HBLRT Question to NJT

Dear NJT

On a day (February 17) when the temperature was in the high teens to low 20s with sustained winds at over 20 mph and gusts over 40 mph, why is it that your LRT engineers keep the doors of your Kinki Sharyo fleet open at terminal stations with layovers as much as 13 minutes. These LRT cars are equipped with features that allow the doors to be opened individually with push buttons by passengers both within and outside the cars when the train is stopped at a station. I guess the same question would apply in the heat of summer when the cars are air-conditioned and it approaches 100 degrees outside. Just curious?

Sincerely,

Les Wolff, Director
New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers

03/20/13 NJT Responds

Dear Lester,

Thank you for your inquiry. We apologize for our delay in responding.

As a policy, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) operations do not permit the public to operate the doors. This policy was put in place a number of years ago. Light rail personnel are expected to use good judgment concerning when to leave the doors open (in good weather) or to keep the doors closed, and just open them when passengers approach (in bad weather).

In the example case you cited it would seem you encountered an operator who was using questionable judgment, given the weather conditions. To this point, HBLR Operations is currently re-instructing their operators to use better judgment concerning door operation when the weather is inclement.

NJ TRANSIT appreciates you taking the time to share this information. It is important to us as we work to improve our service to you.

Thank you for contacting NJ TRANSIT.

Sincerely,

Fred Bauer NJ
TRANSIT Customer Service Team

On 3/20 Les Wolff replies to Fred Bauer of NJT

Hi Fred

Guess I've been asleep at the switch as I wasn't aware that the door buttons had been disabled for customer use. I guess it's probably easier for the operator to keep the doors open during the entire layover than to have to continuously monitor arriving passengers at a terminus. As you are probably aware, weekend patronage at Tonnelle is not too high and the weather that day probably discouraged ridership. Was actually there to check out the Park and Ride stations to see how the Free Parking was being received. That idea, was suggested to NJT's Jim Weinstein at NJT Board meetings and it now has been implemented at Grove St. on the Newark LRT too. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my questions.

Sincerely,

Les Wolff
NJ-ARP

Map 1

NJ-ARP was founded in 1980. The rail map looked far different than it does today. It was predominantly black lines. During the intervening 30+ years, our members were on the forefront advocating for more rail and light rail lines.

NJ-ARP was founded in 1980. The rail map looked far different than it does today. It was predominantly black lines. During the intervening 30+ years, our members were on the forefront advocating for more rail and light rail lines.

Map 2

Watch green appear on the map. NJ-ARP fought for all these lines, stations, and connections. They include the Waterfront Connection, MidTown Direct, the Montclair Connection, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, Secaucus Junction Station, Newark Airport Station, 2 Newark City Subway extensions, Cape May Seashore Lines. Atlantic City Line, and the 34 mile River Line from Trenton to Camden.

Watch green appear on the map. NJ-ARP fought for all these lines, stations, and connections. They include the Waterfront Connection, MidTown Direct, the Montclair Connection, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, Secaucus Junction Station, Newark Airport Station, 2 Newark City Subway extensions, Cape May Seashore Lines. Atlantic City Line, and the 34 mile River Line from Trenton to Camden.

Map 3

Continue watching as yellow lines are added. These are projects in planning stages or currently already under construction. Our work is far from finished, as the map will soon be changing again and 13 new red lines are added.

Map 4

These red lines have been in planning - some as long as NJ-ARP has existed. Lackawanna Cut-Off, Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) rail (proposed by NJ-ARP in 1985) are just two. Member support has enabled us to keep reminding media and elected officials of the valuable role rail plays in New Jersey.

These red lines have been in planning - some as long as NJ-ARPhas existed. Lackawanna Cut-Off, Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) rail (proposed by NJ-ARP in 1985) are just two. Member support has enabled us to keep remind-ing media and elected officials of the valuable role rail plays in New Jersey.

HBLRT Question to NJT