N.J. Assembly bill calls for commuter rail parking lots to be open during special events

It is hard to believe we needed to pass a law to get train parking lots open when at event is occurring. Sounds like common sense and a revenue opportunity.

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/nj-assembly-bill-calls-for-commuter-rail-parking-lots-to-be-open-during-special-events

NJ legistaure considering law requiring train station parking during off peak hours

These parking spots are at train stations that the NJ citizens as a whole spend enormous amounts of money to build and operate.

Commuter Parking Advisory Committee

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Proposal moves to Senate floor for a vote

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

The Senate Transportation Committee Monday approved legislation designed to remedy problems surrounding overcrowded parking at NJ Transit train stations.

The bill (S-2968.A-1080) would make clear that a vacant permit parking space at the stations is available for general public use during off-peak times. Off-peak hours are described as between 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the weekdays, and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Often commuters without permit parking are forced to park in permit-only parking areas and receive citations.


http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/bill-approved-to-remedy-nj-transit-parking-problems-at-train-stations?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Wake%20Up%20Call%20NJ&utm_campaign=Wake%20Up%20Call

Stagecoach sells some US school bus operations

Stagecoach is the parent of CoachUSA and Suburban Transit. According to the article they are now primarily focusing on expanding their growing Megabus intercity bus operation.

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Stagecoach is reducing its exposure to the US school bus market in favour of its higher-margin intercity coach business, Megabus US. The UK public transport group said on Tuesday that it had sold its yellow school bus operations in the US state of Wisconsin to Student Transportation Inc, a New Jersey-based company that trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/62661276-0f85-11e1-88cc-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1dvk0Qrqq

Lincoln tunnel entrance bus accident this morning (11/15) with injuries

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/crash-snarls-buses-at-lincoln-tunnel/71eb6ea8984747a293c62637452a1d77

Commuters start their own charter bus operation to NY from shore

A group of shore commuters have started their own private charter commuter bus from shore to New York after toll hikes with more to come on 1/1/12.

First we have heard of this but very interesting concept.

Wonder if this might catch on elsewhere.

Commuter Parking Advisory Committee

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It has been more than a month since tolls were increased on highways and bridges. A week after the raises, we got together a group and decided that if we can get 40 people, we would charter a bus to commute to New York.

Now, we have more than 100 people commuting and 40 more on a list waiting for an additional bus.

We each save close to $20 on tolls, $20 on gasoline, $30 to $40 on parking lots. That’s aside from the wear and tear on the cars and tires.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011311070008

Two NY train tunnel proposals moving forward

TRENTON – It wasn’t long ago that U.S. Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both D-N.J., and assorted critics of Gov. Chris Christie were predicting doom and gloom and misery on end because Christie said no to the ARC rail project, also known as the tunnel to Macy’s basement.

They look ridiculous now because there are two tunnel prospects. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has a proposal to extend New York’s No. 7 subway to Secaucus. Published reports say New York spent $250,000 for a study that concluded the extended subway line would relieve crowding on NJ Transit

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20111110/OPINION02/311100001/BOB-INGLE-Senators-may-not-board-tunnel-plans?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Wake%20Up%20Call%20NJ&utm_campaign=Wake%20Up%20Call

Toll hikes lead commuters to forgo cars, charter a bus

It’ has been more than a month since tolls were increased on highways and bridges. A week after the raises, we got together a group and decided that if we can get 40 people, we would charter a bus to commute to New York.

Now, we have more than 100 people commuting and 40 more on a list waiting for an additional bus.

Create your own commuter bus company:
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011311070008

Parking hard to get in CT too

Sounds a lot like East Brunswick.

Commuter Parking Advisory Committee

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FAIRFIELD, Conn.—In the Metro-North parking lots along Connecticut's Gold Coast, the haves and the have-nots aren't defined by their clothes, car or even their net worth. Here, it's about whether they have a flimsy green piece of paper visible on their dashboards.

A public parking pass in this and other towns along the Long Island Sound has become a precious asset. The waiting list for a Fairfield Parking Authority permit has 4,200 people and stretches past six years. In another town, Rowayton, the annual permit sale is an epic frenzy similar to that surrounding the release of a new iPhone, with residents camping out overnight to ensure they get a $325 pass.

The privileged few often keep permits in the family, like aristocrats hoarding wealth.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970204485304576643411720265644-lMyQjAxMTAxMDIwNDEyNDQyWj.html?mod=wsj_share_email

USA Today red light camera article

Local governments hungry for revenue are signing contracts with red-light camera companies that put profit over traffic safety, according to a new study by a national public interest advocacy group.

Some contracts restrict police from doing things like lengthening the yellow signal and leave taxpayers holding the bag if the contracts are terminated early, says the report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, the federation of state public interest research groups.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-26/red-light-camera-deals/50943554/1

Red light traffic cameras: Safety device or cash register

Wall Street Journal article regarding red light cameras:

Officials in Albuquerque, N.M., are expected to decide Monday whether to join the small but growing number of cities that have switched off cameras meant to catch motorists running red lights.

Nationwide, red-light traffic cameras have surged in popularity. More than 550 localities—including New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Chicago—have installed them since the early 1990s, according to a spokesman the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The cameras have resulted in millions of tickets, which often carry fines of about $100. Fans call them a cost-effective tool for keeping drivers in line and intersections safe.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970203733504577022261634660398-lMyQjAxMTAxMDAwNzEwNDcyWj.html?mod=wsj_share_email

N.J. Turnpike's statewide road trip just getting started

Interesting history of the NJ Turnpike including current expansion project.

Also mentions ANOTHER 50% toll hike coming 1/1/12 on top of the last one.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/nj_turnpikes_statewide_road_tr.html

Federal study of "curbside buses"

The proliferation of intercity bus companies that pick up their passengers curbside has corresponded with an increase in bus accidents and fatalities, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a report released Monday.

Curbside bus companies are more than five times more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than conventional intercity bus service companies, and newcomers to the business that operate 10 or fewer buses are more likely to be in accidents, the NTSB said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/commuting/2011/10/31/gIQAhVJgaM_story.html

Senate approves $15M for work on proposed Amtrak tunnel

U.S. Senate approves $15M for work on proposed Amtrak tunnel spanning from Secaucus to N.Y. Penn Station:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/us_senate_approves_15m_for_wor.html