May 2009 Commuter Newsletter

East Brunswick Commuter Parking Advisory Committee

May 2009

The Commuter Suburban Transit New Contract Summary (Part I) ● Term: Five year contract effective May 1, 2009 with two one-year Township extension options. ● Exclusivity: Awards exclusive rights to use of ticketing area and bus loading area. ● Price of tickets: Award based upon the price of a 10 trip ticket. The price of the 10 trip may be changed once during first 5 years. If the option to renew is exercised by the Township, the price of the 10 trip may be increased for each year of the extension awarded. This means the price of the 10 trip may be increased 3x over the 7 year period: at the end of year 3, at the end of year 5 and at the end of year 6. ● Ticket agents must be on duty: Neilson: M - F: 5 am through 8:30 pm with 2 agents 6:30 am – 8:30 am; Sat: 6 am-8 pm; Sun: 7 am-8 pm. TCC: M - F: 5 am through 8 pm with 2 agents 6:30 am -8:30 am ● Windows and TVMs: Must make change for commuters upon request. Two TVMs must be in place and operational 24/7 at both Neilson and TCC. These machines must be capable of dispensing round trip, ten and twenty trip ticket booklets. These machines are NOT a substitute for ticket office window service. ● Schedules: Bus schedules must be posted in each terminal. Current PABT schedules will be posted in a size equal to 2 by 3 feet. Buses will be available with the following frequency: ● i. M - F (x/ holidays) between 6:30 am and 8:30 am from each facility to PABT - 12 minutes on average; ● ii. M - F (x/ holidays) between 6:30 AM and 8:30 am from each facility to Downtown – 20 minutes on average; ● iii. M - F (x/ holidays) between 6:30 am and 8:30 am from each facility to Crosstown – 15 minutes on average; ● iv. M - F (x/ holidays) between 4:50 am and 6:30 am from Neilson to PABT - 15 minutes on average; ● v. M - F (x/ holidays) between 4:40 am and 6:30 am from TCC to PABT - 25 minutes on average; ● vi. M - F (x/ holidays) after 11:00 am from TCC to PABT - 60 minutes; ● vii. Saturday before 7:00 A.M and after 11:00 pm from Neilson to PABT - 60 minutes; ● viii. Sunday before 8:00 A.M and after 9:00 pm from Neilson to PABT - 60 minutes; ● ix. M - F (x/ holidays) between 4:30 pm and 6:35 pm from PABT to Neilson - 10 minutes; ● x. M - F (x/ holidays) between 6:36 pm and 8:00 pm from PABT to Neilson - 15 minutes; ● xi. M - F (x/ holidays) between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm from PABT to TCC - 20 minutes; ● xii. Saturday before 8:00 am and after 11:00 pm from PABT to Neilson - 60 minutes; ● xiii. Sunday before 9:00 am and after 10:00 pm from PABT to Neilson - 60 minutes; ● xiv. M - F (x/ holidays) between 4:35 pm and 6:35 pm on the Crosstown route – 15 minutes; ● xv. M - F (excluding holidays) between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the Downtown route - 20 minutes; ● xvi. During all other hours within which bus service is provided at Neilson, TCC, PABT or on the Crosstown and Downtown routes, including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays - 30 minutes. ● xvii. Each year, the Township will compile a list of days on which early afternoon buses departures from New York City will be required. On those listed days, Vendor shall provide an early bus at 2:30 pm on the Downtown and Crosstown routes and from PABT, in each case bound for both Facilities. ● 25/10 Rule: However, despite the above listing of frequency of service the following, referred to as the 25/10 rule, must be adhered to: Whenever twenty-five (25) or more commuters are waiting at TCC, Neilson or PABT for a particular bus or when twenty-five (25) or more commuters, in the aggregate, are waiting at the Downtown or Crosstown New York bus stops, the dispatchers and ticket agents at such locations must have the ability, and must make whatever arrangements are necessary, to permit all waiting commuters to board a bus with available seats within ten (10) minutes (this requirement is referred to as the “25/10 Rule”); Departure time requirements: ● TCC to PABT : M - F (x/ holidays) the first bus from TCC to PABT shall depart no later than 4:40 am and the last bus from TCC to PABT shall depart no earlier than 9:45 pm M - F (x/ holidays); the first bus from TCC to Downtown shall depart no later than 5:10 am and the last morning bus from TCC to Downtown shall depart no earlier than 8:30 am. No fewer than 5 of the departing buses must go directly to Exit 9 of the NJ Turnpike and shall not pass through the Neilson facility. Please conserve resources and return to the rack after reading. Thank you.

East Brunswick Commuter Parking Advisory Committee

May 2009

● PABT to TCC: M - F (x/ holidays) the first bus from PABT to TCC shall depart no later than 7:00 am and the last bus from PABT to TCC shall depart no earlier than 12:00 Midnight. ● TCC To Downtown: M - F (x/ holidays) the first bus from Downtown to Neilson and TCC shall depart no later than 3:30 am Monday through Wednesday and no later than 3:00 pm Thursday and Friday; and the last bus from Downtown to Neilson and TCC shall depart no earlier than 8:00 pm. ● To Crosstown: M - F (x/ holidays) the first Crosstown bus from TCC shall depart no later than 5:45 am and the last morning Crosstown bus from TCC shall depart no earlier than 7:55 am. No fewer than five (5) of the departing buses must go directly to Exit 9 of the NJ Turnpike and shall not pass through the Neilson facility. ● From Crosstown: M - F (x/ holidays) the first Crosstown bus from New York to Neilson and TCC shall depart no later than 4:45 pm and the last Crosstown bus from New York to Neilson and TCC shall depart no earlier than 6:30 pm. ● Neilson to PABT: The first bus from Neilson to PABT shall depart no later than (i) 4:50 am M – F (x/ holidays), (ii) 6:00 am Saturdays, and (iii) 7:00 am Sundays and holidays. The last bus from Neilson to PABT shall depart no earlier than (x) 11:55 pm M – F (x/ holidays) and (y) 10:55 pm Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. ● PABT to Neilson: The first bus from PABT to Neilson shall depart no later than (i) 6:00 am M - F (x/ holidays), (ii) 7:00 AM Saturdays, and (iii) 8:00 am Sundays and holidays. The last bus from PABT to Neilson shall depart no earlier than (x) 1:00 am M – F (x/ holidays) and Saturdays and (y) 12:00 Midnight Sundays and holidays. ● Neilson to Downtown: M - F (x/ holidays) the first bus from Neilson to Downtown shall depart no later than 5:20 am and the last bus from Neilson to Downtown shall depart no earlier than 8:30 am. ● Downtown to Neilson: M - F (x/ holidays) the first bus from Downtown to Neilson and TCC shall depart no later than 3:30 pm Monday through Wednesday and no later than 3:00 pm Thursday and Friday; and the last bus from Downtown to Neilson and TCC shall depart no earlier than 8:00 pm. Odds and Ends April 22, 2009 criminal activity: The CPAC has received reports of a criminal activity at the Neilson Plaza on April 22. Commuters have reported that more than one vehicle was broken into but the Township says that they have information about only 1 vehicle being attacked. It is very important that police reports be filed if and when these events transpire so that a formal record of these incidents is publicly available. The data from filed police reports is the major criterion that will be used by the Town Council to decide when or if to take further steps to improve commuter safety. We request that anyone who has either suffered or seen evidence of a vandalism or a break-in, or has been made to feel unsafe in either parking deck, to please file a police report AND let the CPAC (ebcommuter@ yahoo.com) know. The following details are needed: which deck, location, date, time, vehicle involved (make & model), and what occurred. Please supply as much information as possible. It is only with a joint effort by all of us that we can continue to strive to make our commute as safe as possible. CPAC Meetings: The next meeting of the CPAC will be at 8 pm on June 11, 2009 in the Municipal Building Conference Room. All commuters are invited to attend to participate, along with the management of the Parking Utility and Suburban Transit. Meetings for the remainder of 2009 are July 9; August 13; September 10; October 8; November 12; and December 10. We suggest that you check our online calendar at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EBCommuter/cal to see if there has been a schedule change before you attend a meeting so you will not be disappointed if it has been rescheduled. Improved Bus Service Study: The Tri-State Transportation Campaign (TSTC) has published a study of how to improve bus service especially using the Lincoln Tunnel XBL and the PABT. You can find a copy at our Scribd site: http://www.pdfcoke.com/doc/15874847/Express-Route-to-Better-Bus-Service. We encourage all commuters to review it.

Receive Newsletter and Commuter Service Information by E-mail The CPAC delivers newsletters and other information by e-mail as it becomes available. To subscribe, send an email to ebcnews-subscribe@ topica.com. Then reply when you get the sign up confirmation message. You may cancel your subscription at any time The CPAC will not disseminate your email address or use it for any other purpose. Our normal e-mail address remains ebcommuter@ yahoo.com. Please conserve resources and return to the rack after reading. Thank you.