Monmouth County Transportation Council Quarterly Newsletter

Issue Twenty-Three - Winter 2023

Toll Booths Give Way To Gantries, Less Idling Into NYC

All bridge and tunnel tolls into Manhattan no longer require exact change or the need to slow down. Automatic toll collection technology is now active on the George Washington Bridge and the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, which means if you do not have E-Z Pass tag, you will receive a bill in the mail. “Tolls by Mail” technology uses cameras and vehicle registration databases to bill the vehicle’s owner, according to the vehicle’s license plate number. All drivers can now benefit from speedy toll collection, even if they are not interested in the benefits of an E-Z Pass account. Image credit- Port Authority NYNJ

Creating Safer Streets To Transit In Asbury Park, Long Branch, Middletown, and Red Bank

The New Jersey Department of Transportation awarded a combined total of $2.06 million from the Safe Streets to Transit Program and the Transit Village Initiative Program to the Monmouth County municipalities of Asbury Park, Long Branch, Middletown, and Red Bank. Thirty Three other municipalities in New Jersey also received funding for a total of $16.37 million in state funds for Fiscal Year 2023, bringing the state funding total for these programs to $16.37 million for Fiscal Year 2023. This will allow municipalities to make improvements to sidewalks, crosswalks, and intersection signals near transit stops and stations.

Leave Your Car At Home, The Microbuses Are Coming!

NJ TRANSIT is seeking to create a community shuttle service which could increase Monmouth County residents’ access to local transit hubs. The Rt. 9 corridor between Old Bridge and Howell has been selected as a potential pilot area for shuttle vans or minibusses, which can provide local neighborhood service to and from the corridor’s many express bus stops. This pilot project would lessen the burden on residents either owning a vehicle or needing to drive and park at a Rt. 9 parking lot. This project announcement and funding is appropriated from $43.6 million awarded to NJ TRANSIT from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. This funding will support six other projects which will advance sustainability, bus garage electrification and other first/last mile transportation solutions. Image credit - Monmouth County

Car Insurance Costs Rise To Match New Liability Minimum

The New Jersey State minimum liability coverage total for vehicle owners increased from $15,000 to $25,000 on Jan. 1, 2023. Approximately 1.1 million New Jersey drivers have been affected and will no longer have an option for liability coverage under $25,000. The change may increase your car insurance premium to cover the higher new state minimum. The change overlaps with the current average vehicle crash settlement costs, about $18,000, and can protect motorists from out-of-pocket payments.

Recent Airline Passenger Records Broke Through Pre-Pandemic Levels

November 2022 welcomed 102% of 2019’s air travelling passengers, about 11 million travelers, to metropolitan New York City airports. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey noted that December 2022 holiday travel would similarly show high travel demand as passengers return to pre-pandemic travel patterns. In conjunction with recent upgrades to Newark, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy airports, a greater number of passengers were met with new and spacious facilities.

Did You Know? 

Electric Vehicle Battery Manufacturing Capacity In North America Will Increase 20-Fold by 2030

According to researchers at the Argonne National Laboratory, the future capacity of current and planned North American electric vehicle battery manufacturing plants will increase from 55 Gigawatt-hours per year (GWh/year) to 998 GWh/year by 2030. This would allow for the yearly production of up to 13 million all-electric vehicles in North America on and after 2030. New manufacturing plants will be primarily located adjacent to existing automotive manufacturing plants and are scheduled to begin battery production between 2025 and 2030.

Air Travel “Real-ID” Requirement Update

The federal Department of Homeland Security has extended "Real-ID" identification requirements to May 7, 2025. After this date, you must have a compliant Real-ID driver’s license to fly domestically or enter certain federal facilities. Check the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission website for available appointments and more information on how to get a compliant Real-ID for future travel needs.

Support Your North Jersey Coast Line Station!

NJ TRANSIT has relaunched its Adopt-A-Station program which provides resources to community groups who are interested in improving and maintaining exterior features of NJ TRANSIT rail stations. Through a sponsorship by American Express, NJ TRANSIT will provide groups with safety vests, trash bags, support, and encouragement in additional ideas for station improvement. In the program, community groups agree to remove litter at least once a year, provide light landscaping and maintenance, planting and caring for flowers, small trees, and shrubs at the station.

Are You An 836 Bus Rider? We Want To Hear From You!

If you ride or rely on the NJ Transit 836 Bus service, which runs between Freehold and Asbury Park, please consider participating in our 12 question (about 5 minutes) online survey. The survey is available in both English and Spanish and can be accessed at bit.ly/836BusMC or by calling 1-732-431-7460 Ext. 7469 for more information on how to respond to the survey offline.

Southern Middlesex County Freight Movement Study

The County of Middlesex, New Jersey is conducting a freight transportation planning study primarily in the municipalities of Cranbury, Jamesburg, Monroe, and South Brunswick. As a neighbor, Middlesex County will also study a secondary area, which includes many Monmouth County municipalities, and is seeking input from surrounding communities, local residents, and municipal organizations. The study team is currently welcoming comments, suggestions, and feedback on the study website and through an interactive map and online survey.

Monmouth County Bridge and Road Projects

Monmouth County is working hard to maintain and upgrade key roadway and bridge infrastructure throughout the County. Learn which projects are under construction, review, or consideration, as well as how to get involved, on the Monmouth County webpage.

Participate With the Council

If you have an interest in transportation, we invite you to contact the staff advisors to the Monmouth County Transportation Council at transportation@co.monmouth.nj.us and find out about ways you can participate or volunteer with us.

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Have a question, comment, or hot tip? Send us an email: transportation@co.monmouth.nj.us

About This Newsletter

The purpose of this newsletter is to inform Monmouth County residents about transportation topics and related events in their community. This newsletter is prepared by Monmouth County Division of Planning staff for the Monmouth County Transportation Council. The County of Monmouth and the Board of County Commissioners do not necessarily share the viewpoints of the material included in this newsletter.

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