Crossing to Staten Island
The Port Authority is considering widening the Outerbridge Crossing between Perth Amboy and Staten Island. This sounds like a mistake to me.
Would a 90-year-old structure be able to support the added weight and load of extra traffic? Would the roads in Perth Amboy be able to handle the increased traffic without becoming a bottleneck?
Maybe the better solution would be a new bridge north of the Outerbridge Crossing with new roads as needed. This would not create any problems with construction to the existing bridge.
Ronald A. Sobieraj
Congestion Price Tolling
New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Janno Lieber announced that Congestion Price Tolling should begin by December 2023. In coming months, there will be another round of public hearings prior to implementation. NJ residents will be paying a portion of revenues generated by these new fees. The MTA estimates it will generate $1 billion annually. These revenues will be used to leverage another $2 billion annually via bonding. This is supposed to raise $15 billion that which will help pay for the MTA $51 billion 2020 – 2025 Five Year Capital Plan. Both NJ Transit and the Port Authority have similar multiyear Capital Plans. New Jersey residents should consider asking for a fair share of revenues generated by these new tolls that they will be paying.
Some of these dollars could go toward the NJ share for the $12 billion Gateway Tunnel (two new tunnels plus rehab of existing tunnels) or full build $33 billion version, $10 billion Port Authority 42nd Street Bus Terminal, NJ Transit and PATH capital programs or other transportation improvements that would benefit NJ residents. After all, fair is fair.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
(Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for NJ Transit, NY MTA, NYC Transit, Long Island and Metro North Rail Roads along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ).
WiFi on NJ Transit Busses
One of the most exciting proposals coming out of the current Democratic-majority legislature is the prospect of every New Jersey Transit bus being equipped with fast, complimentary Wi-Fi access.
As a Central New Jersey educator, I find this idea to be exceptionally overdue. While it might be true that ubiquitous LTE/5G access exists in the Garden State, for many students the cost of an ‘unlimited’ plan remains out of reach. Most monthly plans hover around $50 a month per line.
With fast Wi-Fi coverage, students will now be able to get work done during their typically long commutes and other travels on public transportation. Whether attending a virtual class, downloading a required documentary, or engaging in group study via team software, hundreds of thousands of learners will now be more empowered and connected.
I want to personally thank Assemblyman Dan Benson and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez for strongly supporting this initiative. These Democratic officeholders are getting the job done for all our residents engaged in self-improvement.
Sincerely,
Daniel B. Kurz, M.A.
