Issue No. 51 Spring 2013 Commute Information for Business Executives & Elected Officials in Northern Shuttle to Shore — EZ Ride Jitney is back! hore visitors can now use the train and our Shore EZ Ride Jitney to get Sto the beaches in Asbury Park and Long Branch. All you need to do is go to the train station in either Asbury Park or Long Branch to pick up the shuttle. Hop aboard and we’ll do the rest. The Asbury Park service begins on May 18 with Saturday and Sunday service only. Friday service, however, will begin June 28. The Long Branch service begins May 24 but will have reduced service on Fridays until June 21 when the schedule will pick-up. Once aboard, we will take you to the beach or the shops – your choice. Transit riders (From left to right) Krishna Murthy, Executive Director, Meadowlink; Howard Woolley, Business Administrator ride for free. All others pay a nominal fee of and Jacob Jones, Director of Economic Development at the trial run of the shuttle. $1 per ride. Long Branch Shuttle — The service will be provided on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Memorial Day, Supports Economic Growth Strategy Independence Day and Labor Day from 9 he shuttle long considered a service. The Monmouth County a.m. through to 11 p.m. Two mini-buses necessity by the City of Long Tourism Board estimates that during will serve the and one TBranch and supported by the the peak summer season 21,000 daily mini-bus will serve . North Jersey Transportation Planning visitors will arrive in Long Branch All vehicles are accessible for wheel chairs. Authority, (NJTPA) and NJ Transit while during the off-season, the Shuttle stops along the route are clearly will be launched in early June. number drops to about 10,000. marked with EZ Ride sign. The shuttle The shuttle will pick up passengers “The shuttle complements our schedules coordinate with rail timetables. every half-hour from 6:30 a.m. plans to develop Long Branch as a For a detailed route and schedule please visit to 9:30 a.m. in the morning and Transit Village. We believe it will have ezride.org. from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the a favorable economic impact on the evening The service will link the area, its colleges and area businesses. The program is largely paid for by a federal Long Branch train station to Brookdale We look forward to working with grant with the municipalities of Asbury Park Community College, Monmouth Meadowlink, to make the shuttle a and Long Branch contributing 25% of the University, Pier Village and other success,” said Mr. Howard Woolley, operating cost of the program. businesses in the area. Riders will pay Business Administrator of Long Branch. For information contact: a nominal fee of only $1.50 per ride. For information contact: Wendy Arias: In addition to the schools and Wendy Arias (732) 380-1299 businesses visitors will also be (732) 380-1299 [email protected] able to take advantage of the [email protected] BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OFFICERS Vanpools using Pulaski Skyway during Perry E. Frenzel, Chairman PNJ/Frenzel Associates construction, to receive $325 Monthly Incentive Richard Fritzky, Vice President Meadowlands Reg. Chamber of Commerce Chip Hallock, Secretary he Pulaski Skyway, the bridge One proposed traffic mitigation Newark Regional Business Partnership that connects Jersey City and measure is the use of incentives to Ronald E. Nichols, Treasurer Newark, is scheduled for a major encourage vanpooling. Vanpools NJ Transit T overhaul in early 2014. The Skyway can typically hold anywhere between traverses the Meadowlands from Newark to 7 to 15 passengers, making it a viable TRUSTEES Jersey City and Hoboken and is one of New option for commuters, consolidating Joseph Abramo Jersey’s busiest bridges. disparate travellers into one vehicle. New Jersey Sports & Exhibition Authority Angel G. Estrada Built over 80 years ago, the Skyway Typically, NJ Transit recognizes Union County Freeholders carries 67,000 cars a day. It has been vanpools and provides $175 in monthly Diana E. Fainberg rated as the 6th least reliable bridge in the Diana E. Fainberg Associates, LLC subsidies. However, to encourage the country, by the Texas Transportation Robert Garrison, Esq. formation of more vanpools to help Bergen County Planning & Economic Dev. Institute in 2011 making its renovation reduce congestion, an additional $150 David Kuhn urgent. The construction will extend the life per month per vanpool will be provided, New Jersey Department of Transportation of the bridge by at least 75 years. Allen J. Magrini, Esq. which makes a total of $325 per vehicle Hartz Mountain Industries The New Jersey Department of for the duration of the construction. Mary K. Murphy Transportation (NJDOT) estimates that North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority closing the inbound lanes during the day Suggestions to avoid congestion would Bernard Nangle include using local streets to get to New Jersey Meadowlands Commission when the deck replacement phase begins, Lower Manhattan via the Holland Sheila Oliver rather than working at night and weekends, Essex County will save up to four years of construction Tunnel. But no matter what route is Patricia Ott and an estimated $200 million in costs. taken, congestion is sure to be MBO Engineering, LLC heavy. Carpooling, vanpooling and Cruz C. Russell Once construction begins early in taking advantage of shuttles from Park and Port Authority of NY & NJ 2014, northbound lanes on the 1&9 Ride locations, are realistic alternatives Anthony Scardino Anthony Scardino & Associates Pulaski Skyway will be closed. NJDOT and will be available. It is expected that Joseph Sireno is exploing a variety of ways to keep other alternatives will be presented before Sireno Communications traffic moving during the peak morning rush construction begins. hours, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and again during the afternoon peak hours from For information contact: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m to help avoid delays and Ellie Ferrer (201) 961-6941 congestion. [email protected]

Smart Commuter, is a bi-monthly newsletter about commuter information in our region and is published by Meadowlands Transportation Brokerage Corporation d/b/a Meadowlink. Please call Brenda Dainton at (201) 939-4242 with comments, corrections or suggestions. This publication was prepared with funding from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of NJTPA and FHWA in the interest of information exchange. NJTPA and FHWA assume no liability for its contents or use thereof. Page 2 Employers on the Move ... VOLUNTEER 200 Bergen Community College Students SPOTLIGHT Register for Carpooling ergen Community College, with The statewide carpool program is over 17,000 students and three provided free to participants. It is jointly Bcampuses in Paramus, Lyndhurst managed by the New Jersey Department and Hackensack is encouraging students to of Transportation (NJDOT) and the North carpool to help save time, money and help Jersey Transportation Planning Authority reduce the demand for parking spaces. (NJTPA). About 30,000 participants and Over 200 students signed up to find 12,000 carpoolers take advantage of the carpool at a transportation event program annually. Bob Martinelli organized by Meadowlink in March. Colleges and universities contribute the “I’m a volunteer at heart,” The event was held at the Bergen largest number of carpoolers in our program. says our EZ Ride veteran, Bob Community College campus in Participating institutions include: Martinelli, who has been with Lyndhurst. Even though schedules vary Rutgers University, Kean University, us since the inception of our widely, the large number of registrants will Essex County College, Felician College, senior transportation program increase the probability of finding Monmouth County College, Brookdale in 2008. He’s a big hit with carpool partners and benefit all Community College and of course Bergen his customers and colleagues alike. What he really likes about participants. All registered carpoolers are Community College. volunteering at EZ Ride, is eligible for the Emergency Ride Home For information contact: not having to drive his own Program that guarantees a free ride home Steve Culpepper vehicle. Late model Honda in the case of an emergency. A maximum (201) 939-4242 Accords, fully insured and of three such rides are provided over a [email protected] equipped with in-vehicle calendar year. cameras are provided for his use. Volunteering for one company would be enough for most Vitamin Shoppe employees enjoy late people, but Bob also volunteers for Queen of ® night shuttle service to Journal Square Peace Church in North Arlington. In addition, he’s he Vitamin Shoppe facility in weekends at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Ser- been a volunteer for North North Bergen is about a mile from vice is provided using a 22-passenger Arlington EMT. T the nearest bus stop. Additionally, mini-bus that is wheel chair accessible. He is also an active participant bus service is limited or not available The service is largely used by employees on a senior Bocce ball league, for the night shift that ends late at night. from the Vitamin Shoppe facility but is and enjoys gardening, going Meadowlink in partnership with to the gym and spending time also available to the public. Users pay a NJ Transit and the Vitamin Shoppe with his granddaughter. flat fare of $1.50 for all stops south of 8th launched the North Bergen night He is married with two daughters. Street and $3 if traveling to stops north of shuttle service in late 2012 to assist these We are proud to recognize employees. 8th Street. The program is largely funded through a federal grant that covers about Bob’s 1,400 hours of service as The shuttle operates from 91st Street a volunteer and thank him for 75% of the operating costs. along JFK Boulevard to Journal Square, his selfless dedication. Jersey City. The shuttle operates both For information contact: Want to volunteer? Contact: a weekday and a weekend schedule. Cesar Gomez Kinga Skora During weekdays, the service operates 201-939-4242 201-939-4242 at 11:10 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. and on [email protected] [email protected] Page 3 Nonprofit Org. Auto MEADOWLINK U.S. Postage Paid S. Hackensack, NJ 144 Park Place East Permit No. 1761 Comments? Suggestions? Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075 Feel free to forward your thoughts on improving the Smart Commuter to Brenda Dainton at (201) 939-4242 or e-mail: [email protected]

Service Updates Freebies galore... Maplewood Tuscan Elementary School Encourages Free Transit Display for your worksite Children to Walk to School Meadowlink is an advocate for public transportation afe Routes to School (SRTS), children walked to school. Today that inspired by the “Walk don’t ride” number has dwindled to 15%. with a ‘transit-first’ policy. Sidea was the inspiration for the As the children “bus” to school, the adult Our displays provide easy program, started in November of 2011. “drivers” will teach them road safety tips access to New Jersey In 2013 Tuscan Elementary School in including the three basic safety tenants: Transit information. These Maplewood, joined 20 other schools be safe, be seen and be smart. The aim is displays are available for currently enrolled in the program. to make the journey fun, safe and healthy. your worksite free of charge. With funding from the New Jersey The benefits of the program include Department of Transportation (NJDOT) healthier children, less congestion around We will customize the and managed by Meadowlink, the SRTS schools and a more engaged community. displays and set them up at your worksite and at your program is designed to encourage children There are more than 700 schools in the convenience. to safely walk to school and adapt a more Meadowlink service area with main healthy lifestyle. So far, Meadowlink has priority given to schools in disadvantaged Each display holds relevant introduced the program in five counties communities. The program is largely commuter brochures, in New Jersey and expects to have over funded by federal dollars with no cost to together with information, 30 schools actively involved by the end the school or the community. regarding carpooling and of the year. vanpooling as well as all The goal is to encourage children For information contact: bus and train schedules together with responsible volunteer adults Meeta Patel relevant to your location. to form a “bus” and walk to school. 201-939-4242 For your FREE display, Prior to 1969, it was estimated that 48% of [email protected] contact: Michael Jensen (201) 939-4242 [email protected]