Plan Would Move Ridgewood Bus Terminal, Create Transportation Hub

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Village officials are considering a proposal that would create a transportation hub at the Ridgewood train station and close down the Van Nest bus terminal.

The plan came about after Mayor Susan Knudsen charged village engineer Chris Rutishauser to study ways of increasing the number of parking spaces at the train station. The plan would mean a net increase of 10 spaces.

The plan is also being considered because of the way buses travel near Van Neste Square on Franklin and E. Ridgewood Avenues. The plan would mean buses would not travel down E. Ridgewood Avenue.

A new three-sided bus shelter would be placed at the train station and grass be paved over to create more room and parking spaces.

The Conservancy for Ridgewood Public Lands expressed its displeasure with the plan last month.

"The conservancy feels very strongly that this idea should be dropped immediately," conservancy President Cynthia Halaby said in a letter to the editor on NorthJersey.com. "If this project comes to pass, it would cause irreparable damage and the permanent loss of much needed and appreciated green space."

About 900 customers use the Ridgewood bus terminal daily on one of the six NJ Transit routes that stop there. Two of the routes, 163 and 165 run express service to New York City.

Officials gave a preliminary estimate for the project of $300,000.

The Village Council will probably discuss the plan again at a future meeting, Village Manager Heather Mailander said.

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