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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 10h

One state senator remembers what Newark Airport was like before AirTrain Newark from when she was a concessionaire in the early '90s.

Now, she has a front row seat at its replacement groundbreaking.

More on that and the new project ⬇️

Newark Airport's AirTrain is being replaced. What to know as work begins

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is replacing the AirTrain at Newark Liberty Airport. Ground broke on the project Oct. 7.

www.northjersey.com

Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 1d

Our statehouse reporter Katie Sobko queried the gubernatorial candidates about their ideas for improving NJ TRANSIT.

Here's what they said:

How would Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill manage the future of NJ Transit?

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 2d

NJ Transit's electric bus program was already up against myriad challenges -- now the New Flyer bus used for its Camden pilot program is subject to a recall.

More on that at NorthJersey.com
www.northjersey.com/story/news/t...

NHTSA recalls electric bus model that's part of NJ Transit's electric bus pilot

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalled an electric bus model being used in NJ Transit's electric bus pilot.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 2d

What are air traffic controllers at Newark Airport thinking about? Departures, arrivals, how to pay mortgage, car, feed kids - as they work w/out pay amid govt shutdown.

This is exacerbating an ATC shortage at EWR. More on that and Sec. Duffy visit today.
www.northjersey.com/story/news/t...

Federal shutdown adds stress to air traffic control operations at Newark Airport

Air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty Airport are already overworked. They are not being paid because of the federal government shutdown.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 5d

In 2024, NJ TRANSIT's bus fleet dropped to its lowest MDBF average since 2017 -- 10,302.

But plans are underway to purchase 1,400+ buses. One new transit bus was on display this week and Kris Kolluri gave Rep. Menendez a hard time about driving.

My story:
www.northjersey.com/story/news/t...

NJ Transit unveils new buses that will roll out between now and June 2026

NJ Transit officials unveiled the first 175 new 40-foot, two-door transit buses that will be rolling into the carrier's fleet through June 2026.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 5d

And he made it look easy

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 6d

The crosswalk in Oakland where 4yo Jalen Gomez died was made less visible & lacked a basic safety feature - Bergen Co won't say why.

In 2020, a state grant to make ped safety upgrades along Ramapo Valley Road was denied. Now ped deaths in NJ are at 30-year highs.
www.northjersey.com/story/news/t...

Oakland pedestrian death raises questions for Bergen County amid hurdles to upgrades

A dangerous intersection in Oakland illustrates the challenges for towns who need county and state funds to make crosswalk upgrades.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 7d

Once again, it appears the Gateway tunnel projects have become a political football for the Trump administration.

Despite 10 months of supporting the projects, the decision to review its DBE requirements came Oct. 1 -- the first day of the gov shutdown.

Some federal reimbursements for the Gateway Tunnel project are paused. Here's why

The U.S. Department of Transportation is pausing reimbursements for Gateway amid a review of "race- and sex-based contracting requirements."

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 8d

After concerns about payroll procedures, engineers calling out of shifts and possibly recouping money, NJ TRANSIT is hiring an "integrity monitor."

They will issue a report on findings and recommendations in five weeks, according to Kris Kolluri.

More ⬇️
www.northjersey.com/story/news/t...

NJ Transit will hire monitor to review payroll issues after alleged overpayments

NJ Transit said it wants to reclaim $10,000 from two union officers who may have been paid when they were conducting union business.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 9d

Taking LIRR to a concert at Forest Hills tonight. Not sure if it makes the NJT riders feel any better, but they’re dealing with the same foggy/sun-impaired windows across the river, too.

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 9d

Meanwhile, here’s the latest on the NJ TRANSIT M&E service reduction from Saturday’s derailment.

NJ Transit will continue reduced service on Morris and Essex line for several days
www.northjersey.com/story/news/t...

NJ Transit will continue reduced service on Morris and Essex line for several days

Reduced train service will continue on the Morris and Essex line and Gladstone Branch through Wednesday after a weekend derailment.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 9d

BREAKING: NJ TRANSIT seeks $10K in wages back from 2 BLET union heads it says was paid improperly

This comes as tensions escalate over “unauthorized” absences. There were 32 yesterday amid the derailment suspension

NJ Transit seeks $10K in wages back from 2 union heads it says was paid improperly

NorthJersey.com published an exclusive story about how NJ Transit looked at whether leaders of the locomotive engineers union were improperly paid.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 9d

Tensions between NJ TRANSIT and the BLET have remained high this year after settling their contract.

Now, NJT may claw back money paid to union leaders who may have been improperly paid for “company time” and “union business.”

More at NorthJersey

NJ Transit looks to pull back money possibly paid improperly to union leaders

NorthJersey.com provided the agency documents that appeared to show union officers calling out of shifts for lengthy stretches and still getting paid.

www.northjersey.com

Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · 13d

Here's the latest on Newark Airport issues:
- Flights curtailed through 10/26 but could see a bump soon
- Sec. Duffy annc'd 2k+ air traffic control hires, but EWR air space staffing is still at just 48%
- Tech improvements coming online soon

More at NorthJersey

Newark Liberty flights will remain reduced well into 2026, though may increase a bit

The FAA is limiting flights “to continue maintaining safety while alleviating flight delays due to staffing and equipment challenges.”

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · Aug 20

Mentioned in the story - operations.

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · Aug 20

In fairness, they kind of have to sell because of this program Murphy set up with EDA. But they have pursued some ground leases in recent years (LCOR, Metropark). Once the $100M from EDA is spent, the theory is they could start doing the real estate transactions themselves.

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · Aug 19

“Transition from a park-and-ride to live-and-ride — and I think that is the right lens to look at this,” Kris Kolluri of @NJTRANSIT.

My story dives into which NJT properties could become mixed-use developments and the agency’s real estate strategy.

NJ Transit owns 8,000 acres and is looking to sell, spur development near train stations

NJ Transit is weighing what it should keep, what could be sold for a cash infusion and how other parcels could create recurring revenue.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · Aug 12

The Gateway team has already found an old soap factory and a pig bone during tunnel excavation. Could the old Penn Station remnants show up? The rubble of the former West Side Highway? Or the remains of Jimmy Hoffa?

My story @northjerseynews.bsky.social :

A pig bone. An old soap factory. What else will the Hudson River rail tunnel work dig up?

The Gateway tunnel's archeology team is ready for relics as the project digs through an old Manhattan landfill and the New Jersey Meadowlands.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · Jul 24

NJ Transit’s budget rose 5.5%, what drove costs?

Will the next gov continue sending historic levels of state aid to NJT?

A new report from RPA figured out what would happen if we didn’t have NJT —and how much it would cost.

My latest story dives into all of this ⬇️

NJ Transit budget has record $1.4B in state aid. Will next governor continue that?

NJ Transit is expected to receive $1.4 billion in state aid in its new budget — a historic amount that is nearly double what it received last year.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · Jul 22

Academy Bus will pay nearly $2.7M to settle another dispute over its services to NYC and Atlantic City-- this time with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

NJ Turnpike board settles dispute over $3.1M that Academy bus subsidiaries owed

Academy is also currently paying off a $20.5 million settlement with NJ Transit to resolve allegations that it defrauded the agency.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · Jul 22

I shadowed Kris Kolluri and the NJ TRANSIT team during the FIFA Club World Cup final.

This is the behind-the-scenes look of how that went and the hurdles they faced as they rehearse for next year.

NJ Transit moved 21K fans after Club World Cup final. Can it handle the 2026 World Cup?

NJ Transit used the recently finished Club World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium to prepare for the hurdles serving many more World Cup fans in 2026.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · Jul 21

Gregg Reuben (husband of Alina Habba), Mark Tedesco (part-owner of Academy Bus) -- two of the at least four people with New Jersey ties on the new US DOT advisory committee.

More on the committee and its members at NorthJersey.com

A third of new members on US DOT advisory committee have NJ ties

The group will help execute “President Donald Trump’s bold agenda to build big, beautiful things again,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

www.northjersey.com

Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · Jul 18

The contract between BLET and NJTRANSIT was finally approved last night, almost two months after it was first agreed to and ended the 3-day strike.

More on the details and the “givebacks that had value.”
www.northjersey.com/story/news/t...

NJ Transit board unanimously approves contract with train engineers' union

NJ Transit’s board unanimously approved the long-awaited and contentious deal with the engineers' union about 2 months after a 3-day strike in May.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · Jul 10

If you drive down Tonnelle, peer over the High Line on W30th St or look to the middle of the Hudson River — you can see 5 of the construction projects from the $16B tunnel program.

Here’s an overview of each project and the unique challenges they face
www.northjersey.com/story/news/t...

5 projects, including one in the Hudson, on track for new NJ-NY Gateway rail tunnel

Five projects are now underway, in North Bergen, at the Hoboken-Weehawken border, on the western edge of Manhattan and in the middle of the Hudson.

www.northjersey.com

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Colleen Wilson @colleenonthescene.bsky.social · Jul 8

The idea to move NJ TRANSIT’s rail maintenance facility dates back at least 17 years.

Kris Kolluri has resurrected the idea again, to improve rail infrastructure and because of the real estate opportunity.

Read more about it at northjersey

NJ Transit looks to build new maintenance facility in North Jersey

The facility would replace one in Wood-Ridge. That site could then generate revenue for the agency if it is developed.

www.northjersey.com

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