Lackawanna Coalition

advocating for rail passengers since 1979

  • Moynihan Station Plan Gets Stimulus Funding

    –

    Donald Winship

    –

    The plan to extend the existing Penn Station into the historic Farley Post Office Building on the west side of Eighth Avenue received a boost as the Federal Government gave the project a grant of $83.3 million under the TIGER (Transportation Improvements Generating Economic Recovery) Program.  New York State and Amtrak officials hailed the move,…

    Read more

  • NJT Proposes Massive Fare Hikes with Service Cuts

    –

    Donald Winship

    –

    New Jersey Transit has proposed drastic fare increases to fill an alleged $300 million budget shortfall during the next fiscal year.  In addition, Gov. Christie has cut NJT’s curent-year subsidy by $32.7 million. The fare increases will average 25% across the board, with a special increase for rail riders who ride trains outside of commuting…

    Read more

  • Sarles Named to Head D.C. Metro

    –

    Donald Winship

    –

    Former NJT Executive Director Richard Sarles has been named as the interim head of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA, otherwise known as “Metro”).  He begins his new job on April 1st.  He takes over the system in the wake of a serious accident last year and financial challenges, which many transit authorities face.…

    Read more

  • Increase in Funding for Transportation for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Becomes Law

    –

    Donald Winship

    –

    Funding for transportation for senior citizens and persons with disabilities will be increased.  The bill that will raise the portion of the Casino Revenue Fund that will be spent on special transportation programs will increase from 7.5% to 8.5% beginning with the next fiscal year on July 1st.  Because revenue earned by the casinos in…

    Read more

  • Funding Bill for Senior/Disabled Passes Assembly

    –

    Donald Winship

    –

    Assembly Bill 2046, which would increase the portion of the Casino Revenue Fund for transportation for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, passed the Assembly on January 11th by a vote of 75 to 2, with 2 abstentions.  The measure would raise the percentage of the fund dedicated to special transportation from 7.5 to 8.5%.…

    Read more

  • Service Cuts Not as Severe as Feared

    –

    Donald Winship

    –

    Rail service cuts were not as severe as feared.  Although we reported apprehension about expected severe cuts in the January-February issue of the Railgram, the actual service reductions were modest, averaging a train or two on most lines.  The most hard-hit will be the Atlantic City Rail Line, which will lose one of its busiest…

    Read more

  • New Leadership Coming to NJ Transit

    –

    Donald Winship

    –

    Governor-elect Chris Christie has appointed new leaders for the New Jersey Department of Transportation and NJ Transit.  His choice for transportation commissioner is Jim Simpson, a New Yorker who was federal transit administrator in the Bush administration from 2006 until 2009.  Simpson is familiar with the ARC Project and other NJT capital projects, as well…

    Read more

  • NJT Expected to Cut Rail Service in January

    –

    Donald Winship

    –

    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…

    Read more

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

    –

    Donald Winship

    –

    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%.…

    Read more

  • NJT Changes Portal Bridge Plan

    –

    Donald Winship

    –

    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…

    Read more

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Tags

Amtrak ARC bicycles budget bus buses Chris Christie conference Delays equipment fares From the Chair From the Railgram Gladstone history Hoboken Jim Simpson Jim Weinstein Joseph Clift LIRR Midtown Direct Montclair-Boonton Morris & Essex MTA Newark NJT board NJ Transit NJ Transit Board Northeast Corridor North Jersey Coast Line NY Penn Station Pascack Valley Line PATH Penn Station First Plan Raritan Valley RUN Safety SCDRTAC Secaucus Junction Super Bowl Superstorm Sandy transparency Transportation Trust Fund tunnels weather