Lackawanna Coalition

advocating for rail passengers since 1979

Category: Railgram

  • NJ Transit Takes a “Fare Holiday”

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    David Peter Alan

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    NJ Transit gave a late-summer present to its riders: 8 days of service without charging fares. The “fare holiday” ran from Monday, August 26, through the following Monday, which was Labor Day. Commuters who had already paid fortheir August monthly pass got a 25% discount for September. Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the week of free…

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  • Resolution: Give Us Information!

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    At the Coalition’s last meeting, we passed a resolution expressing our long-term frustration with the opacity of NJ Transit on just about any subject. The specific concerns this time (among many) are the 50% cut to peak-period River Line service and the ongoing issue of translucent or opaque windows on many rail cars, especially multilevel…

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  • Lackawanna Coalition Station Inspections Return

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    Back in the 20th century—sounds so long ago!—well before I joined the Coalition, members used to visit NJ Transit rail stations regularly, clipboard in hand, and evaluate conditions. These were then summarized and notable situations reported to the agency. As membership changed, and so much went digital, the practice was abandoned. Within the last year…

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  • A Halt to Congestion Pricing: What Next?

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    George Kaufer

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    We have discussed the proposed plan for congestion pricing in New York City’s downtown area, and have seen pros and cons. In some ways, it is tangential to our interests, as it is unclear how much money the State of New Jersey would get for “mitigation measures” and what those measures would entail. We would…

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  • Report from the Chair: July/August 2024

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    As this issue of the Railgram goes to press, a budget deal is in place to keep the government running. It includes the controversial—at least among businesses, though most will not be affected—corporate transit fee (an extension of the corporate business tax that ended in December 2023), though NJ Transit, the intended beneficiary, will not…

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  • RUN Conference: Optimism & Reality—“What is the Hold Up‽”

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    Webweaver

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    The Rail Users’ Network held their spring conference virtually on the afternoon of Friday, May 17. The conference’s focus was expanding long distance rail service: “Why Amtrak service to more towns and cities is important to the entire U.S.!” The agenda of conference speakers included advocates from around the nation who are pushing for expansion…

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  • NJ Transit Gets a Four-Year Reprieve, Starting a Year from Now

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    David Peter Alan

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    Transit agencies throughout the nation are working hard to make it through the next few years. The reason is that the COVID-19 relief money, enacted as a one-shot measure to keep transit going during the worst of the pandemic, will soon run out. That could happen to NJ Transit as soon as next year, when…

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  • Corporate Transit Fee

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    Transit agencies throughout the country are facing fiscal crises after ridership droppedsome 90% during the early days of the pandemic, rebounding only slowly. Federal funding kept trains and buses running, and as that funding ends, agencies are looking at a dismal financial future. This is where NJ Transit finds itself, with a looming fiscalshortfall of…

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  • Report from the Chair

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    This has been a busy month for the Coalition; Budget hearings were held in April by both chambers of the New Jersey Legislature, and we await the final legislative budget at the end of June. Regarding NJ Transit, we areparticularly concerned about the proposed 30-day expiration for single ride tickets, paper or digital, as we…

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  • Lackawanna Coalition Celebrates 45 Years of Service to Area Riders

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    David Peter Alan

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    On Tuesday, April 9, the Lackawanna Coalition celebrated the 45th anniversary of its founding in 1979. The organization was established in 1979, when transit in New Jersey was in crisis. Local rail service was provided by Conrail, with help from the Commuter Operating Agency, a subagency of the New JerseyDepartment of Transportation. The railroad needed…

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