And What Caused (at least part of) The Delay This Morning at the XBL

Feb 12, 2016 XBL Police Activity/More Delays 

Editors Note: A reader of NJBUS Blog forwarded us this story and picture describing an incident this morning that caused delays at the XBL.  If anyone has any further info, feel free to send it our way.

An angry passenger boarded a 164X bus in Fair Lawn this morning around 7:15 am complaining to the driver of an alleged incident on another bus.  The passenger apparently called police complaining he was assaulted on an earlier bus.  By the time the 164 got to the XBL, the entrance to the XBL was clogged as there were numerous police vehicles sporadically stopping bus traffic.  An earlier 164X bus was already pulled over on the XBL shoulder and Port Authority police pulled the later 164X bus off the side of the road.  Port Authority police boarded the bus asking if anyone had a problem with the driver.  The passenger who had the issue stood up complaining about his alleged assault - perhaps by the driver of the earlier bus. Bus traffic at the XBL continued to back up as the Port Authority police and NJT officials investigated the alleged incident interviewing both drivers and checking registrations.

Meanwhile, the passenger who alleged the assault got back on the later 164X and fellow passengers, who were already fuming for the delay of at least 20 minutes, yelled at him to get off the bus since it was his problem, and they were late for work.  The funny thing is that the police put him on another bus and he got to continue his commute while the two 164X buses continued to sit at the XBL for at least another ten minutes while the police continued their "investigation."  As far as we could tell, nobody was arrested for the incident.  After about a half an hour delay, both buses departed, only to get stuck behind a broken down bus on the ramp to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Increased NJT Bus Service from Port Authority to Garfield and Elmwood Park

In current Northern New Jersey bus news,  effective January 11, 2014, NJT is increasing service on the 160 line to run middays, late night, and weekends.  Service will now run off peak week days and weekends to Garfield, with increased weekday service to Elmwood Park.  The route will operate through the Meadowlands, replacing the 164 through the complex.  This is also good news for Route 164 local riders who will have a quicker trip from New York

See the announcement here.

Maplewood 35-35(E) (1981) This is todays NJT 163-164 route.