One of the Sorriest Bus Stops In the USA - Englewood Route 4 --Updated October 2

A bus stop on Route 4 West in Englewood has made the Streetsblog USA Final Four of "Sorriest Bus Stops" in the Country.  The stop is used by Jitneys that run between Paterson and the George Washington Bridge Bus Station as well as NJT's 171 and 175 lines.  The Saddle River Tours/Ameribus  11C  line also serves the bus stop.  Like many of the bus stops along Route 4, there is no bus shelter.  The blog notes that riders have to climb over the guardrail or walk along the busy highway to exit.  The stop is heavily used by bus and jitney riders going to the new housing developments in the area.  There is no cross-over to get to the east-bound side of the highway where there are also new housing developments.  The stop is near the proposed future Route 4/Englewood Hudson Bergen Light Rail Stop along the Northern Branch.  We hope that NJT creates an upgraded bus stop on Route 4 in both directions with direct connections to the light rail extension - if it ever is built.

This also draws attention to the sorry state of the bus stops along the entire length of Route 4.  Many lack shelters, are poorly lit, or require a dangerous walk along the busy highway.  Something should be done to improve the stops before a bus passenger is severely injured.

Unfortunately, Englewood lost to Munhill, PA in the Final Four.  A stop in Seattle just won the title of Sorriest Bus Stop for 2017.  Apparently we can't even be successful at being Sorriest!

UPDATE:  On October 2, 2017, NJ Transit announced that effective October 9, 2017 this bus stop is being eliminated at the request of the City of Englewood and advising riders to use the Grand Avenue stop.

Possible NJ Transit Train Strike -- Bus Commuting Options

Negotiations continue to avert an NJ Transit Rail Strike on March 13.  NJT has set up a rail strike contingency plan involving limited rush-hour bus service from several park and rides throughout the state.  It also is offering expanded rush-hour bus service along several bus lines that run near several of its rail lines.  The contingency plan is only expected to accommodate about 40% of its displaced rail riders.  In addition, other NJT bus service will be curtailed including the River Road service on the 156R, 158 and 159R routes which would only run to the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal instead of to New York.  Riders of those lines would have to take a ferry into New York.  Route 126 would also only run in a reverse direction to the Hoboken PATH station in the morning, and from the PATH station in the evening, completely bypassing New York.

Other options for Northern NJ passengers include using the GW Bridge Bus Station services, including NJT Routes 171, 175, 178, 181, 182, 186 and 188.  Rockland Coaches Route 9A, and the Ameribus 11C and 20/84 lines.  This could avoid what will be even longer delays at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

We suppose there will be some sort of last minute deal made to avert a long-term strike. Unfortunately, it will be the NJ Transit bus and train commuters who have to pay even higher fares in the near future.

Complete NJT Strike Contingency Plans can be found here.

Five Routes Picked For Bergen Bus Rapid Transit

As we reported previously, Bergen County is studying the possibility of creating a Bus Rapid Transit system.  Officials have decided on five potential routes:

• Paterson to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal
• Montvale Park and Ride to the Port Authority Bus Terminal
• Garden State Plaza to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, via River Road
• Bergen Community College to the Secaucus Junction train station
• Englewood Hospital to the Secaucus Junction train station

A map of these proposed routes can be found here.

Although we applaud the idea for innovative new transit services, the Paterson to the GWB route is duplicative of the current NJT 171 as well as numerous jitneys servicing the corridor.  The Montvale route is duplicative of the Rockland Coaches Route 45 bus.  We don't see how these routes will provide a "Rapid" commute to New York without substantial improvements to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and express bus lanes to the GWB. 

The one interesting route is the proposed Garden State Plaza to the Port Authority via River Road.  This route would avoid the overcrowded XBL at the Lincoln Tunnel and could be a viable travel alternative if River Road can somehow be configured to truly create bus rapid transit.

Maplewood Equipment Route 40 (1981). This is today's NJT Route 171 from the GW Bridge to Paterson