Bus parking on South Orange Avenue
Pick up and drop off at a bus stop is not a problem. Parking in a travel lane, waiting to load or unload - that is a BIG problem. SOPD should enforce.
jgberkeley said:
In the evening, around 5PM South Orange Avenue, just under the Train Trestle, and back up the hill to Ashleys, and down the hill to the Gateway Busses are parked, closing one lane of South Orange Avenue.
Yesterday 5 Busses were labeled as West Orange and 1 was not labeled.
They were parked waiting for trains to arrive.
Traffic became a problem as cars had to merge into one lane to pass around them.
The bolded portion of George's post led me to believe that the buses are parked or idling at areas other than the actual bus stop.
Nope, not bus lanes. Just your Right lane in a two lane road.
Noonish: (Before)
But there is only one lane that goes thru - the lane on the right leads to the bus stop and then ends. And from Scotland to Sloan street there is only one thru lane.
Is it a two lane road there, though? Before that intersection, in that direction, you have a left turn lane and a straight lane, with parking on the right. So, perhaps it is one lane under the trestle as well?
Although, cars do frequently just pull out of their parking spaces there and not yield to traffic. I have noticed frequently around here that 2 lanes are often "created" without any actual signage/road markings. I swear it's a New Jersey thing. Like if there is enough space to squeeze two cars, the road must be two lanes.
a classic example of what hmbooks is talking about is the Vauxhall rd exit off of 78west (thread-drift, I know). It's definitely not a 2 lane exit where it feeds into Vauxhall. For fun I like to position my car in the middle (though sometimes small cars can get around and they often do).
hmbooks said:
Is it a two lane road there, though? Before that intersection, in that direction, you have a left turn lane and a straight lane, with parking on the right. So, perhaps it is one lane under the trestle as well?
Although, cars do frequently just pull out of their parking spaces there and not yield to traffic. I have noticed frequently around here that 2 lanes are often "created" without any actual signage/road markings. I swear it's a New Jersey thing. Like if there is enough space to squeeze two cars, the road must be two lanes.
I'm one of those coming up on the right, scaring the crap out of the one or two of 20 sitting there in the middle. Given that what has to be 90% of the folks using that exit (if my evening commute is any indication) successfully use it as two lanes, with the right lane turning into the turn lane on Vauxhall and the left feeding into the one going straight, I'm not sure what the problem is. Better that more can get through the light side by side (or at least halfway) and on their way than traffic backing up in a single line onto 78 as far as I'm concerned. I've heard more than my share of brakes squealing behind me while sitting on 78, and it's not pleasant. It's the idiots on the right side of the exit ramp that try to cut over on Vauxhall that drive me nuts, along with those on the left that make a 90-degree turn there and/or think their car is ten feet wider than it is. And don't start me on the asses making a left onto Laurel from Hilton Ave from the far right (it's a one-way, you boneheads... left goes left and right goes right) or those making a left by DD from Laurel onto SA from the far right (it's got to be 20 feet wide there--move over). This stuff just isn't that hard. Itsimply isn't.
OK, rant over.
South Orange Ave was reduced from four to two travel lanes from Church to Prospect when the County completed street improvements in 2001. As an aside, this also allowed the return of left turns onto Vose, finally reflecting the drop in traffic after I-280 fully opened in 1973. SOA doesn't widen under the viaduct (sorry, snippy train guy has to point out it's not a trestle). It would be useful for the County to stripe and sign the road accordingly.
A while back, the jitneys were directed to use the circle in the parking lot. It was designed for that purpose. That seems to have ended Iong ago. If the jitneys are going to wait there, and it's alright with SO, the Township needs to ask the county, who must agree. If that happens, then obviously a safe bus stop should be created.
South Orange jitney drops off and picks up there, West Orange jitneys always drops off on and picks up atSouth Orange Ave.
dk50b said:
South Orange Ave has been two lanes since the County completed street improvements in 2001. It doesn't widen under the viaduct (sorry, snippy train guy has to point out it's not a trestle). It would be useful for the County to stripe and sign the road accordingly.
A while back, the jitneys were directed to use the circle in the parking lot. It was designed for that purpose. That seems to have ended Iong ago. If the jitneys are going to wait there, and it's alright with SO, the Township needs to ask the county, who must agree. If that happens, then obviously a safe bus stop should be created.
I am in favor of a annual fee for transit buses that drop off in South Orange. Buses are great for non residents but you know it is OUR town and OUR asset so there should be a cost.
I thought West Orange and Livingston paid us to use our train station, or atleast NJ Transit, but if not I agree with it too.
SOguy said:
I am in favor of a annual fee for transit buses that drop off in South Orange. Buses are great for non residents but you know it is OUR town and OUR asset so there should be a cost.
so_newstead said:
I thought West Orange and Livingston paid us to use our train station, or atleast NJ Transit, but if not I agree with it too.
SOguy said:
I am in favor of a annual fee for transit buses that drop off in South Orange. Buses are great for non residents but you know it is OUR town and OUR asset so there should be a cost.
I can't find anything about payments from jitney operators. If this is instituted, who gets the money? NJ Transit owns the station and parking lot, and SOA is a county highway. Other than a hard to measure policing cost, how does having a bunch of commuters from adjacent towns pass through twice daily hurt SO? The possibility they'll spend a little money had always been cited as a plus. The charge will potentially be passed on to riders, possibly driving (pun intended) some people from the train.
Good point above. I totaly missed that SOA goes from 2 lanes to 1 lane, going West at the Sloan St. light. That is a Left turn only lane, not a Left or straight lane.
And I missed my photo op the busses op lastnight.
jgberkeley said:
I must have missed something.
especially since you operate a business and work directly across the street.
A few years ago, SOPA directed West Orange to use this site for its commuter jitneys after the SOPAC traffic circle became too congested during rush hour.
It's a county highway, and the righthand westbound lane used ends in front of The Gateway. Can you suggest a better staging zone?
Any bus can stop at a bus stop - and there is a bus stop just past the viaduct and the whole area under the viaduct is a perfect place to stage the buses.
And as one who sometimes parks in the NJ transit lot, there are already too many jitneys creating traffic issues.
SOguy said:
I am in favor of a annual fee for transit buses that drop off in South Orange. Buses are great for non residents but you know it is OUR town and OUR asset so there should be a cost.
Sounds like a real Tony Soprano sort of idea.
S. Orange Ave is a county road.
NJ transit lot is owned by NJ transit.
Fees would go to them, not the village seems kind of petty.
Did I miss it, yelp. Most days I have my head down and working a shipping rush during the evening hours.
I have seen one or two busses from time to time, however, the other day the line up of 6 busses and a car or 2, causing a backup to the parking meters in front of Ashley's was quite a display that caught my eye.
What changed? Just timing? How is any of this good for South Orange?
Very hard to understand how you have missed it - has been going on for years. And really not sure if it is relevant whether it is good for S. Orange. They are going to use the station whether it is good or not for the village. However, it is possible commuters from W. Orange and Livingston, see there is a UPS store and know they can go there before or after work or meet their family for dinner at a restaurant that catches their eye.
I think the only thing that can be done is to yell at them if they idle for more than three minutes.
(It is the law, but yelling at them is a bit untoward.)
I must have missed something.
I have noticed for a while now, and yesterday the parking really caught my eye.
In the evening, around 5PM South Orange Avenue, just under the Train Trestle, and back up the hill to Ashleys, and down the hill to the Gateway Busses are parked, closing one lane of South Orange Avenue.
Yesterday 5 Busses were labeled as West Orange and 1 was not labeled.
They were parked waiting for trains to arrive.
Traffic became a problem as cars had to merge into one lane to pass around them.
What is this all about? I have heard the words Transit Community.
So are we now a Drop and Hop? (Bus Drop off and Hop on the train?
Later,
Da
George