Lackawanna Coalition

advocating for rail passengers since 1979

Author: Donald Winship

  • NJT Expected to Cut Rail Service in January

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    Donald Winship

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    New Jersey Transit has announced that the Great Notch Station on the Montclair-Boonton Line will be closed after Friday, January 15th.  The station is served by only a few peak-hour trains, whereas the nearby Montclair State University Station is served by all trains on the line.  Transit management cited low ridership at Great Notch as…

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  • Coalition Supports Funding Bill for Transit of Seniors, Disabled Residents

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    Donald Winship

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    The Lackawanna Coalition has expressed support for a legislative initative that would increase funding for transportation for senior citizens and disabled residents.  The measure now before the legislature, Senate Bill 1830 and Assembly Bill 2046, would increase the portion of revenue from the Casino Revenue Fund for senior and disabled transportation from 7.5 to 8.5%.…

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  • NJT Changes Portal Bridge Plan

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    Donald Winship

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    New Jersey Transit has announced that there has been a change in the proposed replacement for Portal Bridge, west of Secaucus Station.  Previous plans had called for a fixed span 50′ above water and another 10′ lower, which could be raised for a passing boat.  The new plan calls for two 50′ fixed spans.  NJT…

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  • Montclair Weekend Service Begins

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    Donald Winship

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    New Jersey Transit now runs trains to Montclair on weekends.  The service, which began on November 8th, runs as far as Bay Street Station every 2 hours during the day and every 3 hours in the evening.  This marks the first Sunday service since 1959 and the first Saturday service since 1966. The Lackawanna Coalition…

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  • Bergen Record Questions Deep-Cavern Terminal Plan

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    Donald Winship

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    Editorial Page Editor Alfred P. Doblin questioned the cost-effectiveness of the NJT proposal to build a deep-cavern terminal under 34th Street in Manhattan rather than bring new tunnels and tracks to the East Side.  In his column published on Monday, December 21st, Doblin said, “The reality is that putting more people in the same part…

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  • NJT Board Approves Over $1 Billion in “ARC” Contracts

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    Donald Winship

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    The Board of Directors of New Jersey Transit approved $1.15 Billion in contracts for the “ARC” (Access to the Region’s Core, also known as Mass Transit Tunnel) and Portal Bridge Projects on December 9th, the last Board meeting before incumbent Governor Jon Corzine leaves office.  The contracts call for construction under Manhattan to build a…

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  • Rail Advocates Propose “Penn Station First” Plan

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    Donald Winship

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    An alliance of passenger rail advocates in the region has proposed and endorsed a plan to connect any proposed new rail tunnels and the tracks they contain to the existing Penn Station, rather than building the deep-cavern terminal proposed by New Jersey Transit.  The plan, known as the “Penn Station First” plan, also calls for…

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  • NJT Promises No “Major” Cuts for Year

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    Donald Winship

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    NJT Executive Director Richard Sarles said at the corporation’s board meeting in July that the 2009–2010 budget called for no “major” service reductions, despite a cut in aid from the State.  The Lackawanna Coalition remains skeptical of this claim, since the 2008 elimination of more than 40% of off-peak service on the Morris & Essex…

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  • Light Rail To Serve East Bergen County

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    Donald Winship

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    NJT announced that the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit (HBLRT) line will be extended to Tenafly on the former Northern Branch.  The line will be extended from its current northern terminus at Tonnelle Avenue, allowing through service to and from Hoboken.  The other alternative under consideration had been a diesel-powered shuttle.  Local rail advocates, including several…

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  • Gladstone Weekend Service Back By Oct

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    Donald Winship

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    Weekend rail service between Summit and Gladstone will resume in October, according to New Jersey Transit rail chief William Duggan.  Duggan told the Coalition that the date is not definite, but weekend service will be restored on the line before the end of October.  Duggan said details must be worked out with Amtrak before the…

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