Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transit Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Village removes Van Ness Square bus station; council moves to install temporary shelter and seek a permanent, historic-looking replacement
Summary
Ridgewood officials announced the demolition of the long-closed Van Ness Square bus station, will place a temporary shelter tomorrow, and plan to work with the Historic Preservation Commission and the State Department of Transportation on a permanent replacement to fit downtown aesthetics.
Ridgewood officials said they demolished the deteriorated bus station at Van Ness Square and will move a temporary shelter from behind Village Hall to the site tomorrow while they evaluate permanent options.
The action follows multiple structural-engineering reviews that concluded the long-standing structure was unsafe. Village Manager Keith (identified in the meeting transcript as the speaker who led the report) said engineers and architects found the building unsalvageable after second and third opinions. He thanked the Signal Division and other staff who coordinated the demolition and initial cleanup.
The temporary measure and planning process matter because the bus station is a downtown gateway used by commuters and visitors. The temporary shelter will provide short-term weather cover for riders, but residents at public comment and council members raised concerns about capacity and accessibility.
Manager Keith said the unit behind Village Hall will be moved to Van Ness Square “tomorrow morning” to provide immediate cover. He said staff met with the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), the engineering department and the police to review long-term options and that the HPC will treat a permanent structure as an agenda item at its May 12 meeting. Keith said the village is reviewing multiple pre-fabricated structures — including offerings from the manufacturer Polygon — and plans to choose a design that “fits the historic nature of our downtown.” He also said the village reclaimed some slate and flooring from the old building and placed those elements in storage for possible reuse in future site design elements.
Council members and staff said they have discussed state funding options. Keith and other speakers reported conversations with the New Jersey Department of Transportation about using available DOT rolling-grant funds to offset the cost of a permanent structure; he clarified the funding would come from the State Department of Transportation, not New Jersey Transit. The police department said it will monitor crowding at the temporary site; if the single temporary shelter proves insufficient, staff said they will contact New Jersey Transit about lending additional temporary shelter units.
The village also said it will review plantings for the remaining buffer strip at the site, with input from the Green Team and Shade Tree Commission, and that the HPC must approve the permanent installation before work proceeds. No timetable for a permanent installation was set beyond the May 12 HPC agenda item.
Council members and staff reiterated that the removal followed a thorough review and that demolition cleared a long-lingering hazard. Residents who spoke at public comment asked that if the temporary shelter is undersized the village secure additional temporary units while the permanent design is developed.
Longer-term funding and final design decisions will move forward in the coming weeks with HPC review and further engineering estimates.
