Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • September 15, 2010 Ridgewood Station shuttle seen as detriment to small business by John Koster A North Jersey Transportation Authority proposal to provide free shuttle service at the newly renovated Ridgewood train station has drawn criticism from the Wyckoff man who owns and operates Ridgewood Taxi and sees the shuttle as a detriment to his business and to free enterprise in general. Dave Rutler said last week that the shuttle plans, to be implemented next summer with $450,000 from the North Jersey Transportation Authority, would effectively use taxpayer money to reduce the viability of his own business. The state service, covered through the use of a $3.5 million fund that covers seven other projects, would ferry corporate employees to offices in Montvale, Park Ridge, and Woodcliff Lake, and would take seniors and disabled individuals to some local destinations. “We’ve been operating out of the Ridgewood railroad station for 94 years, and they never even approached us,” said Rutler. “What they’re doing is using money from the taxpayers to cut into my own free enterprise business and to put some of my employees out of work.” The two buses to be used for the shuttle would operate from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. for the corporate employees, and would make four “loop” runs from Ridgewood to corporate complexes in Park Ridge, Montvale, and Woodcliff Lake, with four more “loop” runs at the end of the work day. The two buses would be available, according to the proposal, to trans- port seniors and the disabled to various destinations between the morning and the afternoon rush hours. Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney reported on the proposed service at a press conference at the station, saying it would facilitate employment for the disabled and provide a greener alternative to ordinary motoring from the station. Rutler noted that he has been providing shuttle services on a fee-paid basis, and offering discount tickets to seniors with the cooperation of the local governments in Ridgewood and Glen Rock. He said the impact on his business would be negative, and perhaps lethal. ��������������������� ������������� Church League champs ���� ���� ���� ������������ ������������ ���������������� ������������������ ����������������������� ���������� ������������������ The Ridgewood United Methodist Church softball team recently won the semi-final match against Church of the Presentation 6-4 after a very well contested game. With the victory, RUMC moved to Somerville North to play their perennial rival, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, for the championship. RUMC won that contest 12-0 to become the Ridgewood Church League Champions for 2010. The trophy, game ball, and score book are on display in the sanctuary. The team thanks its supporters, the UMM for its sponsorship, and Mark Cole for his contributions on the diamond and his enthusiastic support of the team from the bench, following the accident which resulted in his broken leg. ��������������������������������������������� ���������������������� ���������������������������� ���������������������� ����������������������� ��������������������������� ���������������������� ������������������������������ ��������������������������� ����������������� ����������������������� ������������������� ������������ ������������ �������������������� �������������������������������� ����������������������������� ��������������� ������������ ������������ ���������������� �������� ���������� ���������� ��������� ������������� ����������� ������� ����������� �������� ������� ������ ���� ������ ���� ��� ���������������������������