logistics-focused associations by casting a wider membership net.
Bayonne takes major step toward long-awaited ferry service with $4 million purchase
The Jersey Journal, 8/1/2024 (PAYWALL) — The years-in-the-making plans to establish ferry service in Bayonne took a huge step forward when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey agreed to sell the city more than two acres of land on the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor. The city will purchase 2.3 acres of land along Port Terminal Boulevard — a small portion of the 31 acres it sold to Port Authority in 2010 — for $4.04 million.
Prospect Park's main road could undergo a transformation
NorthJersey.com, 8/5/2024,
NJTPA MENTION — Officials are getting free assistance from a group of planning experts to try to make North Eighth Street a hot spot for business and culture. Urban designers call it place-making.
NYC’s Penn Station can’t use sought-after European travel model, experts say
NJ.com, 8/6/2024 (PAYWALL) — The future of one idea to improve New York Penn Station’s hellish rush hour overcrowding will have to wait until the future, said experts at a forum held at NYU Monday. The concept, called “through running,” has been proposed by two advocacy groups. But it got a thumbs down for the present time, said a consultant who studied the idea for Amtrak and the Long Island RailRoad, and NJ TRANSIT.
25th Street Pedestrian Bridge Update: Opening Soon?
TAP into Bayonne, 8/6/2024 — Although the body of the new 25th Street pedestrian bridge has been installed
, ramps and other elements are still not yet in place. “We hope to have the bridge open by the end of the year,” said Tom Cotter, Superintendent of the Bayonne Department of Public Works.
NJ tourists, spending surpass pre-pandemic levels
NJBIZ.com, 5/17/2024 — After continued rebounds in visitor volume and spending in 2023, New Jersey officials say the state’s tourism industry has finally surpassed pre-pandemic levels. And, they expect continued growth this year.
MVC changes disclosure on credit card surcharge that affects 4.5M drivers a year in N.J.
NJ.com, 5/17/2024 — On the scale of practices that bother consumers, credit card surcharges fall somewhere between mildly annoying and utterly offensive. And they’re legal, as long as businesses stay within the parameters of the law. But one driver’s recent experience renewing two car registrations online with the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) is making the experience better for all consumers.
Perth Amboy intersection gets new $627K traffic safety measures
MyCentralJersey, 5/21/2024 — One of Perth Amboy's busiest intersections has been improved to increase pedestrian safety. The improvements at Smith and Goodwin streets include replacing the traffic light system to include pedestrian signals, Americans With Disabilities Act curb ramps, sidewalks and newly painted crosswalks.
Cash tolls ending on Route 202 Lambertville-New Hope bridge
MyCentralJersey.com, 5/21/2024 — June 16 will be the last day that toll collectors will be available to handle cash transactions at the bridge as well as two other low traffic bridges over the Delaware River linking Columbia and Portland, Pa. and Montague and Milford, Pa. Starting June 17, drivers can only pay via E-ZPass or TOLL BY PLATE. Tolls are charged only for traffic crossing into Pennsylvania.
Curbs in Hoboken Get Ready to Be ‘Reimagined’
Government Technology, 5/22/2024 — The city will work with a technology company and an urban design firm to digitize its streetscape, part of a project known as The Curb Reimagined, which will create a real-time, digital city map.
Improvements planned for busy Bergen County intersection ahead of 2026 World Cup games
NorthJersey.com, 5/13/2024 — The scope of the intersection improvement project includes the installation of a semi-actuated traffic light equipped with vehicle detection technology, the widening of Hackensack Street to accommodate a designated right turn lane from Union Avenue, and the relocation of the Winters Place bus stop to just north of Union Avenue with a designated cut-out to help alleviate traffic backup.
Jersey Shore drawbridge won’t be open in time for Memorial Day weekend
NJ.com, 5/23/24 — A Jersey Shore drawbridge that’s been left in the open position since early March is expected to be back in service by May 31, state Department of Transportation officials said. The Route 71 drawbridge over the Shark River between Avon and Belmar in Monmouth County has been stuck in the open position since a mechanical failure resulted in “significant damage” to the machinery that raises and lowers North Bridge span.
Drive on One of the Most Scenic Roads in the US Right Here in NJ
WOBM.com, 5/23/2024 — In Ocean County, we have some very scenic roads along our waterfront and through our pines. There is always a different type of "scenic" drive here in New Jersey. Whether it's along the Atlantic Ocean, Pine Barrens, Northwest Mountains, or Farm Country, there are all kinds of different scenes here in New Jersey.
Murphy sends scathing letter to Amtrak after nightmare rush hour commute
NJ.com, 5/24/2024 — The Wednesday evening commuting nightmare on Amtrak and NJ Transit trains running on the busy Northeast Corridor was blamed on one wire, Amtrak officials said Thursday. The downed wire resulted in service being suspended and left passengers stranded at Penn Station New York.
Here's one area NJ Transit is ahead of schedule: switching to electric vehicles
NorthJersey.com, 5/24/2024 — NJ Transit is ahead of schedule on fulfilling a state mandate to convert its light-duty, non-revenue service vehicles to zero-emission models. To date, the agency has converted 100 of its 323-vehicle fleet of cars, SUVs, vans and small trucks to plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) or battery-electric vehicles (EV). Of those 100, 81 are PHEVs and 19 are EVs, the latter including 12 Toyota BZ4X, six Chevy Bolts and one Ford Transit Cargo.
Mind the gap! The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway still has a few detours left
NorthJersey.com, 7/7/2024 — The ultimate goal of the
Hudson River Waterfront Conservancy, founded in 1984, is to have an unobstructed 15-plus mile promenade for walkers, bikers, joggers and scooter-riders to enjoy, without ever having to leave sight of the river and that amazing skyline. The problem is that the Walkway wanders through eight municipalities: Fort Lee, Edgewater, North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York, Weehawken, Hoboken and Jersey City (a ninth, Bayonne, will eventually be added to the mix).
Historic station gets $83M accessibility grant
NJ Spotlight News, 5/29/2024 — Kevin Corbett, CEO of NJ Transit, joined lawmakers and members of the Federal Transit Administration to announce $83 million in new funding to renovate the historic Brick Church Station in East Orange with fully accessible measures like elevators and high-level platforms.
Building warehouses comes with the promise of jobs
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/28/2024,
NJTPA MENTION — As the warehousing industry in Philadelphia expanded and development boomed, so, too, did warehouse employment. The most plentiful jobs, at the entry level, are often physically demanding.
Brick, Clifton among school districts to win federal aid
New Jersey Monitor, 5/29/2024 - As part of its ongoing effort to replace diesel-fueled school buses, the Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide approximately 530 school districts across nearly all states with almost $1 billion to help them purchase clean school buses, including 11 in New Jersey that will share in $12.4 million.
Dover will open new Morris Canal trail on Saturday. Take a hike into history
Daily Record, 6/14/2024 - The NJTPA, in partnership with the Canal Society and the Morris Canal Working Group have presented a plan for a continuous trail that closely follows the historic canal route. The greenway would begin in Phillipsburg, end in Jersey City and in between run through Morris, Sussex, Warren, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties.
New Proposal to Spur Transit-Oriented Development and Bolster NJ TRANSIT
NJ Business Magazine, 6/14/2024 - The Murphy Administration unveiled a legislative proposal that would direct the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to purchase up to $100 million in property from NJ TRANSIT to help expand commuter hubs across the state and meet a variety of critical needs.
Transit property pitch kicks off budget’s final weeks
NJSpotlight.com, 6/17/2024 - A last-minute budget proposal from Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration calls for spending $100 million to create mixed-use, transit-oriented developments on properties currently owned by New Jersey Transit.
Easy-to-fake temporary paper tags from car dealerships are out, MVC says
NJ.com, 7/1/2024 (PAYWALL)- The infamous New Jersey “ghost tag” is heading to the graveyard. New Jersey’s temporary paper tags, typically issued by auto dealers when a new or used vehicle is sold, that were easy to counterfeit as “ghost tags,” will be replaced by a tougher-to-fake version under a new state law that’s beginning to be implemented.
Here’s how many N.J. traffic deaths have happened so far in 2024
NJ.com, 7/2/2024 (Paywall) - Traffic deaths have increased during the first half of 2024 in New Jersey, bucking a national trend and concerning safety experts. A total of 314 people died on the roads this year, more than the 266 who were killed during the same time period in 2023, an increase of 18%.
Temporary bridge to ease Route 15 traffic mess is opening later this month
NJ.com, 7/3/2024 (PAYWALL) - State Department of Transportation officials plan to have a temporary bridge opened by mid-July after the loss of all Route 15 south lanes over a 124-year old bridge that was being replaced. The emergency lane closures last month detoured tens of thousands of cars onto local Jefferson Township streets.
Biggest federal grant in U.S. history signed for Gateway rail tunnel
NJ.com, 7/8/2024 (PAYWALL) — A history making $6.8 billion federal grant completing $11 billion in federal funding to build the $16 billion Gateway rail tunnel between New Jersey and New York was officially secured at a Monday morning ceremony in Manhattan, yards from where the first tunnel machine will start gnawing its way under the Hudson River.
Hudson Tunnel Project secures historic $6.88B federal funding grant
NJBIZ.com, 7/8/2024 — “History will remember those who led the effort to get us to a point of no return,” Gateway Development Comission CEO Kris Kolluri said during a Monday ceremony in New York to mark securing $6.88 billion in historic federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project.
Does NJ TRANSIT have electric buses? This $100M grant is a step
NorthJersey.com, 7/10/2024 — NJ TRANSIT was awarded a $99.5 million federal grant to build a bus-charging station with solar canopies at its Meadowlands Bus Garage.This was the largest grant of the 117 awarded by the Federal Transit Administration this year through one of its competitive grant programs offered through the 2021 Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act. NJ Transit will pay for the 20 percent local match required for the grant using toll credits.
Pedestrian safety projects coming to several Central Jersey towns. Here's where
MyCentralJersey.com, 7/11/2024
NJTPA MENTION — Four Central Jersey municipalities have received grants to improve pedestrian safety under the state's Safe Routes to School program: High Bridge, $530,000 . Bridgewater, $768,000. Berkeley Heights $1.2 million. New Providence, $534,000. In total, the state awarded $21.1 million for 23 projects throughout the state.
Coach is dropping 20 NJ Transit bus routes in North Jersey
NorthJersey.com, 7/11/2024 — Coach USA informed NJ TRANSIT it is preparing to prematurely terminate contracts it has with the agency for 20 bus routes in Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties. Coach sought to preserve as many of its bus services and jobs as possible by reaching asset purchase agreements with companies, including The Renco Group, Inc., which agreed to buy Rockland Coaches and Suburban Transit. Suburban operates 14 NJ TRANSIT routes in Middlesex County and one in Union.
Zeem to bring electric truck depot to Port Newark, NJ
Fleet Equipment Magazine, 5/29/2024 - Zeem Solutions announced a large-scale electric truck depot development near Port Newark, New Jersey. Phase I of its construction operations are planned for Q4 of 2025. Zeem says the site will serve regional fleet operators with electric trucks, overnight parking and charging for 200 trucks, and additional charging for up to 300 electric trucks during the day.
Program Asks Summer Visitors to Be ‘Street Smart’
TheSandPaper.net, 5/29/2024 - With millions of people expected to visit the Jersey Shore this summer, police departments across Long Beach Island are participating in Street Smart NJ to raise awareness about pedestrian safety.
N.J. drawbridge that was stuck open is repaired. Here’s when it’ll be back in service.
NJ.com, 5/30/2024 (PAYWALL) - Despite the bad weather that put an early end to Memorial Day beach trips and sparked an early exodus from the Jersey Shore Monday, state Department of Transportation bridge crews kept working. The diligent crews working on the Route 71 drawbridge between Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea over the holiday weekend completed repairs, meaning the elderly span moves to testing, which will determine when it goes back in service.
The Clock is Ticking for Access Link
TheMontclarion.org, 5/30/2024 - It is cold, rainy and the bus is nowhere to be found. Minutes turn to hours, the schedule says one thing and your phone another. This is an all too common reality for people who ride Access Link. Access Link, NJ Transit’s paratransit service, was designed for those who are unable to use traditional public transportation. Access Link is supposed to offer convenient transportation that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regardless of the person’s disability.
Precious cargo: How safe is your kid’s school bus? N.J. inspection reports revealed.
NJ.com, 5/30/2024 (PAYWALL) - Bus #151 had collected 28 Edison students bound for John Adams Middle School by the time the driver realized they were in danger. As she approached a stop sign to turn, Bienvenid Almonte later wrote in her report, “the bus accelerated and lost all brakes.” In a split-second, she veered off of Rahway Road and onto a vacant lot, hoping to lose as much momentum as she could before the bus careened into the side of a house.
The Bayonne Bridge was raised to let bigger ships pass. Now comes more dredging
NorthJersey.com, 5/30/2024 - Preparing for a future of bigger ships and more cargo was the focus of three announcements Wednesday —including a project to dredge the Kill Van Kull five feet deeper beneath the Bayonne Bridge — at the ports of New York and New Jersey.
Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said the investments — made possible through a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — are critical to keeping the New York-New Jersey ports among the most competitive in the world. The ports consistently rank as the busiest on the U.S. East Coast and No. 2 in the country.
Truckers suing to block New York's congestion fee for Manhattan drivers
Newsday.com, 5/31/2024 - The Trucking Association of New York filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which developed the toll scheme, arguing the higher fees unfairly and unconstitutionally target the trucking industry. The trucking association’s lawsuit is among at least eight seeking to block the congestion fee plan, which is slated to launch June 30.
New Jersey Senate approves bill to improve pothole repair
Landline.com, 5/31/2024 - Potholes are again getting attention at the New Jersey statehouse. Potholes are enough of an issue in the state to warrant an online pothole damage claim form. The Senate voted unanimously to advance a bill that is intended to address concerns about pothole damage to roads and bridges throughout the Garden State.
TWU Ratifies Three-Year Contract With NJ Transit
Railway Age, 6/3/2024 - The new contract, which will go into effect on July 1, the day after the current agreement expires, was ratified with 80% of votes in favor for the unit representing 180 car inspectors, car mechanics and coach cleaners.
Used car buyers in N.J. will soon have to make one less trip to the DMV
NJ.com, 6/3/2024 - When drivers make that wonderful final payment on a car loan, that milestone is celebrated when they get the title in the mail. But it’s not always a seamless process and a glitch can mean problems and multiple visits to a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission center to straighten it out.
New Jersey’s Leaders Celebrate Shelving of Congestion Pricing
NYtimes.com, 6/7/2024 - Gov. Kathy Hochul’s surprising decision on Wednesday not to start tolling drivers entering Manhattan this month set off an immediate celebration among political leaders in New Jersey. But transit advocates warned that the indefinite delay of congestion pricing was no victory for the state’s beleaguered commuters.
NYC congestion pricing is on hold. How did that happen? What's next? What about NJ suit?
msn.com, 6/7/2024 - The last 24 hours have been a blur for followers of the congestion pricing program for drivers entering Manhattan, which was “indefinitely paused” by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday. Her announcement came just weeks before the planned June 30 start date, when automobiles entering Manhattan below 60th Street would face toll rates ranging from $3.75 to $15 depending on the time of day.
Hudson Tunnel Project unlocks $25M in grant funding
NJBIZ.com, 6/10/2024 - Officials last week signed a $25 million grant agreement to fund a key early component of the Hudson Tunnel Project and broader Gateway Program The funding comes via the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity Raise (RAISE) grant program. The June 2023 award covers the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation Project. That work is already underway in North Bergen.
NJ Transit, Amtrak meet to avoid summer of commuting hell
NJ.com, 6/11/2024 (PAYWALL) - Veteran commuters recall the 2010s had several summers of commuting "hell" prompted by failing old infrastructure on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor line, and the agency doing critical repair work to fix it.
NYC congestion pricing advocates plan lawsuit to keep Hochul from halting toll
NorthJersey.com, 6/12/2024 - If congestion pricing wasn’t already synonymous with litigation, it is now. Another deluge of lawsuits could be coming in the next few weeks, this time from the advocates of congestion pricing who have formed a new coalition, led by New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, in the aftermath of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s abrupt decision last week to pause the Manhattan tolling program she loudly supported until recently.
Low Seawalls On Hoboken Streets Will Be Topic Of Public DEP Meeting Tuesday
Patch.com, 6/13/2024 - Construction is set to start later this month on "resist structures," which would act as low walls on city streets to resist flooding. Residents can find out more about the plans at a meeting Tuesday involving the City of Hoboken and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Coach USA files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
NJBIZ, 6/12/2024 - Coach USA said it has initiated court-supervised sales for its businesses, adding the move aims to “preserve jobs, ensure continued service and maximize the value of our businesses.” The company has 2,700 employees throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company "is operating as normal and remains focused on operating safely and serving customers."
A new emphasis on electrifying NJ’s school bus fleet
NJ Spotlight News, 6/13/2024 - A bill (
A-1677) advanced out of the Assembly Education Committee last week would extend terms for lease and purchase contracts for electric school buses to last the service life of the bus. The New Jersey School Boards Association would also help local districts obtain electric school buses by working as a government aggregator.
Local activists, mayors urge passage of new business tax to fund NJ Transit
New Jersey Monitor, 6/13/2024 - Activists said they would prefer to bring back the business tax surcharge that expired last year, which affected 3,000 businesses (the proposed transit tax will only hit 300 businesses). They also stressed that NJ Transit faces a budget gap next year that exceeds $700 million.
State pitches $100M plan to develop NJ Transit properties
New Jersey Monitor, 6/14/2024 - Under the proposal, whose details are still being negotiated, the state Economic Development Authority would be required to remit a portion of its proceeds back to NJ Transit if the sale or lease of a transit property exceeds the authority’s purchasing costs.
Fairview Traffic Light Hearing June 25
MyVeronaNJ.com, 6/17/2024
NJTPA MENTION - In November 2020 Essex County said that it was getting $26.4 million in federal grants from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority to make safety improvements at 39 intersections throughout the county.
Passaic envisions extensive bike path system. Here's what it could include
NorthJersey.com, 6/17/2024
NJTPA MENTION - The county received $300,000 from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and with a 25% match, the county had $375,000 to begin planning for the pathways. It has completed some projects like the old New York and Greenwood Lake rail bed and portions of the Morris Canal.
NJ Transit reopens Elizabeth station after $74M renovation and expansion
NorthJersey.com, 6/19/2024 - The station fully reopened Tuesday and is the centerpiece of a city trying to enhance its downtown with new development. Unique touches of the city can be seen throughout the renovated building interior and along the fencing, including the iconic arches that support the tracks and a nearby church that dates to the 17th century.
Another summer of hell for riders? NJ Transit, Amtrak repair aging system
NorthJersey.com, 6/19/2024 - Michelle D. was one of the thousands of NJ Transit commuters who had an hours-long, hellish journey home recently after wires fell on the tracks a few miles from New York Penn Station, halting trains along the nation's busiest stretch of rail at the worst possible time — 5:05 p.m.
N.J. House delegation demands federal investigation into repeated Amtrak issues
New Jersey Globe, 6/25/2024 - After a hellish week of delays for NJ Transit commuters caused by issues with Amtrak wires and signals, New Jersey’s entire House delegation sent a letter today to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg asking for a federal investigation to determine what led to the breakdowns and what can be done to prevent similar disasters in the future.
Perth Amboy Breaks Ground on Downtown Pocket Park
TAP Into Raritan Bay, 6/26/2024,
NJTPA MENTION, City officials are unveiling plans to build a downtown pocket park at Smith Street and Madison Avenue, formerly known as Fink Park, as part of an ongoing effort to curate more green spaces throughout the neighborhoods.
Are NJ Transit fares going up? Here's what you need to know
NorthJersey.com, 6/27/2024 - NJ Transit's annual fare increases until the end of time begin Monday. Ticket prices at the public transportation agency go up 15% — and even more for riders who use expiring discount programs — starting July 1, the first rise in fares in nine years and the start of 3% annual fare increases going forward.
Lawmakers advance new business surtax aimed at funding NJ Transit
New Jersey Monitor, 6/27/2024 - The 2.5% surtax — called the corporate transit fee — would apply to businesses with more than $10 million in profit. It would affect roughly 600 businesses, is expected to generate about $1 billion in its first year, and would sunset after five years.
Clifton officials, residents not fans of Passaic County's safety fix for Allwood Road
NorthJersey.com, 6/28/2024 -
NJTPA MENTION - Passaic County's plan to improve safety along several miles of Allwood Road in Clifton was not well received by residents who attended a special presentation.The county's plan seeks to slow speeders along the accident-prone county road by cutting its existing four lanes, two in each direction, down to one in each direction with a dedicated turning lane in between. The plan also calls for bike lanes and other improvements.
Carteret awarded $5.6M grant for ferry terminal project
NJ BIZ, 6/27/2024 - Carteret received $5.6 million in funding for its planned Carteret Intermodal Transportation Building project as part of $1.8 billion round of grant awards from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funding comes via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program.
Blowing off tolls? Port Authority nailed 55% more motorists this year.
NJ.com, 8/6/2024 (PAYWALL) — Think twice if you’re considering blowing off paying a toll at one of the Port Authority’s six bridges and tunnels. Arrests and summonses for toll evaders was up by more than 50% in the first half of 2024, compared to the same period last year, the agency said.
NJ TRANSIT to the Rescue: Takes Over Abandoned Bus Routes
NJ1015.com, 8/12/2024 — NJ TRANSIT is coming to the rescue again for bus commuters who lost their ride.
Coach USA in June started Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and found a buyer for its Suburban Lines in order to stay on the road. The company, however, notified NJ TRANSIT on July 10 that it intended to walk away from three of five contacts effective Aug. 16 in Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties.
Gottheimer’s plan for getting NJ Transit, Amtrak back on track
NJ Spotlight News, 8/12/2024 — The second part of his bill would require Amtrak to begin spending the $66 million that was allocated to the agency through the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Many of the problems have been attributed to Amtrak’s old infrastructure and rails that NJ TRANSIT trains travel on. NJ TRANSIT pays Amtrak $100 million a year for use of those rails.
Belmar hosts Walkable Community Workshop to enhance 8th Avenue
Tapinto.net, 8/4/2024,
NJTPA MENTION — The Borough of Belmar is inviting residents, employees, and local businesses to participate in a Walkable Community Workshop on Thursday, August 22. ... This workshop aims to engage the community in addressing walkability and bikeability issues along 8th Avenue, specifically between Ocean Avenue and D Street.
County planning to repair historic Clinton bridge
TAPinto Flemington/Raritan, 8/14/2024,
NJTPA MENTION — Commissioners approved a $6,000 contract with Michael Baker to develop plans for grants to repair the historic truss bridge in Clinton. Administrator Brad Myhre said the repair cost could run as high as $4 million, and that the county would seek funding through NJTPA, the state transportation department and state historic preservation agencies.
The cost of owning and operating a car in NJ is rising
NorthJersey.com, 08/15/2024 — It’s getting more expensive to own and operate a car in New Jersey and across the nation. Thank factors like inflation and higher interest rates, which have driven up the price of insurance and the cost of buying a car.
Officials still don’t know what broke America’s busiest rail corridor
Politico, 8/20/2024 - Commuters into New York City got pummeled by train delays and cancellations this summer, and nobody knows how to stop it from happening again. Even if they did, resuscitating the vital rail arterial into Manhattan could take years and untold amounts of money.
Monmouth County To Host Meeting On Tennent Road Improvements Project
Patch.com, 8/20/2024,
NJTPA Mention — Monmouth County will host an online meeting on Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. to inform residents of a study being conducted to find ways to improve safety and congestion along Tennent Road from Devon Drive to Kensington Drive in Manalapan.
Traffic Relief in Middlesex County, NJ- New Lanes Opening Along Route 1
A project designed to reduce traffic along Route 1 in Middlesex County and make your commute a bit smoother is getting underway. The New Jersey Department of Transportation is extending the length of the highway on which drivers can use the shoulder as a travel lane, at least temporarily.
NJ Transit customers ride for free all week long: here's what to know
Don't try to pay the fare for NJ Transit rides this week -- it's free.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced that a one-week "fare holiday" will take place for NJ Transit commuters as a "Thank you" to customers who depend on public transportation -- that unfortunately was plagued with continuous issues throughout the summer months.
Passengers savor brief NJ Transit fare holiday
NJ Spotlight News, 8/26/2024 - New Jersey Transit riders are currently enjoying eight consecutive days of free rides. The fare holiday, from Aug. 26 through Sept. 2, which will cost NJ Transit an estimated $19 million, comes after a tumultuous summer that saw a 15% fare hike and widespread delays and cancellations.
Burlington County partnership to increase police presence around River Line communities
Whyy.org, 8/26/2024 - For the last couple of weeks, Burlington County sheriff’s officers have been patrolling the streets in the towns served by NJ Transit’s River Line, from Palmyra to Bordentown. It’s part of a partnership between the municipalities, the sheriff’s office and NJ Transit police to actively protect neighborhoods near the light rail.
Newark airport braces for record-breaking Labor Day weekend travel
Newark Airport is bracing for a busy Labor Day weekend. Port Authority is expecting 6.7 million travelers to use their airports and crossings during the Labor Day travel period. United Airlines tells News 12 that between Thursday, Aug. 29, through Tuesday, Sept. 3, more than 2.9 million people will use their airlines. That's a 4% increase from last year.
College students can get a free NJ Transit monthly pass. Here’s how.
NJ Transit is rolling out a new promotion this fall to help college students across three states save money during the school year. Students who buy their monthly passes through the NJ Transit mobile app in September, October and November will get a free month of travel in December, the agency announced earlier this month.
To qualify for the free pass, students at partner colleges or universities must purchase a student monthly pass using the agency’s app for three consecutive months.
N.Y. - N.J. Port Authority revenues are up over last year. Will the trend continue?
NJ.com, 4/30/2024 (PAYWALL) - Port Authority officials were brimming with good news: revenues for the first quarter of 2024 were up by $31 million compared to 2023 and $16 million more than budgeted for. Citing strong airport recovery and proactive toll increases on the authority’s six bridges and tunnels that had minimal impact on traffic levels, Fitch Ratings gave a stable AA- ranking to a $650 million Port Authority bond issue that would fund major capital projects.
Warehouse industry reports point to possible slowdown
NJ Spotlight News, 4/30/2024 - Recent data from state and industry sources shows a sharp slowing in the number of building permits issued for warehouse construction last year in New Jersey. Those sources also show a new rise in vacancies, and a lower rate of increase in rents for the giant buildings, which have been springing up throughout the state for several years.
N.J. drawbridge is still stuck in the open position. Free shuttle should help, officials say.
NJ.com, 4/30/2024 - People who normally use the Route 71 bridge over the Shark River between Avon and Belmar that’s been stuck in the open position since early March will get a free shuttle bus to ride until the span is fixed. The free ride between the business districts of Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea was announced by the state Department of Transportation and will start Wednesday morning. It will operate until the bridge is fixed.
Bipartisan bill tasks FAA with ensuring safer takeoffs, flights and landings
NJ Spotlight News, 5/7/2024 - The bill requires a study about expanding access for “lower cost passenger carriers at capacity constrained” airports, specifically Newark Liberty International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, and it establishes a federal center near Atlantic City as an aviation and aerospace hub.
Fatal crashes rise in NJ, Central Jersey is hot spot
NJ Spotlight News, 5/3/2024 - Fatal crashes are up 28% statewide over the last year, according to new data from the New Jersey State Police, and Central Jersey is a hot spot for the problem. There have been 197 fatal crashes statewide so far this year, with 21 of those occurring in either Middlesex County or Monmouth County.
NJ Bus Companies Could Face New Rules If They Plan To Cut Routes
Patch.com, 5/9/2024 - Over the past few years, four private bus companies have ended or discontinued bus routes in the Garden State: A&C, DeCamp, Coach USA and TransDev. Advocates say the news came as a shock to many riders, who were caught unaware and left in the lurch as they scrambled to find new ways to get to work or other important destinations. That shouldn’t be the case, several state lawmakers say.
New Flyer awarded contract from NJ Transit for up to 1,300 clean diesel buses
Mass Transit, 5/16/2024 — NFI Group Inc.'s subsidiary, New Flyer of America Inc. (New Flyer), has been awarded a contract from NJ Transit for the purchase of up to 1,300 Xcelsior 40-foot clean-diesel transit buses.
This contract is pursuant to the November 2023 NJ Transit Board authorization for NJ Transit to enter into contracts for 550 40-foot transit buses and options to purchase up to 750 additional 40-foot transit buses.
NBPA Board Votes to Increase Parking Rates at Public Decks
New Brunswick Today, 9/1/2024 - The state’s largest parking authority has raised the rates to park in all nine of its decks, starting September 1. The decision came from the New Brunswick Parking Authority (NBPA) Board of Commissioners, at the suggestion of the agency’s longtime boss, Mitch Karon.
Here's when North Jersey's major highways were built and expanded
New Jersey Herald, 9/4/2024 - Route 46 is a true major New Jersey highway. It starts and ends in the Garden State. It runs east to west in the northern part of the state. It begins in Knowlton, near the Pennsylvania border, and ends at the George Washington Bridge.
US Port Talks Kick Off in Effort to Avoid Strike
The union representing East and Gulf coast dockworkers kicks off a two-day meeting Sept. 4 in New Jersey to discuss wage demands with port employers under the threat of a strike that would disrupt maritime trade gateways from Houston to Boston.
Lambertville, NJDOT Officials To Look at Pedestrian Safety
New Hope Free Press, 9/8/2024 - The main reason the city is joining is to address safety issues associated with walking and biking in the City of Lambertville, which can be difficult during high-traffic times like the weekend and the Christmas season. The city will look to create wider street corridors, where possible, to accommodate all road users, including kids walking to school in the morning and the mobility-challenged.
Traffic deaths have fallen in the U.S. this year, but not in N.J
NJ.com, 9/7/2024 (PAYWALL) - The number of people who were killed on the nation’s roads declined slightly during the first half of 2024 when compared to the first six months of 2023, except in New Jersey. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said traffic fatalities fell nationwide by 3.2% between January and June, based on estimates.
New Jersey is One of The Best States for Teen Drivers, According to New Report
A North Jersey county also ranks high on a list of best areas for driving tests. Getting a driver’s license is a rite of passage as a teen – and also a source of constant stress and anxiety for the parents. Good news shows that NJ teens are protected by safety laws while on the road, with New Jersey ranking 3rd on a list of the Best States for Teen Drivers, according to a new Wallet Hub report.
Defensive driving programs in New Jersey: Costs, benefits, course options
Driving can be stressful, especially here in New Jersey.
No matter your age, or how great a driver you've been told you are, mistakes can happen.
According to the state Motor Vehicle Commission, most road accidents are caused by driver error. To combat such mistakes, drivers of all skill levels and ages can take defensive driving courses, many of which are approved by the state and can have several benefits.
Governor’s plan for funding NJ Transit is getting scrutiny
NJ Spotlight News, 4/22/2024 - Under the governor’s nearly $56 billion spending plan, a small group of only the state’s most profitable companies would be forced to dig deeper, with the additional revenue earmarked for New Jersey Transit, the state’s chronically cash-strapped bus and rail agency. For some lawmakers, a key issue is whether the governor has picked the right tax to dedicate to supporting NJ Transit’s strained operating budget over the long haul.
The new Manhattan congestion pricing toll will go into effect June 30 NorthJersey.com, 4/26/24 - The MTA's congestion pricing plan for Manhattan will go into effect on June 30. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority officially passed the plan that will charge vehicles entering Manhattan from New Jersey using the Holland and Lincoln tunnels. Rates vary and there are exceptions.
Verona Selected for 'Complete Streets' Technical Assistance TAPinto Verona/Cedar Grove, 4/27/2024 -
NJTPA MENTION - Verona Township will conduct a Complete Streets Corridor Assessment along a half-mile stretch of Linden Avenue through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Complete Streets Technical Assistance Program.
Middlesex County officials tout major transportation projects MyCentralJersey.com, 4/25/2024 - Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios noted transportation infrastructure investments making significant headway, like the remodeling of the New Brunswick train station and the construction of the North Brunswick train station,
Push to use sales tax revenue to help fund NJ Transit NJ Spotlight News, 4/24/2024 - Business lobbyists are suggesting that instead of raising corporate taxes to fund New Jersey Transit, the state should use New Jersey’s fast-growing sales tax revenues to prop up the beleaguered agency.
New Jersey crowned most densely populated state in the US. Here's why Asbury Park Press, 4/23/2024 - It's no secret that New Jersey's quite popular during the summer season. And according to new list by the finance website, Insider Monkey, there are 19 most densely populated states and New Jerseys ranks at the number one spot. Tell us something that we don't know.
Wayne Township Council approves changes to alter traffic at dangerous intersection News12 New Jersey, 4/3/2024 - The Wayne Township Council approved changes to alter the traffic pattern at the intersection of Armstrong Avenue and Hamburg Turnpike, where there have been 40 crashes over the past five years – three of which have been deadly. The change is expected to go into effect in about a month. However, with the suggested changes from residents during the meeting, the council could revisit more changes to the intersection in the future.
What drivers need to know as NJ makes electric vehicles more expensive Gothamist, 4/3/2024 - A law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy will charge EV drivers an annual fee on top of their normal yearly registrations starting July 1. That fee is $250 this year, and will rise $10 per year until it tops out at $290. Buyers of new vehicles will pay four years, or more than $1,000, upfront. Purchases of hybrid vehicles are not subject to this new fee.
New Jersey goes to court against congestion-pricing tolls NJ Spotlight News, 4/3/2024 - With little time to spare, the Murphy administration claimed the plan will only divert more traffic through local neighborhoods, without offering to mitigate the environmental impact of added air pollution — or sharing any of the revenue with NJ Transit agencies.
Which Monmouth and Ocean bridges need to be fixed? These 24 are on the list Asbury Park Press, (PAYWALL) 4/1/2024 - In early March, the Route 71 bridge linking Belmar and Avon stopped opening to boat traffic. The unexpected closure due to a mechanical failure adds the bridge to a list of bridges in New Jersey with poor ratings that are proposed to be monitored more frequently, rehabilitated or replaced.
Baltimore bridge collapse will send more cargo ships to N.J. NJ.com, 3/28/2024 - The effects of Tuesday's collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor will be felt in New Jersey, with more ships detoured to the nation’s second-busiest container port, and a renewed focus on safety, an engineering expert said.
New Jersey Gov. Murphy renews state’s Transportation Trust Fund for five years Mass Transit Magazine, 3/27/2024 - On March 26, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation to renew the state’s Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) for five more years, which will invest billions to modernize and maintain New Jersey’s statewide transportation infrastructure while providing additional capital funding for New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit).
It’s going to cost more for you to drive in N.J. — for both gas and electric cars NJ.com, 3/26/2024 (PAYWALL) - It’s going to get more expensive for you to drive in New Jersey, no matter what kind of car you have. New Jersey drivers will see their gas taxes incrasing on an annual basis, and buyers of electric vehicles will begin paying a first-ever annual fee for road maintenance starting July 1, under a law signed by Gov. Phil Murphy Tuesday.
NYC ports expect increased shipping traffic following Baltimore bridge collapse AMNY, 3/26/2024 - The Port Authority said it expects additional cargo traffic at the Port of New York and New Jersey from ships diverting course away from Baltimore. The bi-state agency says it has the capacity to handle more cargo than it currently is, noting it saw 20% more cargo in 2021 than now, but also expects many ships to divert instead to other East Coast ports further south, like Norfolk, Va., or Savannah, Geo.
Gov. Murphy signs gas tax hike, electric vehicle fee into law New Jersey Monitor, 3/26/2024 - The bill, which passed both chambers in near party-line votes, will raise revenue targets for New Jersey’s gas taxes by roughly 18% over five years, an increase lawmakers have said would add roughly 2 cents to the state’s fuel levies annually.
Get ready for a smoother landing. Newark airport’s busiest runway is getting repaved. NJ.com, 3/22/2024 (PAYWALL) - A smoother landing and take off are coming to Newark airport's busiest runway. Port Authority commissioners authorized spending $134 million on a project that would rehabilitate the surface of the runway that handled 213,149 total flights in 2023, which is approximately 50.8% of all operations at the airport.
County Commissioners Condemn Gas Tax, Toll Hikes Jersey Shore Online, 3/22/2024 - Recent state increases of the gas tax, tolls and transit fares are just too much for residents to handle according to members of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners. With those increases looming the Commissioners made their position clear that commuters and motorists can’t continue to absorb the burden of higher taxes and fees.
Port Authority OKs new Newark transit hub NJ Spotlight News, 3/21/2024 - The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey unanimously approved a new, $160 million transit hub along Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark’s South Ward that would link it to the Newark AirTrain Station.
How to report a pothole in New Jersey and get it fixed NorthJersey.com, 3/21/2024 - Potholes are a persistent nuisance for drivers across New Jersey, causing damage to vehicles and posing safety risks. However, residents can take action to address these road hazards by reporting them to the appropriate authorities.
Auto deaths by NJ elderly drivers raise questions on when seniors should give up the keys NorthJersey.com, 3/18/2024 - New Jersey is a state that doesn't make it easy to give up the keys. Much of the state's infrastructure was built around driving. Much of its transit system was built for commuters to get into New York, not around the state. Loss of driving becomes a loss of independence, especially in classic postwar suburbs, where some communities don't even have sidewalks.
The reasons why NJ Transit’s 15% fare hike will go ahead NJ.com, 3/17/2024 (PAYWALL) - Gov. Phil Murphy proposed a Corporate Transit Fee, announced in his Feb. 27 budget address, that would provide $859 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2026, which will avert a $766 million gap in upcoming NJ Transit budgets. For now, NJ Transit is largest transit agency in the nation without a dedicated funding source for operations, but that would change under this proposal.
An automatic gas tax hike and new electric vehicle fee race toward passage in N.J. NJ.com, 3/14/2024 - The legislation proposes changing the state’s gas tax formula in fiscal year 2025, which starts on July 1, to raise $2.3 billion in revenue for the trust fund that finances major highway and transit projects. That revenue goal would increase to $2.115 billion in fiscal year 2026, $2.119 billion in FY 2027, $2.366 billion in FY 2028 and $2.366 billion in FY 2029.
NJ Transit extends light rail contract while looking for a new operator NJ.com, 3/13/2024 (PAYWALL) - NJ Transit’s board voted Tuesday to approve a $42 million extension of the contract with the legacy company that built the agency’s first light rail system almost 25 years ago and has been contracted to operate and maintain it since. The current contract with Twenty First Century rail ends on April 14, 2025.
$10B Midtown Bus Terminal project advances NJBIZ, 3/13/2024 - Under the agreement announced Tuesday, New York City has committed 40 years of tax revenue. That will help the Port Authority raise an estimated $2 billion – or 20% of project costs – from three potential, new commercial developments. Two will sit atop the updated bus terminal while the third is a nearby site that the Port Authority owns with private entities.
Hoboken Connect Project to 'Transform the Terminal' Set to Break Ground Tapinto.net, 3/13/2024 - A project that will “transform” the Hoboken Terminal, turning it into one of the “crown jewels” of the NJ TRANSIT system is set to get underway. The Hoboken Connect project will break ground in the coming months after a contract was approved with LCOR Hoboken Rail Station Redevelopment by NJ TRANSIT.
Roadwork may detour traffic along Edison, Metuchen border for six months MyCentralJersey.com, 3/13/2024 - Motorists traveling the Edison and Metuchen border just off Route 1 may soon face a six-month detour. The Middlesex County Engineer's Office has elected to replace the existing culvert on Orchard Street over a tributary to Mill Brook to meet current loading standards and better accommodate pedestrians.
These are the concerns shared by NJ Transit riders opposed to a fare increase NorthJersey.com, 3/13/2024 - Distrust of the agency’s decisions, requests for changes and in some cases outright opposition to a fare increase proposal were the overarching themes NJ Transit’s board members heard from riders during 10 public hearings last week. Of NJ Transit’s 750,000 average daily weekday riders, 121 spoke at the in-person-only hearings.
Why New Jersey's electric vehicle mandate is stalling Asbury Park Press, 3/13/2024 - Dave Bye of Eatontown wanted to buy an electric vehicle, but when his condo association refused to let him install a charger at his parking space or in any of their lots, his dreams drained like a dying battery.
NJ Transit may finally have dedicated funding, but still needs a 15% fare hike, officials says NJ.com, 3/12/2024 (PAYWALL) - NJ Transit’s proposed fiscal year 2025 budget is projected to top $3 billion, the largest budget in its history and for the first time in five years, doesn't predict a future fiscal cliff in approaching years. A year ago that wasn’t the case, when an initial $119 million fiscal cliff was predicted for fiscal year 2025 that starts on July 1. That increased to $917 million for fiscal year 2026 and $957 million the following fiscal year.
Get ready for months of detours as NJ replaces Squirrelwood Road bridge over Route 80 NorthJersey.com, 3/12/2024 - Drivers should prepare for months of detours as the $12.2 million Squirrelwood Road bridge replacement project by the state Transportation Department gets started in April. For much of the project, drivers headed north and looking to cross the bridge will be rerouted first to Route 80 east to Exit 57B, where they will make a U-turn and get on Route 80 west back to Squirrelwood Road, and then get on northbound Squirrelwood Road/Nagle Street.
NJ's transit stations could help spur more affordable housing NJ Spotlight News, 3/11/2024 - Transit-oriented development could be key to solving the region’s affordable housing crisis, according to a new report from the Regional Plan Association that found 74,000 acres of underutilized land surrounding commuter rail stations in New Jersey and New York. The report found 144 transit stations that could see rezoning and redevelopment but there are plenty of obstacles to mixed-use development as well.
15% NJ Transit fare hike would be a ‘huge burden’ on working New Jerseyans, riders say NJ.com, 3/9/2024 - Friday was the end of a public comment period on the potential hike. NJ Transit’s board of directors is scheduled to vote on the fare increase on April 10. Pending approval it would take effect on July 1. After that, the proposal calls for an automatic 3% annual fare increase starting on July 1, 2025, and occurring annually without an end date.
Central Jersey infrastructure projects may get $25M in federal funding MyCentralJersey.com, 3/8/2024 - Projects ranging from electric passenger vans in Edison and the restoration of Camp Cromwell in Bridgewater to road projects in Plainfield, South Brunswick and Dunellen are among those in Central Jersey included in a federal funding bill passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
License-plate readers are coming to these N.J. bridges NJ.com, 3/7/2024 - Seeing an increasing need to better monitor those driving between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, authorities are installing license-plate-reading cameras on bridges linking the Garden State to Philadelphia and its suburbs.
Assembly panel advances bill to hike gas tax after hearing mixed reception New Jersey Monitor, 3/7/2024 - An Assembly panel in a party-line vote Thursday approved a bill that would increase New Jersey's gas taxes and impose an annual fee on electric vehicle registrations to continue funding the state’s transportation trust fund. The bill would raise the gas taxes’ $2 billion revenue target by $366 million over five years, with the first $32 million increase set to hit on Jan. 1, and it would levy an annual $250 fee on zero-emission vehicle registrations that would rise to $290 by July 2028.
Murphy proposes new fee on warehouse truck traffic NJ Spotlight News, 3/6/2024 - Gov. Phil Murphy proposed a $1 tax for every truck movement and projected that the revenue would amount to $10 million for the state’s general fund. Part of Murphy’s fiscal year 2025 spending plan presented last week, the money would go toward alleviating the impact on traffic and roads.
NJ wins money for parks, shoreline and more in federal budget bill NJ Spotlight News, 3/6/2024 - NJ TRANSIT is in line to get $1.6 million for a light transit project in Edison. The bill also contains funding for a slew of water projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete in the waters that bound New York and New Jersey, including $7 million to deepen the New York-New Jersey harbor channel, $13 million for “drift removal” in the harbor and $54.1 million to run the harbor.
After a 5-year delay, Route 23 bridge replacement has begun. Expect lane closures NorthJersey.com, 3/6/2024 - The tricky project to replace the bridge has shifted the traffic to the left to create a work zone on the right side of the bridge over the Pequannock River between Reservoir and Canistear roads. The right lane and shoulder is expected to remain closed through the summer, according to local officials. The closure will allow workers to demolish and rebuild the right side of the bridge in a staged reconstruction project.
You'll be hit with a new tax increase soon if N.J. leaders get their way NJ.com, 3/5/2024 - New Jersey is poised to gradually increase its tax on gasoline by nearly 10 cents a gallon and charge a fee on electric vehicles over the next five years, under a new plan pushed by state leaders to keep state infrastructure funding from falling off a cliff. It would also impose a fee ranging from $250 to $290 a year on electric vehicles over that period.
NJ Transit needs to delay 15% fare hike, lawmakers demand NJ.com, 3/5/2024 - Retired state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg isn’t done with NJ Transit. She and state Assemblywoman Shama Haider, D-Bergen, said NJ Transit’s board of directors should delay an April vote on am 15% fare increase until more information is known about the business transit fee Gov. Phil Murphy proposed during last week’s budget message.
Murphy’s planned corporate transit tax to fund NJ Transit prompts praise and jeers NJ Monitor, 2/28/24 - Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposal to fund NJ Transit with a new business tax is drawing mixed reactions, with critics jeering it as a poorly veiled rebranding of New Jersey’s recently sunsetted corporate business tax surcharge and supporters welcoming a dedicated revenue stream for the troubled transit agency.
To fix NJ Transit budget woes, Murphy proposes new corporate tax NorthJersey.com, 2/27/2024 - A plan to address NJ Transit's gloomy fiscal picture is the centerpiece of Gov. Phil Murphy's budget proposal for fiscal year 2025. A new “corporate transit fee” Murphy pitched in his budget speech Tuesday would levy a 2.5% charge on businesses that make more than $10 million in profit annually, and the revenue — estimated to start off at more than $800 million a year — would go to to NJ Transit.
NJ county launches own rideshare, offers free rides for 2 weeks NJ1015.com, 2/26/2024 -Some New Jersey residents who need a local ride can get one for free until March 12. On Tuesday, Middlesex County is launching its RIDE On Demand service in an effort to address the county's transit gaps. But it's running in only one city for the time being.
New Jersey Program Will Electrify School Buses Across the State thetruthaboutcars.com, 2/23/2024 - Love them or hate them, there are quite a few use cases in which an EV is the ideal vehicle. Public transportation, route deliveries, and school buses are great examples of vehicle types that would benefit from electrification, and New Jersey is putting money behind that thought to send electric school buses to 18 school districts.
'Sleeping giant': NJ Transit eyes affordable housing, sidewalks for Route 9 bus commuters APP.com, 2/23/2024 - Could the next round of affordable housing be built along Route 9 in Monmouth County? NJ Transit is looking into ways to transform Route 9 so that it is becomes a more commuter- and pedestrian-friendly corridor. The ideas, which vary from town to town, could include creating better pedestrian access to bus stops, filling vacant retail spaces with commuter-oriented stores and allowing for more housing along Route 9.
Feds deliver $19M for electric school buses in NJ NJ Spotlight News, 2/23/2024 - The Biden administration is sending $19 million to some of New Jersey’s largest districts to put more electric school buses on the road. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) on Thursday touted the funds going toward new busses in five districts: Union City, Elizabeth, Newark, Bloomfield and Lakewood. The grant was awarded to Van-Con, Inc., which serves those districts and will use the money to purchase 42 new electric school buses and 28 bus chargers.
Newly renovated PATH station opens today in Harrison News12 New Jersey, 2/21/2024 - A new station house in Harrison opens to the public today, replacing a nearly century-old structure. At its peak in 2019, 2.6 million customers used Harrison Station, according to PATH officials.
Hoboken councilman takes to the streets as e-delivery rider NJSpotlightNews.org, 2/20/2024 - Hoboken City Councilman Paul Presinzano is keeping true to a promise to try keep pedestrians safe from the surge of e-bikes that have been zipping up and down sidewalks of the city. His latest effort: Presinzano took a part-time job as an e-delivery rider with UberEats to understand challenges that delivery riders face.
E-bikes will have to be registered with the N.J. MVC under proposed law NJ.com, 2/19/2024 - A bill that would require owners of low-speed electric bikes and scooters to register and insure them like cars is being sent back to its author for changes after concerns were expressed on Thursday from opponents ranging from insurance industry, to bike companies and advocates.
Vehicle been recalled? New bill will make it easier to find out NJ.com, 2/19/2024 -Vehicle owners, especially those who bought one used, could have an extra way to learn if the manufacturer recalled the vehicle for a safety defect under a proposed bill that would require that information be included with the annual registration notice.
Hudson riverbed will be stabilized for new Gateway rail tunnel NorthJersey.com, 2/16/2024 - The Gateway Development Commission has authorized a $100 million contract to begin the first phase of ground stabilization work — the first "heavy construction" and underwater work — for the $16 billion Hudson River railroad tunnels project.
Will one of Central Jersey's worst traffic bottlenecks finally be fixed? MyCentralJersey.com, 2/14/2024 - One of the busiest intersections and congested traffic bottlenecks in Central Jersey is being targeted for improvements. The state Department of Transportation has unveiled plans to upgrade the intersection of Route 22 and Route 202-206 in Bridgewater, though construction may not begin until the summer of 2028.
As engineers threaten strike, NJ Transit's newest board member is a labor leader NorthJersey.com, 2/13/2024 - The NJ Transit board is gaining a labor leader with experience in the construction sector, says its newest member, Anthony Abrantes. Abrantes, who will join the board Tuesday for his first meeting, is the assistant executive secretary-treasurer for the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters.
New Brunswick's George Street may become a permanent pedestrian plaza MyCentralJersey.com, 1/17/24 - Could George Street between Bayard and Albany streets become a permanent pedestrian mall, offering outdoor dining, performances and festivals? One option calls for the conversion of George Street into a pedestrian mall that features year-round activity, possibly including outdoor ice skating.
Efforts to give NJ Transit board more teeth appear derailed NorthJersey.com, 1/17/24 - Prioritizing the customer experience is a focus of transit agencies around the country, including WMATA in Washington, MARTA in Atlanta and Sound Transit in Seattle — and no two agencies address the issue the same way.
Hillsborough mayor vows to keep residents updated on Route 206 project MyCentralJersey.com, 1/16/24 - Mayor Robert Britting said township officials will meet next month with state Department of Transportation representatives to get an update on the project that has been delayed since the state fired Konkus Co., the contractor on the widening project, in spring of 2023.
Hillsborough mayor vows to keep residents updated on Route 206 project MyCentralJersey.com, 1/16/24 - Mayor Robert Britting said township officials will meet next month with state Department of Transportation representatives to get an update on the project that has been delayed since the state fired Konkus Co., the contractor on the widening project, in spring of 2023.
NJ towns booming with development in 2024 NJTPA Mention
MyCentralJersey.com, 1/5/2024 - In coming years, Hamilton Street from Main Street to Second Street will become a pedestrian plaza. Bound Brook received a $1 million federal grant administered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority to undertake the project.
Gateway CEO reflects on 2023 milestones, turns to 2024 goals NJBiz.com,1/3/2024 - “2023 was a vitally important year for the Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP),” Gateway Development Commission CEO Kris Kolluri wrote on Dec. 27 in his end-of-year note to GDC commissioners, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and Amtrak leaders.