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Larry Higgs

@commutinglarry.bsky.social

190 followers 110 following 65 posts

I'm the commuting/transportation reporter for NJ.com, enjoy biking, music (garage through punk), trains. cars, cats (have 2) NYC born, NJ raised. That is me not looking down on the George Washington Bridge main cable.

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Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 7d

Gift article- Decision based on a new rule effective today, but three Gateway projects under construction predate a court decision it was based on www.nj.com/news/2025/10...

Trump just froze billions for the massive Gateway tunnel project

USDOT Secretary halts Gateway Tunnel, 2nd Avenue Subway project payments until review to determine of the ran afoul of a new federal rule about discrimination.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 7d

Gift article- Decision based on a new rule effective today, but three Gateway projects under construction predate a court decision it was based on www.nj.com/news/2025/10...

Trump just froze billions for the massive Gateway tunnel project

USDOT Secretary halts Gateway Tunnel, 2nd Avenue Subway project payments until review to determine of the ran afoul of a new federal rule about discrimination.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 8d

Got article www.nj.com/news/2025/10...

NJ Transit launches investigation into union leaders who were paid $10K for not working

NJ Transit hires integrity monitor to probe practices that led to two union leaders being paid for time off they took around contact negotiations earlier this year.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 9d

Gift article - more sparring between NJ Transit and locomotive engineers union about this and no-shows
www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

NJ Transit demands union bosses repay $10K. ‘We’ll claw back every cent they weren’t due.’

A union spokesperson said the union has 'done nothing wrong' and the charges are unfounded.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 11d

The other good news? PATH TAPP fare card machines being tested as time running out on the SmartLink/Metrocard www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

PATH’s $430M infrastructure project on track for 2026 completion

PATH officials gave riders a date for completion of the $430 million PATH Forward infrastructure work and hinted new fare cards are coming soon

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 13d

Gift article - Newark Airport breaks records despite having flights limited by FAA www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

FAA limits flights, but Newark Airport set records anyway. How did they do it?

The FAA order limits flights to 72 per hour, due to air traffic control issues and continued work to finish a runway rehabilitation project.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 13d

Did NJ Transit retire these locomotives too soon? The feds think so and dunned NJT $27.5 million from it next grant for doing so. www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

NJ Transit junking dozens of rusty trains, but owed $27M to the feds first

A fleet of old graffiti cover locomotives that sat in the Morris County woods for 12 years are finally sold.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 15d

New air traffic controller trainees will help get more flights in and out of Newark Airport after the spring meltdown. www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

A record number of air traffic controllers are being trained. But will it help Newark Airport?

After the Spring's air traffic control meltdown at Newark Airport, FAA says they've hired a record number of air traffic controller trainees to boost the ranks.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 16d

NJ Transit's bus "bench" for World Cup finals just got deeper. www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

NJ Transit just added more buses to its World Cup plan. Here’s the reason why.

NJ Transit is taking no chances moving fans to next years FIFA World Cup games at MetLife stadium, hiring 100-125 private buses and drivers in case of an emergency.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 19d

The heliport that was home to an ill-fated tourist chopper that crashed in the HUdson is facing shut down after town says it violated zoning agreemnt that banned tourist helicopters
www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

N.J. heliport faces shutdown after fatal tourist helicopter crash in Hudson River

A Hudson County town ordered the shut down of a heliport that an ill-fated tourist chopper that crashed on April 10 flew from, saying it violated conditions it agreed to in 2014.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 19d

Old NJ Transit buses, begone! (by 2030) www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

NJ Transit is spending $506M to replace its buses and finally modernize its fleet

NJ Transit's board approved a $506 million contract to buy 260 new buses, delivering on Gov. Murphys to have purchases in place to replace all aging buses and trains.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 21d

Did negotiations start? A PATH union says the other side hasn't come to the table and that their contract expired on 9/9
www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

Another rail strike could be in N.J.’s future as negotiations with a PATH rail union stall

PATH union members demonstrated their discontent with the pace of contract negotiations in NYC's Labor Day parade. Will there be a strike?

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 21d

Even a shiny new building couldn't save Newark Airport from the wrath of survey taking travelers.
www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

Newark airport’s $2.7 billion upgrade couldn’t save it from this dead-last ranking

J.D. Power North American Airport Satisfaction study ranked the country's best and worst airports.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 21d

United executives celebrate Newark airport “recovery” announce plans to add jobs, planes, routes www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

United Airlines makes major hiring announcement at Newark Airport

United Airlines has announced a major hiring plan for its operations at Newark Airport.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 23d

These statistics of predicted revenue and realized fare revenue tell a similar story www.nj.com/news/2025/07...

NJ Transit says more people will be commuting as remote work takes a dive

NJ Transit's 2026 operating budget counts on more people riding trains, buses and light rail to earn $980 in fares. But the agency failed to make fare revenue goals in nine years.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 23d

Travelers would be spared extra out-of-pockets costs when their flight is canceled and it s the airline fault under this lawmakers proposal. www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

Travelers should get compensated, N.J. leader says, after Trump administration halts rule

Delayed, canceled flights shouldn't cost travelers more money. A proposed law would make sure airlines cover those costs when it's their fault.

Reposted by Larry Higgs

Super_bus_Machine 🏳️‍🌈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☘️ @super-bus-machine.bsky.social · 25d

Just a heads up: the 80, 87, and 8 are on detour because of Bergen Sq Day.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 25d

Gift article- want to register or title a car? If you live in the county, prepare to travel. www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

Drivers in this N.J. county are fed up with having to drive across the state to get full MVC services

Officials in this rural county want the MVC to restore its agency to full service so residents don't have to waste time and money.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 26d

That’s ok- I had to get clarification myself

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 26d

Light rail employees get layoff notices - are new jobs down the track?
www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

River Line operator to lay off 121 employees. Will NJ Transit hire them back?

NJ Transit is taking over operations of the River Line, which had bad on-time performance and too many canceled trains.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 26d

The contractors change this weekend, 21st Century leaves after about 14 years and ACI-Herzog Joint Venture takes over operations and maintenance.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 26d

Covered this continuing story this morning where students are getting not-so-pleasant lessons in their future adult commuting lives. NJ Transit light rail contractor continues to have no show operators. www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

Kids are late to school because trains aren’t showing up. NJ Transit blames operator.

Students were 40 minutes to class due to no-show light rail trains causing NJ Transit to demand a contractor to run those trains.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 27d

More canceled light rail trains make kids 40 minutes late to school. www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

NJ Transit slams Light Rail operator after cancellations leave students late for school

Students were 40 minutes to class due to no-show light rail trains causing NJ Transit to demand a contractor to run those trains.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 28d

Drivers using Hudson and East River tunnels had this problem www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

Drivers still haven’t gotten back the $3 they overpaid for congestion pricing. Here’s why.

Driver's who've paid an New York's congestion pricing fee and have been waiting for their E-ZPass toll credits to appear will get good news this week.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · 29d

The race is on to build NJ Transit transitway in time for Jluy 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in NJ www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

How buses will move tens of thousands of World Cup soccer fans at MetLife Stadium

Work has started on the $100 million Transitway system to help move 20,000 fans an hour to July's FIFA World Cup final games at MetLife Stadium.

Larry Higgs @commutinglarry.bsky.social · Sep 5

SEPTA riders get a split decision on fare hikes, service cuts www.nj.com/news/2025/09...

Judge orders SEPTA to reverse service cuts, but allows 21% fare hike

A judge ordered SEPTA to reverse service cuts but upheld a 21% fare increase after a day long hearing Thursday.