| Author | Message | ||
     romatc Citizen Username: Romatc Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2002 |
would like to start a movement to stop New Jersey Transit buses from using Boyden Ave. as the route used from their garage on Springfield Ave. to the Ivy Hill Apartments in Newark for the # 107 to NYC. connection and beyond. Why do they have to use Boyden Ave for their route when there is NO SERVICE for us on this street? Why should we have to put up with all the noise and pollution of their diesel engines seven days a week?!? Why can't they make a left turn out of the garage onto Springfield Ave. head East to Sanford Ave. Irvington Make a left then go two blocks to Clinton Ave. make another left unto Clinton Ave. and follow it up into Irvington Ave that winds up to the Ivy Hill Apartments and beyond? I live on the corner of Parker & Boyden Avenues. I grew up in this down and have lived at this location for the last fifty years. So I've seen ALL the changes believe me. Since there is a traffic light at this location all the noise from all the Ambulances, Fire trucks, and Police cars is enough to make me jump out of my skin if I leave my windows or doors open on a nice day! Do we really need those stinkin' buses too? If anyone out there reading this thinks like I do contact me Roma Thomas Colella (973) 763-3614 or romatc@comcast.net and we'll rattle their cage to make changes! Thanks in Advance, RTC | ||
| tom Citizen Username: Tom Post Number: 970 Registered: 5-2001 |
Sign me up, neighbor. I live on the same intersection and everything that gets left outside gets filthy from the diesel grime. Blech. Not to mention every ambulance company in three counties finds a way to come screaming down the street. Your route takes them through more of the commercial districts -- the streets that actually HAVE service. It's also been noted on other threads here that the intersection at Boyden and Springfield is getting a little bit out of hand. Getting the buses off of it can only help. and that yipping dog ... | ||
| romatc Citizen Username: Romatc Post Number: 3 Registered: 6-2002 |
and that yipping dog ...I forgot about that! Unbelievable how some people don't care about their neighbors. I can remember growing up here and sometimes while having an argument with my mother I would start to get a little bit loud. The first thing my mother did was to shut all the windows and doors and say "What will the neighbors think!!" Also I had two beautiful dogs for 14 years and never did I allow them to disturb my neighbors. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1474 Registered: 9-2001 |
"Why do they have to use Boyden Ave for their route when there is NO SERVICE for us on this street?" RTC, thank you, that's an excellent point. It also affects hundreds of Maplewood residents along the route, offers a reasonable solution, will relieve noise, traffic, and pollution, and right now it serves as nothing more than a short cut for some bus drivers! The truth is I often wondered why we don't have another bus line going through town besides the 25 Springfield Avenue Bus. This gives me another idea! Would anyone be willing to support a regular bus route from the South Orange Village Train station, up South Orange Avenue, to Irvington Avenue, up to Florence Avenue in Irvington, across to Springfield Avenue and all the way up to Home Depot in Union, then back to South Orange Village along Valley Street through Maplewood? I believe it could go along ways in supporting economic development all along the route as it passed through four different towns in two different counties. Something else to think about when we start this process is, I believe when NJT and the state built those garages and buildings, they made some kind of a special property tax deal with Maplewood. That alone should give our town some consideration. Give me a call; I'd be happy to lend my support to your idea and also to discuss getting a public route as I mentioned above. Art 762-8518 BTW, how is your brother Eddy? Is he still out in California? Tell him I said hello...  | ||
| tom Citizen Username: Tom Post Number: 972 Registered: 5-2001 |
The shuttle route is a great idea. It could go right into the Home Depot parking lot! But it would have to be regular enough to get most of us out of our cars on a Saturday afternoon. There was something put up here a while back about the tax arrangement. Wouldn't it be ironic if they got a break for polluting these residential streets. And when is that agreement due to expire? | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1475 Registered: 9-2001 |
Tom, I'm not sure about the terms of the agreement. I got wind of the matter last year when I was running for TC, but never followed up on it. Former Mayor Grasmere or Bob Klein could fill us in on what the deal was... I'm also not sure if a Maplewood shuttle bus would be possible. I'm thinking more along the lines of a regular NJT bus route. I've tried to get interest as some of you may recall for an all day Maplewood Shuttle for a long time. I brought it up with the Mayor, at different public meetings, the election debate, and on-line, and have been shot down at every turn....  Maybe it's like Duncan says, it's all about me! Either way, like the library deal, I'll keep pluging away and maybe by the umpteenth time it will be a charm? However, the more I think about it, the route I proposed only covers the main business districts, now with a little more imagination; lets say we added a small loop off Valley Street, go west on Oakland, stop at the Maplewood Train Station, then back east up Baker Street to Valley, and continue on to the S.O. Station again. WOW! I estimate the run would take about a half hour round trip. That’s two trips an hour, every hour from 6AM to 9PM. I wouldn’t even think twice about using the bus every time I ventured out into the community. Once it caught on, I’m sure residents and merchants alike would benefit greatly, not to mention the parking advantages all along the entire route! Another possibility would be to take Irvington Avenue only to the beginning of Parker, then take Parker west up to a left on Boyden Avenue, and then over to Springfield Avenue. This would allow all of the Maplewood Gardens Condo's and Winchester Gardens, plus residents all along the interior route to grab the bus to the stores along the Avenue. It would also cover both villages, and both train stations.... I'm really excited! I just repossessed six buses last week, so if this idea doesn't get the TC and NJT's attention, I might just start up my own bus company... anyone interested in going in business out here? Think about it, residents living a couple of blocks either side of the bus route would be greatly encouraged to use public transportation, and we may be able to re-route our own shuttles to other parts of the town to expanding our own service. We're talking about thousands of people now that will be able to use the service daily. We could add more bus stops, for more people, with less traffic, and less parking problems! Just what the doctor ordered...  Thanks again Romatc for opening the conversation. PS: Tom, do you think this conversation is important enough to move it to the Soapbox where it will get more exposure? | ||
| tom Citizen Username: Tom Post Number: 975 Registered: 5-2001 |
I think it belongs on the soapbox, yes. Dave, are you listening? [ BTW, Art, with me it's not about you, it's about the idea. ] Interesting idea again about running a route up Parker/Boyden, Great for the residents you mention, and selfishly speaking my wife, who doesn't drive, and and my kids could use it profitably. But only if we can get rid of the non-route buses; I wouldn't want to just ADD to the noise and dirt. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1476 Registered: 9-2001 |
You're right Tom, we should still try to get rid of the "NO SERVICE" buses cutting across Boyden Avenue... Meanwhile, I'm going to try to get the rest of the girls on the Soapbox involved. BTW Tom, I do know! Look, I believe in the library idea, but the chatter back and forth around it is just a game for me too! | ||
| Dave Ross Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 4751 Registered: 5-2001  |
Tom, I agree. I'll move it there later tonight. | ||
| Dave Ross Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 4757 Registered: 5-2001 |
[topic moved] | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1486 Registered: 9-2001 |
Thanks Dave, this will show the roots of the "Ring of Fire".... Goodbye 14,000 sq. ft. drug store, hello new police department and courthouse! | ||
| mck Citizen Username: Mck Post Number: 566 Registered: 5-2001 |
Sign me up, too. There's an town election coming, here's an issue!! Talk about quality of life...it doesn't get much worse than the diesel belching buses on Boyden. Hi, Toms. What yipping dog? Thank goodness i can't hear it. mck1@mac.com | ||
| romatc Citizen Username: Romatc Post Number: 4 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hi Arty, Eddy’s in Colorado and has always spoken highly about you. Meanwhile I’ve contacted (by email) our Mayor Vic Deluca, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. joed@admin.essexcountynj.org, and New Jersey Transit njt_customer_svc@njtransit.com with my complaint. Maybe if all of you out there can do the same the right people will start to listen and not think that I’m some sort of nut. A little more peace and quite is all I want. Amen | ||
| maplewood fan Citizen Username: Mplwfan Post Number: 37 Registered: 4-2003 |
then back to South Orange Village along Valley Street through Maplewood? OH GREAT - MORE NOISE AND TRAFFIC for those of us living on Valley - in case you don't know this - there is already a bus line along Valley and speaking for those of us living on Valley we can barely get out of their garage during the day or open up OUR windows - we hate any idea that brings more traffic, noise and pollution to our neighborhoods! | ||
| tom Citizen Username: Tom Post Number: 982 Registered: 5-2001 |
Let's not get this sidetracked into an either-or issue. Getting the bus traffic off of Boyden is in no way linked to adding a route up Valley Street. That's a spin-off idea from Art. If you want to object to his route, refer to the "Ring Of Fire" thread instead. Speaking of campaign issues, then: Ken, Kathy, Ed, Joel: care to comment? It would also be useful if anyone's got some history on this issue, what NJT is permitted to do etc. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1490 Registered: 9-2001 |
Thanks Tom, it's annoying as hell when you're into a topic and someone drifts off in another direction. Well, let me respond anyway to the previous posts and try not to get too far off the track. BTW, it would be nice to hear from the candidates or someone on the committee once in awhile... Tom C. you wrote: "Why do they have to use Boyden Ave for their route when there is NO SERVICE for us on this street?" I replied: "The truth is I often wondered why we don't have another bus line going through town besides the 25 Springfield Avenue Bus. This gives me another idea!" I'm sorry, but with my idea to bring back local bus service, I've created a catch twenty-two... I don’t know why they stopped service on the 52 Parker Avenue bus, which ran from Irvington Center to the South Orange train station and back? Hey, we all know the only thing constant is change. So, what should it be, bus noise, or bus service for thousands of local residents? One possible advantage I see is the town already has the Parker Avenue Jitney. If we can get both towns to agree to provide an all day bus service, we wouldn't have to deal with those larger and noisier busses from NJT. Either way, it can’t hurt to contact Joey D and NJT to see how they feel about your suggestion. I’ll e-mail them today! Maplewood Fan, I hear you! But listen, this is not about more, it's about less! The invent of public transportation came into existence long before my time. It's a known fact that if we want to use less fossil fuel, reduce noise, traffic, and pollution, it's either public transportation or horses. Look, you chose to live on a main county road, what did you expect to hear? Why can’t people deal with the reality of life in today’s world? Some people think it’s fine to run their business from their home, but don’t want their neighbor to run their’s from their home. It seems everyone wants what they want, and to hell with everyone else. So be it, I guess we all just need to fight for what we want, and may the best man win! So, the reality is if anyone really wants peace and quiet, they need to move out to a back woods, country road! Even then those damn roosters can drive a person to drink... I live on Elmwood and I have to put up with the rescue squad, fire trucks, pool traffic all summer long, garbage trucks across the street, cars backed up at the light on Boyden, and cars and motorcycles accelerating up the hill like they're going to a fire, all day and night. I'm afraid we all have our own cross to carry! | ||
| shaun Citizen Username: Shaun Post Number: 16 Registered: 6-2001 |
Back to the original topic - I live on Boyden between Midland Blvd and Elberta Road. Would be great to re-route those buses. How can I help? Quick sidebar, lots of speeding on Boyden. A couple of weeks ago a car went right through my front yard, the neighbors yard, and crashed into a tree in the middle of the front yard 2 houses over from me. Shaun | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 187 Registered: 6-2001 |
The bus probably follows where the trolleys went. Government really does work like this. I'm surprised the bus doens't still stop at Olympic Park. The bus garage used to be the trolley garage... does anyone but my father remember? Its the same building with a new veneer put on, gosh, when I was 9 or 10. The buses probably still turn around where Nick Loop Luncheonette was. I"m guessing thats these things never change, but these are no memories to hold on to. Just watch out, diverting bus traffic out of "white" areas into "underpriveldged" areas is a fast way to see your mayor ripped a new one on Oprah. John | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 1493 Registered: 9-2001 |
Stay tuned! We're thinking of starting a NASCAR Hot Rod Racing Club called the Boyden Boys.... You're right Shaun, I've also noticed that the speed and "volume" of traffic on Boyden Avenue has easily tripled in recent years. As Romatc originally pointed out, the noise and traffic has become an issue. Seriously, it appears there are a number of us who appear concerned enough. Maybe we should consider getting together to see what solutions are possible to improve things before someone gets killed. Probably, if nothing else, a reduced speed on all sides of the park, and between Parker and Elmwood where it necks down before the traffic light would help. Also better enforcement especially at night when they are usually speeding through would also help out... | ||
| maplewood fan Citizen Username: Mplwfan Post Number: 39 Registered: 4-2003 |
Why can’t people deal with the reality of life in today’s world? - ajc Dear Romantc - I'm wondering if ajc's comment applies to you as well, which if it does, why bother posting your complaint? |
