New Jersey Bus Service Update

 As New York and New Jersey begins to reopen, private New Jersey carriers are slowly coming back with service restored to many lines.  As of today, DeCamp has returned for the second time since it suspended service completely last summer.  It began running limited rush hour service on its 33, 44 and 66 lines.  Timetables available  at Decamp.com.  Other NJ private carriers such as Lakeland, Short Line, Community, Suburban have been  operating rush hour service only to and from New York on most of their routes for the past year, with little or no off-peak or weekend service as of now.  Rockland Coaches is only running a few rush hour runs, and its 14 and 21 lines still remain completely suspended.  NJ Transit has been running its regular bus and rail schedules with just some minor adjustments.  

In other news, Academy has lost all of its contract work with NJ Transit, with Coach USA about to take over the 2, 10, 22, 23, 88 and 119 routes.  Details here.   Academy was hit with a whistleblower lawsuit alleging many missed trips and doctoring missed trip reporting over many years.  NJ Transit has subsequently removed Academy from all of NJT's contract operations.  

And finally, some good NJBus news.  There has been movement in replacing the crumbling Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown.  The Port Authority has released new designs and is holding virtual scoping meetings on June 23 and June 24th and is accepting public comments through July 19th.

We hope everyone has stayed safe and is doing well and looking forward to better days ahead.

Coronavirus Service Restoration

Several private NJ carriers are slowly bringing back service.  As always, please check with the carrier to see if they are operating and in what capacity.

Lakeland Bus has been operating 6 round trips between Dover and NYC since May 18th.  Schedule available here.

DeCamp is operating a limited schedule as of June 8 on its 33, 44 and 66 routes.

TransBridge is operating a reduced schedule to New York as of June 8.  Schedule available here.

Academy has been operating a modified schedule on some of its routes.  Schedule available here.

Shortline, Suburban, Community Coach, and Rockland Coaches  are operating limited rush hour service as of June 15.  Details here.

NJ Transit has been operating a modified weekday schedule throughout.  Details and links to individual schedules available here.

We will update this post as we get information on any other carriers.  Stay safe everyone!

Coronavirus Service Cuts - April 3 Update

A few more private bus carriers are completely suspending operations due to the Coronavirus.  NJT Bus continues to run, with decreased service.  They are also cross honoring with NJT rail, which is also running a decreased schedule.

Lakeland bus suspended operations effective April 2.  Details here.

Shortline bus will be suspending operations starting April 4.  Details here.

Suburban Transit, Rockland Coaches and Community Coach will also be suspending operations effective April 4. Details here.

Other carriers that have already suspended service include DeCamp and TransBridge lines.



Stay safe everyone.

Coronavirus Service Cuts - March 30, 2020 Update

NJ Transit has implemented a reduced schedule on most of its bus routes.  Some of its routes aren't operating at all, while many are running on a Saturday schedule.  More information is available here.  NJT is also requiring passengers to enter through the rear door for its urban bus routes and is not allowing passengers to sit in the first three rows to protect its drivers.

Some other updates:

Rockland Coaches is operating on a Sunday schedule, Monday through Friday only, with some additional 11X service.  They aren't operating any weekend service.  Details here.

ShortLine is operating every two hours on a combined Orange and Bergen County service.  Schedule available here.  Other ShortLine routes have been greatly reduced, details here.

Stay safe everyone!

Coronavirus Service Cuts - March 24, 2019 Update

Here are some updates on service cutbacks due to the Coronavirus.  This information is subject to change on a daily or even hourly basis, so please check with your carrier if you need to travel.  Stay safe everyone!

NJ Transit is still operating a regular weekday bus schedule but there are reports they will be cutting bus service soon.

DeCamp will suspend all of its bus service effective Wednesday March 25.  Check their website and twitter feed for more information.

TransBridge has already suspended all operations.  Details on their website.

CoachUSA - for more updates on Rockland Coaches, ONEbus, ShortLine, Suburban Transit, and Community Coach, please check the CoachUSA service update website here.

Lakeland bus has cancelled Route 78 service and all weekend service.  Details here.

Some Carriers Temporarily Reducing Service Due To Coronavirus

With social distancing the new normal and many people working remotely, ridership on New Jersey's bus routes has dropped dramatically.  There are reports that NJ Transit ridership has decreased by 40% and the agency may implement a reduced schedule once ridership drops 50%.

Some private carriers have already temporarily curtailed service.  Riders should check with their carriers for information.  We have some updates here:

Academy has implemented reduced "Schedule B" service on several of its routes.  These schedules can be found here.

Community Coach has greatly reduced service on its 77 line with just 3 nyc-bound trips and 4 trips now operating out of New York.  Schedule found here.

Rockland Coaches is now operating on a Saturday Schedule, with some additional express service available.  Details here.

Suburban Transit is also operating with an adjusted weekday schedule, more info available here.

Short Line has also cut back service, more info available here.

Decamp is also cutting service.  Details available on its Twitter feed and website.

Lakeland says they will be making service adjustments and has cut a few runs.  More info here.

If you are now working remotely, and have an unused monthly ticket, you may be able to get a refund from your carrier.

Stay safe everyone!

Saddle River Tours 11C and 20/84 Official Service Termination Notice effective January 25, 2020

The Port Authority has officially given notice that the last day of service on Saddle River Tours'  Routes 11C and 20/84 into and out of the George Washington Bridge Bus Station will be Friday January 24th.  Service on these lines has been sporadic at best over the last couple of years with numerous cancellations and entire days without service.  The Port Authority is advising riders to use Rockland Coaches 11A and 20T lines as alternatives.  Rockland Coaches has likewise been plagued with delays and cancellations so we are advocating for NJT to take over these routes, or incorporate them into their existing network.  We are reaching out to local government officials and NJ Transit and encourage all riders to do the same.  

Unfortunately, the 11A and 20T do not go to the George Washington Bridge so riders will have to transfer in Englewood or at Route 4 to a NJT bus or Jitney to go over the bridge, or to use the New York City MTA to reach their destination.   Other alternate routes for northern riders include the NJT 165 and Rockland Coaches 14, 46 and 47 to midtown as well as the Pascack Valley rail line.  For riders of the southern portions, alternates include the NJT 186 and 178 to the GWB, the NJT 167 to midtown.

Here is the Official Notice from the Port Authority:

The Port Authority of NY and NJ has decided to terminate the operating agreement with Saddle River Tours to operate at the Port Authority's George Washington Bridge Bus Station (GWBBS) starting on January 25, 2020. Saddle River Tours has an ongoing pattern of prolonged financial delinquencies, non-responsive communication, and recent abandonment of service to commuters.

Saddle River Tours’ Route 11C has 8-weekday arrivals, 7-weekday departures, and limited weekend service; the route begins in Spring Valley, New York and makes several stops in Rockland County, New York and Bergen County, New Jersey. Route 20/84 has 3-weekday arrivals and departures and no weekend service; it begins in Tappan, New York and makes several stops in Bergen County, New Jersey. These two routes combined serve approximately 200 customers each weekday.

Customers affected by the Saddle River Tours termination have the option to take the Rockland Coach bus service, offering service similar to that of Saddle River, with the exception of an end destination of the Midtown Manhattan Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) rather than the GWBBS.

-Route 11C passengers may take Rockland Coach bus 11A into the Port Authority Bus Terminal (8th Ave & 42)

-Route 20/84 passengers may take Rockland Coach bus 20T into the Port Authority Bus Terminal (8th Ave & 42)

The Port Authority has been in contact with Rockland Coach and has been assured that the Rockland Coach routes have capacity to service Saddle River Tours commuters. For additional information regarding alternative services, please contact Rockland Coach at (201) 263-1254 or visit the website, https://www.coachusa.com/contact.

Bergen County Local Bus Route Contract Goes Back To Community Coach

Community Coach has recently taken back the local Bergen County Bus route contract from Saddle River Tours.  The Coach USA company reacquired the routes on April 2, 2019.  The 7 year contract was awarded to Saddle River about a year ago, but the company has reportedly had its share of problems with staffing enough drivers, late and cancelled buses, and accidents.  Although unconfirmed at the moment, we presume these issues had something to do with NJ Transit giving the contract back to Community Coach.  The contracted routes are the 751,752, 753, 755, 756, 762, 772 and 780 lines.

Saddle River Tours New Operator Of Bergen County Local Bus Routes

The Record has reported that Saddle River Tours has further expanded its footprint in New Jersey and commuter bus service by winning NJ Transit's contract to run the Bergen County Local Bus Routes.  We previously reported that it lost a bid last year due to a technicality that allowed Coach USA's Community Coaches to continue to run the service until it could be rebid.  Saddle River recently outbid Community Coach by almost $500,000 to win the contract to run the routes for 7 years.  These are the 751, 752, 753, 755, 756, 762, 772 and 780 lines.  We are glad to see them get this contract and wish them luck since they unfairly lost the bid in 2017.  Saddle River has also recently picked up other bus routes cancelled by other companies including Coach USA/Rockland's 11C and 20/84 routes as well as the Route 55 line, previously operated by Carefree Lines until they went under.

NJ Bus Commuters Fix It List For Governor Murphy

Although NJ Transit Rail Riders have been getting the most press about the crumbling rail infrastructure in NJ, bus riders have their share of complaints as well.  Larry Higgs has an excellent article describing many of them, including broken down buses, delays at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and in the Exclusive Bus Lane and Lincoln Tunnel.  Hopefully NJ Transit and the Port Authority are reading and listening to these complaints along with those of rail passengers.  The article can be found here.

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.

Summer of Hell For New Jersey Bus Riders

NJT Bus Riders switching buses after break down on NJ Turnpike

Riders of NJ Transit trains are not the only ones experiencing a "Summer of Hell" due to the ongoing track work being performed by Amtrak at Penn Station.  The Penn Station summer track work caused cancellations and diverted hundreds of trains away from Penn Station - especially trains on the Morris and Essex Lines.  Many scheduled train runs were cancelled this week due to issues with train crews not reporting to work. 

Fellow bus commuters have also been feeling pain during this summer of hell.  On Tuesday morning, an NJT bus broke down in the XBL causing delays in excess of an hour for riders into the Port Authority Bus Terminal.  On Wednesday and Thursday, it was reported that several NJT bus runs were also cancelled due to "operational issues."  It has also been reported that NJT had to  cancel these trips because drivers had to cover additional bus service implemented because of the rail issues at Penn Station.   Way to prepare NJT!

New Jersey's fleet of "Jersey Cruisers" that travel to New York are now over 15 years old and are constantly breaking down.  You can't miss them pulled over by the side of the road these days.   As we previously reported, NJT was in the process of replacing these buses starting last year, but work on the new buses was halted when our beloved Governor Christie suspended non-essential construction projects for several weeks last summer.  So next time you are stuck in traffic due to a broken down bus, or suffering on one without air-conditioning, you'll know who to thank.  Our wonderful Governor who continues to create "traffic problems" by closing toll booths at the GWB, cancelling the ARC Hudson river tunnel project, and otherwise severely underfunding NJ Transit. 

George Washington Bridge Bus Station Renovation Won't Be Complete Until Next Spring -- Hopefully

To no surprise to the thousands of bus commuters who use the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, the renovations that were scheduled be completed by the end of the year will not be completed.  The project that started over two years ago has been plagued by numerous delays. The Record is reporting that the projected completion date has now been pushed back to April 2017.

Passengers not only have had to brave the elements from the wind and cold, they also have endured trekking up a long staircase to reach the buses.

Port Authority Bus Terminal Gate Reshuffling - Part 2

For the second time in less than a year, certain buses at the Port Authority will be re-assigned to different gates.  Last September, several private bus lines including Coach USA, Decamp and Lakeland had their departure gates changed with the hope of improving on-time performance at the over-crowded and out-dated terminal.  The last re-shuffle lead to a slight improvement of on-time performance, but the terminal is still in dire need of being replaced with a modern and larger terminal.  This time, certain NJT lines are being re-assigned on September 3, 2016 as follows:


Bus Route 122
​
6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Old gate: 315
• New gate: 313

Bus Route 127

10:01 p.m. to 1 a.m.

• Old gate: 230
• New gate: 312

Bus Route 139E

3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Old gate: 316
• New gate: 315

Bus Route 144

3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Old gate: 313
• New gate: 77

Bus Route 155

3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Old gate: 213
• New gate: 74

Bus Route 157

3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Old gate: 210
• New gate: 76

Bus Route 163P

3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Old gate: 224
• New gate: 78

Bus Route 165T

6 a.m. to 3:29 p.m.

• Old gate: 213 / 310
• New gate: 310

Bus Route 168T

6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Old gate: 213
• New gate (6 a.m. to 3:29 p.m., 7:31 p.m. to 10 p.m.): 312
• New gate (3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.): 75

Bus Route 194E&T

6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Old gate: 233
• New gate: 231

Bus Route 320

6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Old gate: 231
• New gate: 213

Bus Route 324

6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Old gate: 233
• New gate: 231

MCI to Stop Production of New NJ Transit Buses Until Transportation Funding Resolved

NJT has notified Motor Coach Industries (MCI) that it must cease all ongoing work under a contract to build new buses to replenishg NJT's aging bus fleet.
MCI was awarded a contract by NJT in November 2015  with options for building and delivering up to 1,219 new coaches over six years.  Many of the coaches to be replaced are over 15 years old and in disrepair. 
Last week, Governor Chris Christie issued Executive Order No. 210 declaring a State of Emergency and directing the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation and the Executive Director of the NJT  shutdown of all ongoing work that is funded by the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Account, including work on the new buses.   This was in direct response to the NJ Senate failing to approve Christie's gas tax hike as we reported previously. 
To date, MCI has only delivered five coaches to NJT under the contract.    So there will be NO IMMEDIATE relief for the increased instances of older buses breaking down which causes delays for all commuters.  There will likewise be no immediate relief for bus passengers sweltering in aging coaches with broken air conditioning this summer.  Bravo to our leaders for adding more misery to the plight of daily New Jersey bus riders.

NJ Gas Tax May Rise 23 Cents Per Gallon -- update

Drivers filling up in New Jersey could have been paying an additional 23 cents per gallon starting Friday July 1st in a plan approved by the Assembly and Governor Christie.  The tax increase would have been the first in 26 years and used to replenish the state's depleted transportation fund as well as reducing NJ's sales tax to 6% by 2018 as well as other tax cuts.  The plan was not approved by the State Senate and Governor Christie ordered a shut down of all State road work. More on the story from the New York Times can be found here.

NJBUS Pic of the Week

NJT 165T at Lincoln Tunnel August 2015

The New NJT Mobile App - Your Ticket and More

NJ Transit unveiled the newest version of its Mobile App yesterday. Users can still purchase and display their NJT bus and rail tickets using the MyTix feature, but this version of the app does even more.  It  incorporates Mybus and DepartureVision that show in real time when your bus or train will arrive (or how late it will be). Users can also find bus and rail schedules and use Trip Planner to plan their route.  These features were previously only available on the NJT mobile website.

The Android version of the app is available for free download in the Google Play Store here.

The Ipad/Iphone version of the app is a free download at the iTunes store.  Click here for more info.

Port Authority Gate Shuffle - September 8, 2015

DeCamp Bus Route 33 seen today at newly reassigned lower level gate.

The Great Port Authority Bus Terminal Gate Shuffle commenced today to some minor rider confusion but overall went relatively smoothly.  Hundreds of Port Authority and NJT employees wearing shiny yellow uniforms were on hand to help riders find their buses.  Overall, 55 bus routes were re-assigned to new departure gates.  Hopefully the new assignments will help alleviate congestion in the terminal but only time will tell. A new expanded facility and more improvements are still greatly needed. 

For more details on the new gate assignments, please see our previous post and also the Port Authority website.

Port Authority Bus Terminal Gates Shuffling -- Effective September 8, 2015

Get ready for some commuter confusion at the Port Authority beginning in September.  As we previously reported, officials at the Port Authority Bus Terminal will be reassigning gates for many NJ Transit and private bus lines effective September 8, 2015.  Affected gates are on the third and fourth floors of the terminal.  Affected NJT lines include routes 107, 108, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 122, 124, 129, 139, 144, 151, 153, 155, 157, 160, 161, 163, 164, 165, 168, 190, 194, 195, 197, 198, 199, 321.  Some gate changes are only for late night departures depending on the line.  Full details regarding the new NJT gate assignments can be found here.

Lakeland Bus Lines that previously departed from gates 401-405 will now depart from Gates 206-207.  More info can be found here

DeCamp Bus Lines will be moving to the lower level of the South Wing using Gates 12-20.  An alert on their website currently breaks out the new route assignments.

Community Coach will be assigned to Gates 412-413 for its Route 77 line.

Rockland Coaches:

Route 45 will be reassigned to Gates 410-411.
Routes 46, 47 will be reassigned to Gate 411.
Routes 9 and 49 will still depart from Gate 208 until 10PM.  Later trips will depart from Gate 410.  Routes 11A, 14E, 20, 21T will still depart from Gate 220 until 10PM.  Later trips depart from Gate 411.

Shortline buses will be assigned to Gates 401-409.

The new gate assignments will supposedly allow buses to move more effectively within the building which could alleviate delays.  Only time will tell.  In the short run, we think there is going to be a lot of confused commuters and platform crowding as commuters try to find their buses on September 8th.  Hopefully officials will do a better job at communicating these changes to the public than they have in the past.

More details can be found on the Port Authority website.