NYC Congestion Pricing Update

There is still much debate about the impacts of congestion pricing on the commuters and residents in the NY/NJ area . The state of New Jersey is prepared to file a lawsuit to contest the new toll. There are fears the fee will bring more congestion and pollution to the points of entry to Manhattan. New Jersey Governor Murphy wants to make sure that the concerns of New Jerseyans are being taken into consideration before the new law goes in affect. Commuters currently pay a toll when going through the Lincoln/Holland tunnel, as well as taking the George Washington Bridge into New York City; now an additional cost will be paid for entering the “Central Business District” of NYC south of 61^st Street.  Drivers can expect to pay $9-$23 per trip, although pricing classifications are still being decided. Mass transit vehicles, such as NJ Transit buses, would be exempt as compared to trucks or single occupant vehicles. There are proponents on the New Jersey side in favor of the congestion fee, who believe the focus should be on the reliability of mass transit. Camera stanchions have been installed along 60^th Street in Manhattan just below Central Park awaiting a Spring 2024 activation.

For more information please visit: https://new.mta.info/project/CBDTP

Delaware & Raritan River Railroad “F&S Connection” Completed

The rehabilitation project of the former Conrail Freehold Secondary line kicked off January of 2023 beginning with clearing vegetation and upgrades to six crossings along the rail, and with the first test ride occurring on September 15, 2023. This is the first time since 1985 the railway has been active which will link the railroad’s Southern Secondary track in Farmingdale to Jamesburg. This public/private project was largely funded by the NJDOT Rail Freight Assistance Program. This track will allow freight trains to bypass the North Jersey Coast Line, and alleviate congestion from some of the bigger, slower moving trains and allow for quicker NJ Transit service. To commemorate the opening of the line, a ceremonial driving of the final spike took place on October 13 at 1:00 pm near Academy Street in Farmingdale.

For more information please visit: https://www.cadrailroads.com/news/cad-completes-famps-connection

More Ferry Lines Along the Raritan Bay

A new ferry service is coming to Central Jersey as South Amboy will introduce a new ferry terminal less than half a mile from the South Amboy train station along the North Jersey Coast Line. This new line traveling to and from New York City is an additional option for residents in northwest Monmouth County who may see this as an efficient alternative to some of the options along the Bayshore. The borough of Carteret is constructing a pier that will accommodate a new ferry terminal with a 700-space parking lot. In addition, the area surrounding the pier will be developed for recreational and mixed uses including a recreational boat marina and a 40,000-square foot intermodal transportation building, which will include a bar, lounge, restaurant, ticketing area, a banquet hall, a bed and breakfast with 20 suites, and second floor office space. Carteret has secured over $40 million in funding from state and federal sources to build the terminal and new ferry service which it will operate from. The borough  is currently facing opposition from local tenants after it was revealed the  use of eminent domain would be used to extend Carteret Road through a housing development’s parking lot to get users to the waterfront. Residents filed a civil action to show they oppose the project stating they wish to remain a quiet part of town and fear for their safety with the influx of traffic.

Monmouth PATHS

The Monmouth County Division of Planning kicked off its Barriers to Mobility study in July 2023.  This transportation planning study is intended to identify and develop measures to mitigate barriers that County residents face in getting to destinations such as workplaces, schools, grocery stores, medical appointments, and other daily necessities. The study is anticipated to provide guidance for the County and its municipalities on how to address existing obstacles, as well as to prevent new barriers from being developed.  The County secured the services of Stantec and FHI Studio to perform the study.  Funding for the study was granted by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, which is also represented on the study team.

To date, the team has focused on gathering information that will be used to focus on an analysis of existing and potential barriers, and to then identify measures that have been taken in other areas to reduce or eliminate existing barriers and prevent the development of new barriers. These tasks and the pending analysis of identified barriers will ultimately lead to recommendations on how to mitigate them and will identify potential funding sources to implement study findings.

Currently, the team is gearing up for its first of three public outreach initiatives, which are designed to gather input from residents and organizations familiar with the obstacles County residents currently face.  An Experiences Committee composed of individuals and organizations familiar with the obstacles residents face is scheduled to meet on three occasions over the course of the study.  A Technical Advisory Committee consisting of professionals involved in the design and implementation of transportation projects will also meet three times to provide insights on how to alleviate or eliminate the barriers wide-ranging County residents face on a daily basis. The first public outreach meeting will be held in Asbury Park City Hall on November 16^th from 6:30pm-9:00pm to solicit comments directly from residents who face such barriers.  A website will be established shortly to enable residents to post comments to the study team.

Upcoming Events

• Monmouth County Transportation Council Meeting: November 14th, at 7 p.m. to be held in person with a virtual option. Click here to find the meeting info.

Governor Murphy Announces FHWA Approval of $425 Million in Additional Federal Funding for NJDOT and NJ Transit Projects

Governor Murphy announced that in collaboration with the Federal Highway Administration, NJDOT and NJ Transit were able to secure $425 million in funding to ensure transportation projects throughout the state are implemented and completed including the Long Branch pedestrian tunnel. The announcement was delivered at the Long Branch train station where an underground pedestrian tunnel will be constructed that will link the east and west sides of Long Branch, promoting access to the train station and providing safe crossing. Mayor John Pallone of Long Branch was in attendance to thank the Governor and the agencies effort for allocating funding for essential projects, some of which include the Hilton Bus Garage Modernization and Electrification project, which will modernize the Hilton Bus Garage in Maplewood for electric buses. Another allocation of funds will go to the replacement of six bridges in Little Falls, Readington, High Bridge, Bayonne, and Waterford.

E-bike Safety and Assistance

Micro-mobility plays a big role in people’s lives when living in an urban area and one of the latest trends has been electric bikes and scooters. It is an efficient form of micro-mobility that delivery drivers in cities have latched onto, as it reduces travel time and is less strenuous on workers. These lithium-ion batteries used by E-bikes need to be properly maintained or they could end up like one of the 200+ batteries that have caught fire in New York City (NYC) since 2022. New York is looking to combat this issue and keep its residents safe from such situations by offering to verify the safety of or replace lithium batteries. NYC Mayor Eric Adams signed a bill prohibiting the sale of uncertified batteries in the city, and the City Council followed up with two additional bills to establish a program to provide reduced cost batteries, as well as requiring businesses that use these bikes for commercial purposes to provide workers with fireproof containers to charge the batteries. This could bring sweeping change throughout the country to ensure proper storage and reduce the number of unnecessary fires. With E-bike sales on the rise, we can see how towns and cities are preparing their streets with bike friendly infrastructure. New Jersey currently has a proposed bill for an e-bike tax credit, with e-bikes and batteries being a greater cost than regular bikes, there can be great value for lower income workers who can utilize this mode of transportation to reach a wider range of opportunities. 

Hudson Yards Gateway Tunnel Project

Hudson Yards is on track to have the latest transit connection between New York and New Jersey, and the Northeast as a whole. The Hudson Tunnel Project seeks to improve and rehabilitate the corridors efficiency. The project looks to rehabilitate and preserve the existing Amtrak tunnel under the Hudson River as it is more than a century old and growing increasingly unreliable after damage from Superstorm Sandy. Over the next decade a tunnel will be constructed to serve as a link to the entire Northeast corridor. A newly constructed tunnel will be a boost to the Northeast corridor’s efficiency and an additional channel leading to the North Jersey Coast Line.

For more information please visit: https://www.hudsontunnelproject.com/

Vehicle Struck on North Jersey Coast Line

Service was suspended in both directions between Long Branch and Bayhead the morning of Monday October 2^nd after an unoccupied vehicle was struck at 6:00 am. The incident occurred near Cedar Ave. in Long Branch when the driver took a wrong turn onto the tracks. Fortunately, the driver was able to exit  her car before it was struck by a train. There were no injuries to the driver of the vehicle or the 50 passengers and workers on the train at that time. Train tickets were cross honored by NJ Transit bus services for the morning, before service resumed at 9:00 am after the car was cleared off the tracks.

Do You Have an Interesting Transportation Photo Taken Around Monmouth County?

Monmouth County is currently accepting photo submissions for use and credit in public-facing items like the Monmouth County At-a-Glance, regional studies, and other uses in the future. If you have a picture of an interesting transportation feature in the County and  you want the opportunity to have the picture in a county project, submit here.

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 of the Monmouth County Transportation Council at transportation@co.monmouth.nj.us and find out how you can participate or volunteer with us.