As this issue was being put to bed, I saw Colleen Wilson‘s Sept. 1 article in the Asbury Park Press with details of the NJ Transit budget and results for FIFA: income and expenses were broken down by category, with a sentence or 2 explaining the difference: parts expenditures were lower than expected because they deducted the cost of ordered parts that did not arrive on time; cross-honoring was much less than expected, as people actually did stay home on match days; customer communications and support was high because they had a lot of “ambassadors” who were paid a stipend; Secaucus parking-lot contracts were high because of a late increase in the number of buses. As for revenue, federal grants and Congressional appropriations were up somewhat; ticket sales were about half of what was anticipated. The article gives a sense of how NJT might plan for future big events.
PATH’s SmartLink card is no more; being changed to one that is compatible with other services. Although annoying, we appreciate compatability of fare-card systems—ideally planned in the original issuance, to avoid disruption and save the cost to the agencies of switching hardware and software, but presumably better late than never.
On a personal note, I appreciate that the newly released rail schedules have more Pascack Valley trains stopping in Woodcliff Lake, not bypassing my station; thank you! (I am sure that it is for the new apartment buildings across the street from the station, not for me, but it is a benefit for all.) Now all we need is the 2 missing sidings so that we can close the 5.5-hour inbound gap on weekday evenings!
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