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Cops say they don’t want ticket, arrest quotas. N.J. bill banning them takes step forward. NJ.com, 6/3/2021 - - After hearing a debate between police chiefs and officers, a state Assembly committee on Wednesday sent a proposed bill barring the use of ticket and arrest quotas to evaluate officers’ performance on for a possible vote.

NJ: Beachgoers get more rides as NJ Transit returns almost 60 trains to the rails MassTransitMag.com, 6/2/21 - NJ Transit will restore close to 60 trains across its rail system, including 12 more Bayhead shuttles to beach towns and returning weekend service on the Gladstone branch as ridership grows.

Officials Check Out Improvements To Long Branch Train Station Patch.com, 6/1/21 - The head of the state's Department of Transportation (NJDOT) visited the Long Branch train station today to meet with city officials and Congressman Frank Pallone to check out improvements made to the train station.

Clean-car rebate program gets second shot NJSpotlight.com, 6/1/21 - The state last year doled out $36 million to help people buy or lease more than 7,000 electric vehicles with most of them receiving $5,000, the maximum incentive available to offset their higher costs.

N.J. transit unveils roadmap to 100 percent zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040 TransportationTodaynews.com, 6/1/2021 - N.J. Transit said it will continue to aggressively advance its zero-emissions bus program as it released its roadmap to a 100 percent zero-emission bus fleet by 2040.

Amtrak expansion expected to increase rail service to more than 160 additional communities by 2035 6/1/2021 - Part of its Amtrak Corridor Vision released Thursday, the expansion would provide service to 20 million more passengers, the railroad company said.

Long-delayed Gateway Tunnel project will clear an important milestone, source says NJ.com, 5/27/2021 - - President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday will release a long-delayed environmental impact statement for the Gateway Tunnel project, removing another hurdle in the multiyear effort to get federal funding for the new train tunnel under the Hudson River, according to an official familiar with the matter, who spoke under condition of anonymity in advance of the official announcement.

Officials vow to crack down on toll-dodging trucks driving to, from N.J. NJ.com, 5/27/2021 - On any given day, trucks roll through Port Authority of New York and New Jersey toll plazas displaying fake license plates, unreadable license plates, an E-ZPass transponder for a smaller, lighter vehicle or if they get a toll bill in the mail, it gets ignored, officials said.

New MVC location to open in N.J. city after closure more than a decade ago NJ.com, 5/27/2021 - A new Motor Vehicle Commission licensing center in Elizabeth is expected to open in early summer after a previous location in the city closed about 10 years ago, officials announced Thursday.

NJ Transit Aims to Deploy 16 Electric Buses In Newark Area Tapinto.net, 5/26/21 - Just months after Gov. Phil Murphy came to Newark to announce the dedication of towards clean transportation projects across the state, NJ Transit is now holding up its end of the deal with plans to bring electric buses to the area. 

NJ boardwalks could take a slice of the Transportation Trust Fund NJ1015.com, 5/25/21 - Boardwalks along New Jersey's coast would be included in the state's official definition of "public highways," making them eligible for financial assistance from the same pot of money that's dedicated to the state's transportation projects, under a measure approved by an Assembly panel.

A New Crop in Pennsylvania: Warehouses The New York Times, 5/26/21 - From his office in an old barn on a turkey farm, David Jaindl watches a towering flat-screen TV with video feeds from the hatchery to the processing room, where the birds are butchered. Mr. Jaindl is a third-generation farmer in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. His turkeys are sold at Whole Foods and served at the White House on Thanksgiving.

Airport lines, big crowds have returned. Here’s what to expect if you plan to fly soon from N.J. NJ.com, 5/24/21 - When the Transportation Security Administration announced May 16 more than 1.8 million people had been screened at airport security checkpoints, it represented more coronavirus pandemic milestones - a post-outbreak one-day record and solid two months of more than one million air travelers a day coming through checkpoints.

NJ Transit buses, trains start rolling to summer fun spots in time for Memorial Day weekend NJ.com, 5/24/2021 - It’s a sure sign of a normal summer when NJ Transit buses start rolling to Six Flags on Saturday and rail service resumes to Monmouth Park, which start this Friday.

DeCamp Bus Lines may resume limited commuter service to New York in June NorthJersey.com, 5/24/2021 - DeCamp Bus Lines, which ferried residents to New York City from bedroom communities across Essex and lower Passaic counties for more than eight decades, aims to resume commuter service after folding last year.

NJ Transit unveils electric bus plan, but it has to compensate for low battery range NJ.com, 5/26/2021 - NJ Transit officials unveiled an ambitious plan Tuesday to begin deploying electric buses in the state. The proposal includes two pilot programs running buses in Camden and Newark, modernizing bus garages with charging equipment and redesigning bus routes.

Warehouse Sprawl Prevention Bill Advances in Legislature Tapinto.net, 5/21/21 - A Senate committee approved legislation on Thursday authored by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Troy Singleton that would give municipalities impacted by the rapid surge of warehouse construction developments more control on the approval process.

Murphy administration picks up speed getting electric trucks on the road NJSpotlight.com, 5/21/21 - The Murphy administration’s push  to transition medium- and heavy-duty trucks to zero-emission vehicles, a proposal crucial to achieving its ambitious goal to reduce climate-warming pollution, won strong support Thursday from clean-energy advocates — and surprisingly, little opposition from critics.

Biggest cargo ship to sail to East Coast arrives in N.J. port NJ.com, 5/20/2021 - New Jersey’s port has shattered another record, as the CMA CGM Marco Polo — the largest cargo ship to dock on the East Coast — sailed into the Port of Elizabeth Thursday morning.

N.J. needs law to make the roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, committee says NJ.com, 5/20/2021 - NJ.com, 5/20/2021 - N.J. needs law to make the roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, committee says.

N.J. pedestrian deaths increased last year, even with pandemic. Experts are alarmed. NJ.com, 5/20/21 - Last year’s coronavirus travel restrictions should have resulted in fewer pedestrian deaths, but a national report show the opposite happened — more pedestrians died in 2020 nationally and in New Jersey than in 2019.

Newark Business Leaders Voice Support for Essex-Hudson Greenway Project Tapinto.net, 5/19/21 - A proposed nine-mile greenway path that will wind through Hudson and Essex counties received critical support from Newark business leaders this week as the project enters its earliest stages of planning and surveying. 

Nearly $9M in federal grants awarded in New Jersey NJTPA Mention
TransportationTodaynews.com, 5/18/2021 - New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), recently awarded $8.8 million in 10 federal grants under the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TA Set-Aside) program.
 

Five Bergen, Passaic County towns get funds to improve pedestrian safety NJTPA Mention
NorthJersey.com, 5/18/2021 - ”The grants announced today will fund projects to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists in 10 North Jersey communities without having to impact local property taxes," said Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, which administers the grants. 
 

South Amboy waterfront development project gets financial boost NJTPA Mention
5/17/2021 - SOUTH AMBOY – The city has been awarded a $1 million grant which will help fund its new pedestrian/cyclist link between the existing NJ Transit rail station and the forthcoming Radford Ferry Terminal.

Two options reveal plans to bring more light into remodeled N.Y. Penn Station NJ.com, 5/17/2021 - The most recent itineration of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to redevelop Penn Station in to a brighter, better, more commuter friendly place is now public — and the agencies that proposed it are looking for rider feedback on which version they prefer.

Five Bergen, Passaic County towns get funds to improve pedestrian safety NJTPA Mention
NorthJersey.com, 5/18/2021 - ”The grants announced today will fund projects to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists in 10 North Jersey communities without having to impact local property taxes," said Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, which administers the grants. 
 

South Amboy waterfront development project gets financial boost NJTPA Mention
5/17/2021 - SOUTH AMBOY – The city has been awarded a $1 million grant which will help fund its new pedestrian/cyclist link between the existing NJ Transit rail station and the forthcoming Radford Ferry Terminal.

Hey Alexa, What time does my NJ Transit train leave? Hey Alexa, What time does my NJ Transit train leave?
NJ.com, 5/13/2021 - NJ Transit commuters will be able to ask Amazon’s smart speaker for real time train schedule information, alerts and other information they need.

Boardwalks to become ‘public highways’ NJSpotlight.com, 5/13/21 - New Jersey’s iconic oceanfront boardwalks would be legally known as “public highways,” so they could qualify for dedicated state transportation funding under legislation that passed a key state Assembly panel on Wednesday.

Public Invited to Share Views on Truck Mobility in Union County NJTPA Mention
UCNJ.org, 5/13/2021 - Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Commissioners invites residents and businesses to join a virtual Public Meeting for the Union County Truck Mobility Study beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26.
 

Pipeline shutdown could lead to heavier tanker trucks on N.J. highways NJ.com, 5/12/21 - The U.S. Department of Transportation will allow overweight tanker trucks on interstate highways in New Jersey and elsewhere to transport gasoline and other fuels affected by the temporary shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday.

Lawmakers try new path for federal funding of Joint Base overpass NJTPA Mention
BurlingtonCountyTimes.com, 5/12/2021 - Lawmakers try new path for federal funding of Joint Base overpass
A request for federal funding for the project to connect the Fort Dix and Lakehurst sections of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has gone before a new committee. 

Seating To Return At Newark Penn, Other NJ Transit Stations Patch.com, 5/12/21 - There will be seating available at several large NJ Transit bus and train stations, including Newark Penn, starting next week, officials announced Wednesday.

Key federal approval for Gateway Tunnel - delayed for 3 years - is coming soon NJ.com, 5/12/2021 - After waiting three years for it, a coveted federal approval that would allow engineering to start on the long awaited Gateway Tunnels under the Hudson River is expected to be issued in two weeks.

Is there a gas shortage in NJ? Not yet but don't panic buy, Gov. Murphy says NorthJersey.com, 5/12/2021 - Gov. Phil Murphy assured the public that the recent Colonial Pipeline shutdown has still not affected gas prices, nor has it caused a shortage in New Jersey, though southern states are beginning to see dry pumps, he said.

Get ready for a ‘Jersey style’ fight if NYC enacts plan to tax our drivers, legislators warn NJ.com, 5/10/21 - A Jersey-style fight that federal and state legislators threatened against New York City’s congestion pricing plan — that could charge drivers a fee of up to $3,000 to tolls to drive in lower Manhattan — looks like it’s on.

New Jersey DOT Distributes Over $47 Million for Local Bridges TransitTopics,com,  5/7/21 - The New Jersey Department of Transportation announced $47.3 million in grant funding has been awarded to local government agencies to assist with bridge maintenance projects.

Ferry company starts free shuttle bus service NJ.com, 5/7/2021- New free weekday shuttle bus service between Edgewater and the NY Waterway Port Imperial Ferry Terminal in Weehawken will start running Monday

NJ saw 29M fewer tourists last year, $17B less in spending thanks to COVID NJBiz.com, 5/6/21 - Tourism visitation plunged 27% between 2019 and 2020 thanks to the pandemic, while spending in the local economy by tourists dropped 37%, according to a report released May 6 by the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism.

Companies vying to complete $2B replacement of Newark Airport monorail NJ.com, 5/6/21 - Four companies got a green light from the Port Authority Wednesday to draft proposals to replace the old Newark Liberty International Airport monorail with a “21st Century Air Train,” with a goal of starting construction in mid-2022.

You can get a free ride to a COVID vaccine site, thanks to NJ Transit, pharma companies NJ.com, 5/5/21 - Need an NJ Transit train or bus ride to get vaccinated? Novartis and Catalent are sponsoring up to two free round trips for 11,000 people to get their COVID-19 shots.

As restrictions lift, NJ Transit riders ask when station seating will reopen NJ.com, 5/5/2021 - Gov. Phil Murphy has lifted restrictions on other places and venues, in response to increased coronavirus vaccination rates, but seating areas in stations and terminals remain blocked and barricaded.

Work begins on Lyndhurst's new $31 million NJ Transit station NorthJersey.com, 5/4/2021 - The new station, on NJ Transit's Main Line, will be at the intersection of Delafield and Court avenues, closer to the commuter parking lot than the station it is replacing a few hundred yards north. 
 

NJ Transit considers potential alternatives to the Dinky DailyPrincetonian.com, 4/29/21 - The Princeton Dinky, the shortest scheduled commuter rail line in the nation, might have its days numbered. NJ Transit recently commenced a year-long study of the Princeton transit system, with an emphasis on the Princeton Branch transit corridor that unites Princeton with Princeton Junction. 

Why NJ Transit’s chief says ridership will ‘absolutely’ recover NJ101.5.com, 4/29/21 - Mass transit commuting plunged by more than 90% at the height of the coronavirus pandemic and has only partially recovered, but the head of NJ Transit remains confident it will fully return to prior levels eventually.

Governor Murphy Breaks Ground on New NJ TRANSIT Lyndhurst Station InsiderNJ.com, 4/30/21 - Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett, and state and local officials today celebrated the groundbreaking for construction of a new, ADA-accessible train station in Lyndhurst. 

NJ Transit considers potential alternatives to the Dinky DailyPrincetonian.com, 4/29/21 - The Princeton Dinky, the shortest scheduled commuter rail line in the nation, might have its days numbered. NJ Transit recently commenced a year-long study of the Princeton transit system, with an emphasis on the Princeton Branch transit corridor that unites Princeton with Princeton Junction. 

Why NJ Transit’s chief says ridership will ‘absolutely’ recover NJ101.5.com, 4/29/21 - Mass transit commuting plunged by more than 90% at the height of the coronavirus pandemic and has only partially recovered, but the head of NJ Transit remains confident it will fully return to prior levels eventually.

More than $3.5 billion in toll money being shifted to NJ Transit Read More: More than $3.5 billion in toll money being shifted to NJ Transit NJ101.5.com, 4/27/21 - More than $3.5 billion in toll money will be redirected to NJ Transit over the next seven years, under an agreement approved by New Jersey Turnpike Authority commissioners Tuesday.

Booker, Menendez vow push for NJ infrastructure funding in $2T Biden plan NJBiz.com, 4/27/2021 - The two U.S. senators in New Jersey’s congressional delegation – Cory Booker and Robert Menendez – are vowing a major push for the state to get a sizable slice of President Joe Biden’s proposed $2 trillion infrastructure plan. And they’re outlining a trove of tactics, including negotiations and budget maneuvers, they can employ to push those measures through Capital Hill–with or without bipartisan support.

NJ population grows to over 9.2 million, census says NJSpotlight.com, 4/27/21 - A significantly higher population count for New Jersey allows the state to keep its current complement of 12 U.S. House members and also puts the state 10th in line for gaining an additional representative, according to Monday’s release of 2020 census data.

Sens. Menendez, Booker push for bold infrastructure funding for New Jersey abc7ny.com, 4/26/2021 - NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- New Jersey's two senators were joined by state officials Monday to detail how they want to use $2 billion in COVID relief money to help stop transit cuts and save jobs.

NJ to expand driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants May 1. Here's how it will work MyCentralJersey.com, 4/26/2021 - New Jersey driver's licenses could be available to undocumented immigrants by May 1, ending a delay that had incensed immigration advocates.

2 in 3 support Biden infrastructure plan amid deep partisan divides NJBiz.com, 4/26/2021 - - The poll released April 26 found that 68% of Americans were in favor of the president’s proposal, which calls for major overhauls to the nation’s aging infrastructure. 

Transit bosses show off Penn Station redevelopment options Rew-online.com, 4/23/21 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday showed off several new renderings for the transformation on Penn Station into a 21st century addition to the new Empire Station Complex.

More Use of Waterfront Part of Plan From Raritan Sustainable Economic Development Plan Tapinto.net, 4/22/2021 - Representatives from the Raritan Sustainable Economic Development Committee have completed compiling existing conditions and market assessments and are preparing to discuss implementation of the project recommendations with the Raritan Borough Planning Board.
 

New York transit officials planning massive makeover for Penn Station USAToday.com, 4/22/21 - A transformed Penn Station would replace windowless concourses and dingy, cramped corridors with light-filled spaces and easier access to an improved streetscape, under plans revealed Wednesday by Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the area’s major transit agencies.

N.J. can follow California’s tougher car emissions standards again, Biden administration says NJ.com, 4/22/21 - New Jersey once again would be allowed to follow tougher California standards for automobile emissions under a proposed rule announced Thursday.

Newly graduated train engineers push NJ Transit to a milestone: a full roster DailyRecord.com, 4/22/2021

E-Scooter Pilot Program Rolling Forward In Newark Patch.com, 4/22/21 - Newark is rolling closer to a pilot program that will bring e-scooters and e-bikes to the Brick City.

NJ Transit’s shortage in locomotive engineers that prompted delays has been erased NJ.com, 4/22/21 - After years of playing catchup, NJ Transit has reached its goal of having a full roster of at least 390 locomotive engineers, erasing a shortage that contributed to aggravating commuter delays in recent years.

Long Branch Unveils Big Plans To Expand Train Station Patch.com, 4/21/21 - Long Branch Mayor John Pallone is pitching an idea to turn the Long Branch train station into a much bigger mass transit complex, one that will bring buses, trolleys, taxis, Uber/Lyft and electric car charging stations into the station parking lot and link them to NJ Transit.

NJ's roadside trash disappears as sheriff's program returns to North Jersey NorthJersey.com, 4/21/21 - The Passaic County Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program, or SLAP, is back after more than a year's hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

NJ Turnpike could send $2B to NJ Transit if this agreement passes NJ.com, 4/20/2021 - As NJ Transit officials are hoping for more people to return to the workplace to boost revenues, the agency could get a cash infusion totaling $2 billion from the NJ Turnpike Authority, under a funding agreement commissioners are scheduled to vote on next Tuesday.

3 MVC agencies closed, frustrating drivers whose appointments get canceled NJ.com, 4/20/2021 - Three state Motor Vehicle Commission agencies that closed due to employees testing positive for COVID-19 at facilities in Toms River, Cherry Hill and Bayonne apparently caught some drivers who had appointments by surprise.

Lawmakers grill MVC chief about canceled appointments, closures NJ.com, 4/20/2021 - The pause on administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines has delayed getting state Motor Vehicle Commission employees vaccinated to reduce agency closings and canceled appointments for drivers, said Sue Fulton, MVC chief administrator, on Monday.

New Jersey adds 'X' as gender option on MVC driver's licenses NorthJersey.com, 4/19/2021 - The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission said Monday that an additional gender option will be available on driver's licenses and non-driver identification cards: an “X” to indicate "unspecified."

NYC congestion pricing is a must - with a key proviso | Editorial NJ.com, 4/19/2021 - The speed limit on most Manhattan streets is 25 miles per hour, but on a typical weekday, cars move at 6.8 mph. Below 60th Street, which is known as the Midtown Core, it’s 4.7 mph.

NJ Transit could take 4 years to return to pre-COVID ridership NJBiz.com, 4/19/2021 - New Jersey Transit’s return to full pre-pandemic ridership levels could take more than nearly four years to come to fruition, according to officials and agency head Kevin Corbett during an April 19 Assembly Budget hearing.

Newark airport will soon be home to the US’s only direct flight to Croatia NJBiz.com, 4/19/2021 - United Airlines plans to add the only nonstop service between the U.S. and Croatia on July 8, with service to Dubrovnik on Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast.

North Brunswick train station project takes another major step Mycentraljersey.com, 4/16/21 - The construction of the NJ Transit train station here has taken a major step forward with the naming of a firm to design the long-awaited project. 

Ride the train, earn waterpark time and other perks with NJ Transit’s reward program NJ.com, 4/16/21 - NJ Transit passengers can now get something else for all those ticket purchases, besides a ride. How about a trip on a waterslide, a tour of the Intrepid or sightseeing in NYC?

What rights do drivers have during a traffic stop? NJ.com, 4/16/2021 - A Black man in Virginia, who was dressed in his U.S. Army fatigues, drove to a well-lit area as he was being stopped by police.

Work starts to repave, upgrade major Newark airport runway NJ.com, 4/15/21 - Work started this week to repave and upgrade one of Newark Liberty International Airport’s major runways, a project that was approved in 2019.

Monroe Township awarded $550K Pavement Preservation grant for South Middlesex Industrial Park CentralJersey.com, 4/14/21 - Monroe Township will receive a $550,000 Pavement Preservation grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) for improvements to portions of South Middlesex Avenue and Fitzgerald Avenue located in the South Middlesex Industrial Park.

Garwood To Conduct Pedestrian Safety Education Campaign NJTPA Mention
Patch.com, 4/12/2021 - In April and May, Garwood will be conducting a Street Smart NJ pedestrian safety education campaign aimed at changing unsafe behavior and reducing pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes at the intersection of South Avenue and Center Street.

White House docs outline infrastructure spending for NY, NJ PIX11.com, 4/12/2021 - A new set of documents from the Biden administration outline the ways in which the new infrastructure bill — the American Jobs Plan (AJP) — is needed for improvements in New York and New Jersey.

Tolls are increasing Sunday on these Delaware River bridges NJ.com, 4/9/2021 - Drivers who pay cash to cross the Delaware River in north and central Jersey will have to pay $2 more to drive across starting early Sunday morning.

NJ Transit adds Sunday bus service on 8 routes NJ.com, 4/8/2021 - NJ Transit is adding Sunday service to eight bus routes, four of which serve medical facilities and essential workers, who have been riding buses throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Penn Station opponents say Cuomo skyscraper plan delivers too little at too high a cost Penn Station opponents say Cuomo skyscraper plan delivers too little at too high a cost
NJ.com, 4/7/2021 - Members of a coalition at a demonstration Wednesday criticized New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “Empire Station” plan to build 10 skyscrapers as a way to fund Penn Station’s redevelopment. 

Hoboken, New Jersey, Has Recorded Zero Traffic Deaths for Three Years Straight Nextcity.org, 4/7/21 - Walking is good exercise; it’s literally the first step on the road to better health. But it’s also more dangerous than it ought to be if crossing streets or roads is involved.

Gov. Murphy Welcomes Newark Penn Station's First Dual-Powered Locomotive Tapinto.net, 4/6/21 - Newark Penn Station is on track towards becoming a more reliable and sustainable travel hub as Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday introduced the first fleet of dual-powered locomotives to the city. 

NYC groups oppose Penn Station plan that includes annex for NJ Transit trains NJ.com, 4/6/2021 - The mega-plan to finance redeveloping Penn Station New York by allowing up to 10 new skyscrapers to be built in the surrounding mid-town Manhattan neighborhood around the subterranean station is running into some towering opposition.

New LED Lighting Installed in Stafford Near Target Shopping Plaza TheSandPaper.net, 4/5/2021 - Starting Monday, April 5, drivers along Stafford Park Boulevard and Recovery Road will see infrastructure upgrades in progress as Stafford Township works with Atlantic City Electric to replace street lights with new LED lights and poles.

Have ideas for a better bus system in Newark? NJ Transit wants to hear from you DailyRecord.com, 4/5/2021 - Two public participation sessions are scheduled for April 8, the first starting at 3 p.m., the second at 6 p.m. They will be held virtually on Zoom, or participants can call in. Participants can register at njtransit.com/newbus.

NJ Transit Aims to Improve Bus Lines in Newark, Will Hold Public Meeting this Week Tapinto.net, 4/5/21 - NJ Transit will host a meeting this Thursday for Newark residents to gain public insight on how the city’s bus service could be refined. 

Your summer road trip is a factor in whether gas prices top $3 a gallon NJ.com, 4/5/21 - What might push gas prices over the $3 a gallon level for regular? It might depend on how many more people take that traditional road trip to the Jersey Shore this summer, experts said.

Work on complicated N.J. interchange forges forward thanks to COVID-reduced traffic NJ.com, 4/3/2021 - While the coronavirus decimated traffic volume in 2020, that lack of cars on the highway was used by the state Department of Transportation to make more progress on a project to eliminate congestion and confusion at the complicated Route 3 split from Route 46.

180K people ride these local bus routes. NJ Transit wants ideas to make the trips better. NJ.com, 4/2/2021 - Pre-COVID, 180,000 people rode the 38 bus routes that serve Newark daily -- and NJ Transit wants those riders to tell them this Thursday how to make those routes better.

Deadline for Fanwood's Downtown Planning Survey Extended Until April 9; Residents Encouraged to Participate NJTPA Mention
Tapinto.net, 4/2/21 - Fanwood has received over 800 responses so far to its Downtown Planning survey, and the borough has extended the deadline for participation until April 9, 2021. 

Before COVID, we commuted by train and bus more than the rest of the U.S., Census says NJ.com, 4/2/2021 - A U.S. Census American Community Survey Report said the northeast, particularly the New York metro region and its suburbs, had the highest public transit use in the country in 2019.

NJ’s bus fleet should go all-electric, advocates say NJSpotlight.com, 4/1/21 - Clean-energy advocates urged New Jersey transportation planners to quickly replace the state’s fleet of diesel buses with electric ones, arguing that the new vehicles would cut greenhouse-gas emissions, reduce maintenance and fuel bills and improve public health.

Widening turnpike and parkway at odds with Murphy’s energy policy, critics say NorthJersey.com, 3/31/2021 - A new contract for preliminary work on widening a section of the New Jersey Turnpike in South Jersey has renewed attacks from critics who say the state should not be making it easier for people to drive cars while it is trying to drive down greenhouse-gas emissions.

Residents rally to save one of N.J.’s oldest railroad bridges NJ.com, 3/29/21 - The unassuming bridge that carries Farnsworth Avenue in Bordentown over the first railroad in the state and is home to the city’s veteran’s memorial might become a battleground.

Remote Work Is Here to Stay. Manhattan May Never Be the Same. The New York Times, 3/29/21 - Spotify’s headquarters in the United States fills 16 floors of 4 World Trade Center, a towering office building in Lower Manhattan that was the first to rise on the site of the 2001 terror attacks. 

Passaic aims to restore downtown to its former glory. Here's what the city is considering NJ.com, 3/29/2021 - PASSAIC — Main Avenue's drab parking islands that date to the 1970s would be torn up and replaced with attractive green spaces and bike lanes under a new city plan.

Billions of dollars coming to N.J. in transit stimulus from federal rescue act NJTPA Mention
NJ.com, 3/29/2021 - New Jersey stands to reap more than $2 billion from the American Rescue Act to help transit systems across the state ranging from NJ Transit to town buses that shuttle senior citizens and disabled persons, under grants announced Monday.

MVC agency, road test center close due to COVID NJ.com, 3/29/2021 - The week began for the beleaguered state Motor Vehicle Commission with nine agencies closed across the state and one road test center shut down Monday due to employees testing positive for the coronavirus.

The Rules That Made U.S. Roads So Deadly Bloomberg.com, 3/30/21 - A 25-year-old Yale Law student. A crossing guard. A 78-year-old woman. A high-school teacher. These are but four of the pedestrians and bikers counted among the 310 motor-vehicle-related deaths seen in 2020 in Connecticut, where I live. Our state saw one of the highest increases in the U.S. for such deaths: 22% more than in 2019.

‘I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This’: Chaos Strikes Global Shipping The New York Times, 3/7/21 - Off the coast of Los Angeles, more than two dozen container ships filled with exercise bikes, electronics and other highly sought imports have been idling for as long as two weeks. In Kansas City, farmers are struggling to ship soybeans to buyers in Asia. In China, furniture destined for North America piles up on factory floors.

New Jersey Allocates Funding Toward Further Electrification at the Port of NY and NJ Portbreakingwaves.com, 3/2/21 - New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced earlier in February that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, several Port of New York of New Jersey tenants, and other agencies and organizations across the state would receive more than $100 million for clean, equitable transportation projects. The funds were allocated from the state’s participation in the Regional Green House Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust, a legal settlement from the carmaker over emissions cheating claims.  

The City Where Cars Are Not Welcome The New York Times, 2/28/21 - Eckart Würzner, a mayor on a mission to make his city emission free, is not terribly impressed by promises from General Motors, Ford and other big automakers to swear off fossil fuels. Not that Mr. Würzner, the mayor of Heidelberg, is against electric cars. The postcard-perfect city, in southern Germany, gives residents who buy a battery-powered vehicle a bonus of up to 1,000 euros, or $1,200. They get another €1,000 if they install a charging station.

Texas Blackouts Point to Coast-to-Coast Crises Waiting to Happen

The New York Times, 2/20/21 - Even as Texas struggled to restore electricity and water over the past week, signs of the risks posed by increasingly extreme weather to America’s aging infrastructure were cropping up across the country.The week’s continent-spanning winter storms triggered blackouts in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and several other states. One-third of oil production in the nation was halted. Drinking-water systems in Ohio were knocked offline. Road networks nationwide were paralyzed and vaccination efforts in 20 states were disrupted.

Man’s Amazing Journey to Amazon Made Smoother Thanks to Public and Private Help Thecity.nyc, 3/21/21 - Saheed Adebayo Aare’s hell-on-wheels commute between a Wards Island shelter and his job at an Amazon warehouse in New Jersey will soon be a thing of the past.

NJ Transit: Why Do Pedestrians Keep Getting Hit by Trains? Governing.com, 3/19/21 - Steven Mangold was walking on a chilly, overcast morning last month near the 11th Avenue rail crossing in Neptune Township.

Several of the most crowded cities in America are in New Jersey NJ1015.com, 3/18/21 - The people at Rent.com took a look at the most crowded cities in America, and to no one’s surprise, New Jersey is well represented.

Passaic County Wants Your Ideas For Public Art NJTPA Mention
NewJerseyStage.com, 3/17/2021 - Together North Jersey is working with the County of Passaic to bring public art (sculptures, murals, festivals and other formats) to outdoor spaces in the County.

10th MVC agency closed by COVID NJ.com, 3/16/2021 - ...The Rio Grande Licensing Center closed Tuesday afternoon after an employee tested positive for COVID-19 and is scheduled to reopen on March 29. The employee who tested positive was last in the agency Saturday, March 13, MVC officials said.

Work for NJ Transit and want a vaccine? Here's what to know NJ.com, 3/15/2021 - The state Department of Health approved NJ Transit to be a vaccine distributor in January for its 12,000 employees after it specially acquired freezers and set up an appointment system for shot distribution at its properties in Camden and Maplewood.

NJ Turnpike, federal funds expected to plug NJ Transit budgets, but will ridership return? NorthJersey.com, 3/11/21 - As federal funding continues to plug the gaps in NJ Transit's budget – in lieu of fare revenue that wanes as pandemic-induced ridership drops have plateaued – questions remain about how the agency will recover long term.

We drove faster and wasted less time, but traffic around N.J. is still the worst, study finds NJ.com, 3/9/2021 - Almost a year ago, the coronavirus pandemic emptied the highways due to travel restrictions and people working from home that left roads eerily vacant during times when they’d be packed with commuter traffic.

NJ Transit launches app to manage Access Link service PressofAtlanticCity.com, 3/8/21 - NJ TRANSIT launched a mobile app for Access Link customers for making, canceling and monitoring reservations.

COVID closes 2 more MVC agencies NJ.com, 3/8/2021 - The state Motor Vehicle Commission took one step forward Monday, reopening the Eatontown regional and licensing center, and two steps back when two other agencies were closed by coronavirus that afternoon.

What it cost to keep NJ’s highways safe and salted through all those winter storms NJSpotlight.com, 3/8/21 - Dozens of winter storms that have left piles of snow and ice across New Jersey have also put a dent in the state budget.

Delays by feds added $300M to new Hudson River tunnel costs, official says NJ.com, 3/8/21 - Years of federal government delays in the process to build new Hudson River tunnels have made the massive project more expensive, officials overseeing the project said.

Gateway commissioners are 'extremely optimistic' about future of long-stalled tunnel plan NorthJersey.com, 3/5/2021 - The commissioners of the newly formed Gateway Development Commission, which held its first meeting Friday, struck an optimistic tone about the future of the Hudson River rail tunnels after the projects to repair and build new ones have faced more than a decade of challenges.

New Jersey road crews begin pothole repairs in winter’s wake APNews.com, 3/4/2021 -- The annual campaign, which began Wednesday, comes as the DOT reports a large number of potholes are posing a risk to motorists.

From a snowy winter, a fresh crop of potholes are popping up all over N.J. roads NJ.com, 3/4/21 - Public works crews, who’ve been slammed with plowing snow for the past two months, now have the other byproduct of New Jersey’s wintery weather to contend with – potholes.

Biden’s Deputy DOT Pick Promises to Prioritize NJ-NY Rail Tunnel Bloomberg.com, 3/3/21 - President Joe Biden’s pick to be the second in command at the U.S. Department of Transportation pledged Wednesday to help the Biden administration prioritize the proposed Gateway rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey if she is confirmed by the Senate.

Eatontown is latest MVC agency to close due to COVID NJ.com, 3/2/2021 - The busy state Motor Vehicle Commission agency in Eatontown became the latest licensing center to close after four were shut down Monday due to the coronavirus.

NJ Transit to get 300 doses this week for COVID vaccine rollout for front-line workers NorthJersey.com, 3/2/2021 - NJ Transit will receive 300 vaccine doses this week to distribute to its front-line workers at the agency's vaccination sites in Maplewood and Camden, thanks to an agreement struck with the state Department of Health.

7 MVC agencies now closed due to COVID NJ.com, 3/1/2021 - State Motor Vehicle Commission officials closed agencies in Newark, Vineland, Salem, and Lodi Licensing Centers after a single employee tested positive for the coronavirus at each location.

N.J. voters are pro emissions cap that will help communities affected by air pollution, poll finds NJ.com, 3/1/2021 - New Jersey residents support a program that could bring more investment in clean transportation and help the communities that have been affected the most by air pollution, according to a poll released Monday.

After push from environmentalists, NJ Transit’s new group is focused on sustainability NJ.com, 2/26/2021 - Five months ago, environmentalists battered NJ Transit officials about having renewable energy options considered for a $577 million TransitGrid back-up power plant, reminding officials of plans by their boss Gov. Phil Murphy to eliminate air pollution by 2050.

NJ Transit to benefit from Penn Station expansion. Here are the details NJ Transit to benefit from Penn Station expansion. Here are the details
NorthJersey.com, 2/25/2021 - NJ Transit is expected to be the primary operator at the proposed Empire Station complex that would add as many as nine new tracks by expanding train operations south of the current New York Penn Station.

NJ Budget 2022: Murphy says NJ will spend big NJSpotlight.com, 2/23/21 - New Jersey should spend a record $44.8 billion in its next state budget, Gov. Phil Murphy proposed Tuesday, an increase in year-over-year spending by more than 10%, with aid for local schools, small businesses and offshore wind generation all among the areas in line for more cash.

Transportation advocates push for a bus passenger bill of rights NJSpotlight.com, 2/22/21 - With tens of thousands of essential workers continuing to travel on NJ Transit, there’s a growing push for Gov. Phil Murphy to carve out dedicated funding for the state’s public transportation system, focusing on disadvantaged communities where buses bring noise and air pollution that cause disproportionate health risks.

N.Y. got an advocate to represent drivers with toll problems. Does N.J. need one? NJ.com, 2/22/2021 - In Dec. 2019, Cuomo ordered the three major toll authorities — the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the NY Thruway Authority — to start toll payer advocate offices.

Bill would end fines for NJ Transit light rail riders who forget to stamp their tickets NJ.com, 2/22/21 - NJ Transit riders who use the agencies three light rail lines could be spared the extra step of validating or time stamping their paper ticket in a separate machine, which if missed, can get the forgetful rider a $75 fine.

NJ Transit advances Innovation Challenge project for Meadowlands Mass Transit Magazine, 2/19/21 - New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) has moved its Innovation Challenge into the next phase of the development process.  

NJ Transit seeks ideas to fix MetLife transportation NorthJersey.com, 2/18/2021 -- Is your pandemic hobby developing a solution to shuttle 20,000 people an hour by train over a swamp, surrounded by three major highways, over a bridge and at an affordable price tag?

State agency gives ACE green light on charging infrastructure for electric vehicles NJSpotlight.com, 2/18/21 - Atlantic City Electric won approval Wednesday to spend nearly $21 million to build out the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles, the latest in a series of initiatives backed by the Murphy administration to electrify the transportation sector.

NJ spending millions to overhaul Camden transit hub. What we know, what questions linger DailyRecord.com, 2/17/21 - A multi-million-dollar overhaul of the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden was announced at the nearly 32-year-old transportation facility Wednesday morning.

How should we get to work or school in New Jersey in the coming decades? | Opinion NJTPA Mention
NJ.com, 2/17/21 - The past year has shone a spotlight on many deep and enduring inequalities in our nation. As we begin to design and invest in America’s post-COVID19 economy, a need that deserves particular attention is access to transportation.

New Biden administration action could boost Gateway tunnel that’s critical to N.J. NJ.com, 2/16/2021 - The Federal Transit Administration on Monday reversed a policy by former President Donald Trump’s administration and made it easier for New Jersey and New York to fund their share of the Gateway Tunnel project.

Trucks banned from some N.J. roads due to ice storm. See when and where NJ.com, 2/16/2021 - Trucks banned from some N.J. roads due to ice storm. See when and where

Over $130M Dedicated to Clean Transportation in NJ's Fight Against Climate Change Tapinto.net, 2/16/2021 - NEWARK, NJ — Months after signing expansive environmental justice legislation, Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday vowed New Jersey would put its money where its mouth is - investing over $130 million in clean transportation projects.

$100M Investment in Green Transportation Projects NJBmagazine.cjom, 2/16/2021 - Gov. Phil Murphy today announced a more than $100 million investment into clean transportation projects, which he said will prioritize job creation and economic development with a specific focus on environmental justice communities.

NJ Transit Partners with Edge4Vets to Connect Veterans to Jobs capemaycountyherald.com - 2/16/2021 - New Jersey Transit is leading an effort to address veteran unemployment during the Covid crisis by partnering with the nationally successful Edge4Vets jobs preparation program to prepare and connect New Jersey veterans, National Guard members, transitioning military service personnel, and their spouses to careers in transportation. 

NJ Transit Board approves purchase of new minibuses for local transportation programs Mass Transit Magazine, 2/12/21 - New Jersey Transit has been authorized by the board of directors to purchase 19 new low floor extended minibuses with accessibility ramps, with the option to purchase 16 additional vehicles, for local transportation programs providing critical transportation services for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and other transit-dependent residents.

Plan To Replace AirTrain At Newark Airport Moves Forward Patch.com, 2/12/21 - Port Authority officials released a draft environmental assessment for a plan to replace the AirTrain at Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday.

Monmouth bus deal, COVID update and new 'FLEXPASS' are focus of NJ Transit board meeting NorthJersey.com, 2/11/21 - NJ Transit's first regularly scheduled board meeting was held on Wednesday, marking a year since the agency's new wave of board members attended their first meeting.

New details revealed for Jersey City’s Bayfront project; City Council gives initial approval NJ.com, 2/11/21 - Plans for Jersey City’s largest mixed-income housing development are beginning to take shape. At Monday’s City Council caucus, designers presented details of a plan for Bayfront, the ambitious, multi-development housing project on the city’s west side. 

NJ Transit, agencies nationwide could see billions to support operations Washington Examiner, 2/10/20 - NJ Transit President & CEO Kevin Corbett joined a coalition of transit officials urging Congress to allocate billions in federal money for mass transit agencies nationwide.

Pandemic Left NJ Transit Hanging by a Thread, but Big Changes May Lie Ahead NJTPA Mention
Jersey Digs, 2/9/2021 — Transport advocates like Garcia participated last week in an outreach event for Plan 2050, a 30-year survey by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) that determines the needs and patterns of transit users in the state.

Why a Hudson Rail Tunnel Is Getting a Washington Reset The Washington Post, 2/8/21 - A New York City passenger rail tunnel, widely considered among the most vital U.S. infrastructure projects, was canceled once and revived, only to be stuck in limbo during President Donald Trump’s term.

NJ Transit offers new discounted package for occasional commuters NJ.com, 2/8/2021 - With fewer commuters riding and buying monthly passes due to the coronavirus, NJ Transit launched FlexPass, a new 20-trip ticket that gives commuters, who split their work week between home and the office, more flexibility and a discount.

NJ earns kudos for efforts to electrify transportation sector NJ Spotlight, 2/5/21 - After years of criticism from clean-energy advocates that the state is moving too slowly, New Jersey is now getting more credit for electrifying its transportation sector.

Senate confirms Pete Buttigieg as transportation secretary AssociatedPress, 2/2/2021 - WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Buttigieg won Senate approval Tuesday as transportation secretary, the first openly gay person to be confirmed to a Cabinet post. He’ll be tasked with advancing President Joe Biden’s ambitious agenda of rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure and fighting climate change.

Federal mask mandate starts Tuesday. Here are the rules. NJ.com, 2/1/2021 - If you haven’t been wearing a facial covering on public transit, airliners or in federal buildings, the federal government is officially telling you to mask-up or else.

Public transportation resumes on NJ Transit, PATH. What to know about the altered schedules NorthJersey.com, 2/2/2021 - NJ Transit warns there could be delays and cancellations, and that there will be systemwide cross honoring for rail, bus and light rail tickets as well as on PATH at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken and 33rd St. and private carrier buses.

Hoboken to add new bike lane along scenic Sinatra Drive NJ.com, 2/1/2021 - The city was awarded a $325,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation to build a protected bike lane along scenic Sinatra Drive — a project that will link the city’s South Waterfront Bikeway with a similar path along the northern waterfront.


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