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[roadman65]

Does anyone here know of 1980s era toll collection of buses on the Turnpike.

The defunct Somerset Bus Company in Mountainside, NJ ran the Clark to New York ( Port Authority) bus via Cranford, Roselle, Elizabeth, and Newark before hopping on the NJ Turnpike at Exit 14 to travel the Eastern Spur to Exit 16 E and finally into Manhattan.  I couldn’t help notice that instead of paying cash at 16E the driver had a ticket similar to the toll entrance ticket all vehicles received upon entering that he surrendered with the toll price ticket.

I thought it might of been a charge card thing where the NJTA billed Somerset Bus Company later for the tolls, but then I realized that my dad used to pay the Goethals Bridge tolls for his work via a commuter ticket book that he purchased in advanced. So I’m assuming the NJTA sold prepaid toll tickets to the bus company via snail mail in which was given to the bus driver upon signing out the keys to his bus at the beginning of his shift to make money transfers simple than having a driver be reimbursed after paying the tolls out of pocket.

Was that the nature of bus tolls in the eighties? Jeff you might know even though it maybe before your time as collector.

[jeffandnicole]

The only thing I recall them talking about (and this would've been them talking about past history as they recalled it in 2001) is that there was a yellow swipe card that some commuter buses had.

The ticket (under the assumption they were prepaid bus tickets) you mention may have been part of that.  When properly done, all vehicles entering the turnpike were to get a toll ticket.  Bus drivers may have received their normal toll ticket, and upon exiting surrendered that ticket along with that special ticket you're referring to.

I worked on the southern end of the Turnpike so we didn't have the special provisions they would've had up north for commuting bus traffic.  Even the Interchange 16E/18E plaza had a special EZ Pass lane before the rest of the Turnpike did just for commuting buses in the morning headed towards the XBL just to get them out of the way.  No other plaza had an EZ Pass lane, so the buses using it must've had some sort of set toll amount based on their account tag.

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/DAip4RBXsBox5NpW9
What information is hidden beneath the flip panels at the express/ local split on the Turnpike in Fort Lee?

[Don'tKnowYet]

ROAD CLOSED
DO NOT ENTER

[NoGoodNamesAvailable]

The construction staging on the eastern spur has changed so now the right lane diverges from the left two and they go around the work in the middle. It's amusing how no matter how they sign this situation, there are always cars freaking the f*ck out at the last second and swerving over the gore to get to the other lanes that go to the same place.

[jeffandnicole]

The construction staging on the eastern spur has changed so now the right lane diverges from the left two and they go around the work in the middle. It's amusing how no matter how they sign this situation, there are always cars freaking the f*ck out at the last second and swerving over the gore to get to the other lanes that go to the same place.

Never fails.  And I'm not sure what people are thinking - they must've not seen the signage; they come up to this point, and no matter what side they're on, they figure they're on the wrong side, and they must switch lanes.  I get it a little if they're on the single lane side and they want to switch to the double lane side and they knowingly, but idiotically, waited till the last second to do so, but otherwise, they'll be fine and they figure that out after the split merges back together.  At which point they think to themselves they should've signed that better...no matter how many signs were posted.

[NJRoadfan]

There is a similar split northbound on the truck lanes between Exits 9 and 10 for bridge redecking. It is REALLY annoying to drive thru there.

[famartin]

There is a similar split northbound on the truck lanes between Exits 9 and 10 for bridge redecking. It is REALLY annoying to drive thru there.

It always is, but what is the alternative?  Close a lane or two for the long haul?

[roadman65]

I see now a mileage sign placed between Exits 4 & 3 SB now feature Baltimore at 95 miles away with Washington ( I think) at 140 miles out.

Saw it on Social Media just now.

[famartin]

I see now a mileage sign placed between Exits 4 & 3 SB now feature Baltimore at 95 miles away with Washington ( I think) at 140 miles out.

Saw it on Social Media just now.

Sign has been there at least a year (this is from June 2022):
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8722833,-75.0201214,3a,75y,241.35h,89.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgkLAULWSDBu3vqhg4XRQ3Q!2e0!5s20220601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

[jeffandnicole]

I see now a mileage sign placed between Exits 4 & 3 SB now feature Baltimore at 95 miles away with Washington ( I think) at 140 miles out.

Saw it on Social Media just now.

Sign has been there at least a year (this is from June 2022):
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8722833,-75.0201214,3a,75y,241.35h,89.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgkLAULWSDBu3vqhg4XRQ3Q!2e0!5s20220601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

Been there since at least November 2020:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=23745.msg2546683#msg2546683

I know I've been able to see it from 295 in the vicinity of the Woodcrest Station exit for a few years now.  It first appeared during that early part of the pandemic so that 2020 timeframe makes sense.

[Henry]

I see now a mileage sign placed between Exits 4 & 3 SB now feature Baltimore at 95 miles away with Washington ( I think) at 140 miles out.

Saw it on Social Media just now.

Sign has been there at least a year (this is from June 2022):
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8722833,-75.0201214,3a,75y,241.35h,89.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgkLAULWSDBu3vqhg4XRQ3Q!2e0!5s20220601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

I think it's great that they finally acknowledge MD's largest city, which is one of the most disrespected cities in the nation, mainly because of its close proximity to DC. In fact, many weather reports ignore it unless the map is zoomed in close enough.

[famartin]

I see now a mileage sign placed between Exits 4 & 3 SB now feature Baltimore at 95 miles away with Washington ( I think) at 140 miles out.

Saw it on Social Media just now.

Sign has been there at least a year (this is from June 2022):
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8722833,-75.0201214,3a,75y,241.35h,89.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgkLAULWSDBu3vqhg4XRQ3Q!2e0!5s20220601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

I think it's great that they finally acknowledge MD's largest city, which is one of the most disrespected cities in the nation, mainly because of its close proximity to DC. In fact, many weather reports ignore it unless the map is zoomed in close enough.

Getting a little OT, but DC is ranked 6th, Philly is ranked 7th... wedged in between is 20th ranked Baltimore. The 19 more important ones are

New York
Los Angeles
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
Washington
Philadelphia
Atlanta
Miami
Phoenix
Boston
San Bernardino
San Francisco
Detroit
Seattle
Minneapolis
Tampa
San Diego
Denver

[Alps]

I see now a mileage sign placed between Exits 4 & 3 SB now feature Baltimore at 95 miles away with Washington ( I think) at 140 miles out.

Saw it on Social Media just now.

Sign has been there at least a year (this is from June 2022):
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8722833,-75.0201214,3a,75y,241.35h,89.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgkLAULWSDBu3vqhg4XRQ3Q!2e0!5s20220601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

I think it's great that they finally acknowledge MD's largest city, which is one of the most disrespected cities in the nation, mainly because of its close proximity to DC. In fact, many weather reports ignore it unless the map is zoomed in close enough.

Getting a little OT, but DC is ranked 6th, Philly is ranked 7th... wedged in between is 20th ranked Baltimore. The 19 more important ones are

New York
Los Angeles
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
Washington
Philadelphia
Atlanta
Miami
Phoenix
Boston
San Bernardino
San Francisco
Detroit
Seattle
Minneapolis
Tampa
San Diego
Denver

That is very OT. Any city in the top 50+ deserves mention instead of skipping over it.

[famartin]

I see now a mileage sign placed between Exits 4 & 3 SB now feature Baltimore at 95 miles away with Washington ( I think) at 140 miles out.

Saw it on Social Media just now.

Sign has been there at least a year (this is from June 2022):
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8722833,-75.0201214,3a,75y,241.35h,89.62t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgkLAULWSDBu3vqhg4XRQ3Q!2e0!5s20220601T000000!7i16384!8i8192

I think it's great that they finally acknowledge MD's largest city, which is one of the most disrespected cities in the nation, mainly because of its close proximity to DC. In fact, many weather reports ignore it unless the map is zoomed in close enough.

Getting a little OT, but DC is ranked 6th, Philly is ranked 7th... wedged in between is 20th ranked Baltimore. The 19 more important ones are

New York
Los Angeles
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
Washington
Philadelphia
Atlanta
Miami
Phoenix
Boston
San Bernardino
San Francisco
Detroit
Seattle
Minneapolis
Tampa
San Diego
Denver

That is very OT. Any city in the top 50+ deserves mention instead of skipping over it.

Didn't suggest skipping over it, but his suggestion that its the "most disrespected city in the nation" seems suspect.

[NJRoadfan]

NJTA can't even be bothered to even acknowledge Newark on northbound signs despite being NJ's largest city and three exits directly serving it. Not to mention its status as a major transportation hub/junction.

[PHLBOS]

NJTA can't even be bothered to even acknowledge Newark on northbound signs despite being NJ's largest city and three exits directly serving it. Not to mention its status as a major transportation hub/junction.

Such used to be on some entrance ramp signage.

[roadman65]

NJTA can't even be bothered to even acknowledge Newark on northbound signs despite being NJ's largest city and three exits directly serving it. Not to mention its status as a major transportation hub/junction.

Such used to be on some entrance ramp signage.

At least the Parkway prefers Newark over New York as mileage signs starting in Galloway use Newark over the Big Apple.

Yeah Newark always took a back seat to New York being so close to NYC, the nations largest city on Turnpike guides.

Even in NY, the NYTA won’t sign Newark on the Thruway for the GSP.
https://goo.gl/maps/p2qm5KKtE2NrdRAy9

[storm2k]

Oddly enough, NJTA does sign Newark going southbound (NYSDOT has also started to sign it as well), but going northbound, they will only sign for New York City. I think they should do both.

In fairness, NJDOT likes to be inconsistent about signing Newark for 78 eastbound even though it's a direct connection to several routes heading to both the airport and downtown Newark. A lot of ramps use Newark, but the signage from 287 shows New York City, for example.

[roadman65]

Oddly enough, NJTA does sign Newark going southbound (NYSDOT has also started to sign it as well), but going northbound, they will only sign for New York City. I think they should do both.

In fairness, NJDOT likes to be inconsistent about signing Newark for 78 eastbound even though it's a direct connection to several routes heading to both the airport and downtown Newark. A lot of ramps use Newark, but the signage from 287 shows New York City, for example.

The I-287 signs for New York City and Easton, PA were added during the widening of I-287 in the nineties. Previously it was Newark and Clinton. However US 22 on I-287 signed New York at the same time which looked odd, but New York was always signed for US 22 EB on 287 since the freeway opened. I-78 got signed in 1986 when the long awaited missing segment in Berkley Heights finally opened.  Before that it was signed Local Traffic and Mount Bethel without an I-78 shield to keep through traffic off the freeway that ended in Watchung.

[bzakharin]

At least the Parkway prefers Newark over New York as mileage signs starting in Galloway use Newark over the Big Apple.

The Parkway passes through Newark and has exits directly serving it. It never goes to New York (I know, the Turnpike doesn't go to New York either, but I-95 continues into NYC where the Turnpike ends).

[roadman65]

At least the Parkway prefers Newark over New York as mileage signs starting in Galloway use Newark over the Big Apple.

The Parkway passes through Newark and has exits directly serving it. It never goes to New York (I know, the Turnpike doesn't go to New York either, but I-95 continues into NYC where the Turnpike ends).

Correct it briefly enters Newark between Exits 144 and 145. However the exits that directly serve it are not within the City Limits. Exit 144 is in Irvington and Exit 145 is in East Orange.

Then if you count I-78, that exit ( Exit 142) is in Union, while if your coming from the south this particular interchange is the best route to use into Downtown Newark.