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. 

Continued Confusion Surrounding Rockland Coaches Impending GWB Bus Cuts

With less than a week to go, the Journal News is reporting on the confusion surrounding the company's elimination of its 11C, 14K and 20/84 Routes to the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal.  Many riders believe that the Rockland Route 20 to the Port Authority Bus Terminal is also being cut, which isn't the case.  The article notes that these routes only make up 5% of Rockland's revenue and account for 8% of its total passengers.  This is hardly surprising considering the company previously substantially cut back service on these routes.

There is also confusion regarding who will operate the 11C and 20/84 starting May 5th.  It has been announced that GWB service on the 14K, down to only 3 daily runs, will be discontinued.   Riders of the 11C and 20/84 still don't know who will operate the routes starting on May 5th, but there is continued speculation that NJ Transit may take over the routes in some form. 

Rockland Coaches Cutting More GWB Routes Effective May 5, 2014 - Routes 11C, 14K and 20/84 Eliminated

Rockland Coaches has announced that it is cutting its Routes 11C, 14K and 20/84 that service the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal effective May 5, 2014.  The company has been cutting its service to the Washington Heights facility over the past few years. The only remaining Rockland route to serve the terminal will be the Route 9 bus after May 5.  The 14K and 20/84 were recently cut to just limited rush hour runs.  The terminal is undergoing a $180 million dollar renovation, with even less buses serving it.  NJT should consider taking over operations for these routes as an alternative to the overcrowded Port Authority Bus Terminal.  Buses could serve the uptown station and then travel down the east side of Manhattan providing a new travel alternative for North Jersey commuters.