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.

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.

NJT - NY Waterway Hudson Go Pass

New Jersey Transit and NY Waterway Ferry have introduced the Hudson Go Pass for commuters using NJT buses 156R, 158, 159R and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail System.  The pass is good for unlimited rides on these NJT services as well as connecting NY Waterway Ferries from Port Imperial terminal in Weehawken.  The monthly passes cost $280 for ferry trips to midtown and $400 for the downtown ferry service.  We are glad to see the partnership between NJT and NY Waterway to help alleviate overcrowding at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.  However, NY Waterway ferries to New Jersey are still much more expensive than corresponding NJT bus service. More people would be encouraged to switch exclusively to the ferry service if the cost was lowered, which could be accomplished with state-subsidies.  This could be an immediate and simple way to help alleviate the clogged trans-hudson bridges and tunnels as well as the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

NJBUS Pic of the Week

Trans-Bridge Lines entering 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.

NJT Officially Raises Fares 9% and Cuts Service

Despite hundreds of complaints from irate transit riders at nine public hearings, and thousands more across social media, the NJ Transit Board has officially approved the 9% fare increase and service cuts it first proposed back in April.  Besides the fare increase, NJT will cut the last two trains of the evening on the Pascack Valley Line and Montclair-Boonton line.  They are also cutting service on several bus lines as we first described here.  Full details on the fare hikes and service cuts can be found on the NJT website.  Meanwhile, Governor Christie and the State Legislature have done nothing to provide additional funding for NJT which led to the fare hikes.  Meanwhile, the state's gas tax hasn't been increased since 1988.  This will only lead more people to ditch NJT and drive - creating even more traffic congestion throughout the state and at the bridges and tunnels.

NJBus Briefs May 2, 2015

David Wildstein Pleads Guilty in GWB BridgeGate Scandal and Two Others Indicted.  The New York Times reports that David Wildstein, a former Port Authority official and a high school friend of Governor Christie, pleaded guilty at the United States District Court in Newark to conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy against civil rights in the GWB BridgeGate Scandal when toll lanes were closed in Fort Lee because the mayor didn't endorse Christie.  Two other former Port Authority officials, Bill Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly, were charged conspiracy to commit fraud among other counts.  Click here for the full story.

No standees allowed on new CNG buses.  NJT's new MCI compressed natural gas buses can't handle the weight of standing room only passengers and won't pick up standees once the buses are full.  The buses, based out of the Howell garage, seat 57 passengers and run on the Route 9 routes including the 139.  Click here for the full story.

NJT Pays Fair Lawn Couple for Bus By-Pass.  A couple from Fair Lawn received a check from NJ Transit for $170 when they complained about the 164 bus passing them by causing them to miss the theater in New York.  Apparently the bus wasn't a full CNG bus.  Click here for the full story.

Possible NJT 9% Fare Increase

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that NJT may announce a 9% fare increase as early as this week.  The increase would be the first in five years but comes at a time when delays and infrastructure issues for both rail and bus commuters are at an all time high.   No official word as of yet regarding the fare increase or whether there will be any service cuts. 

Another Long Commute Home For Port Authority Bus Terminal Commuters.

A bus fatally hit a man inside the Port Authority Bus Terminal leading to massive delays inside and outside of the terminal.  The second and fourth floors were completely shut down due to overcrowding.  Buses were delayed well over an hour and traffic on 495 in to the Lincoln Tunnel was backed up for miles. 

Buses sat outside the terminal as well as on the approaches to the Lincoln Tunnel.  NJT rail was cross-honoring tickets, but NJT made little other contingency plans.  Trains were delayed out of Penn Station because of problems with the Portal Bridge.

Buses could have been diverted to Secaucus Junction and/or the GWB terminal to help alleviate congestion until the investigation and scene was cleared.  No such contingencies were put into place.  This lead to another very long commute home. 

More on the story here and here.

Our condolences go out to the family of the man who was killed inside the terminal.

Chasing New Jersey Chases the NJT 167

Chasing NJ seen on WWOR-TV Channel 9 weeknights at 10PM reported on Senator Loretta Weinberg's continued crusade to improve conditions for NJ Commuters at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.  Reporter Hank Flynn took a ride on the 167 from Glenpointe in Teaneck to the midtown terminal and back.  To no surprise, the first bus was a no show.  Click here to read the story and watch the video.  We continue to applaud Senator Weinberg for her advocacy for NJ commuters as well as Chasing NJ's coverage of the story.

December 11 Bus Rider Forum in Teaneck

Senator Loretta Weinberg and Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson are hosting another Bus Rider Forum in Teaneck at the Richard Rodda Community Center on Thursday December 11 from 7:30-9:00 PM to address issues at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.  Representatives from the Port Authority and NJ Transit will also be there to answer questions.


Officials have recently changed the flow of buses at the terminal giving them 45 minutes to reach the terminal for the afternoon rush instead of 90 minutes to alleviate some of the congestion.  What do riders think?  Have conditions improved at the bus terminal?

George Washington Bridge Bus Station Renovations Update

Major renovations continue at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.  Only one platform is in use for all departures.  Rockland Coaches' 9A  and Saddle River Tours/Ameribus Routes 11C and 20/84 depart from the front of the terminal at "Zone A."  The jitneys depart from the middle zones and NJT routes depart from the rear zones.  Please see our previous post for additional information regarding the construction.


  


Passengers must climb the temporary staircase for all departing buses and jitneys.

Temporary Waiting Room on Ft. Washington Ave.

Rockland Coaches 9A waiting for departure to New City at the front of terminal by "Zone A." 

Ameribus/Saddle River Tours Route 11C to Spring Valley loading from Zone A.

NJT buses depart from the rear of the platform.

Cross County Line (1971)

This is the Cross Bergen County Line schedule from 1971 between Oakland and Hackensack.  The service operated on a weekday trial basis.  It eventually became part of the Bergen County B-Line bus network as the B-2.  It is today's NJT Route 752.

Bus Rapid Transit for Bergen County

NJ Transit is conducting a study to create a bus rapid transit network throughout Bergen County.  They have information about the study, and ask for input from the community at the following website:  http://www.bergenbrt.com/

Seems like an interesting idea, but we'll see if it ever happens and whether it will be a successful service.