Vintage Timetable of the Week - Rockland Coaches 10-14K (1981)

To commemorate the final passing of Rockland Coaches 14K line, here is a vintage timetable from 1981 showing combined service with the 10 route.  The 10 was discontinued in the 1980s.  The 14K had full time service to the George Washington Bridge until it was cut back to a couple of rush hour runs in the late 2000s.  Rockland Coaches eliminated the 14K in May 2014.  It still runs the 14E express service to the Port Authority at rush hour.

No Relief In Sight for Port Authority Bus Terminal Commuters

New Jersey commuters have known for quite some time how bad conditions are at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.  Riders have to wait each evening in long lines that wrap around the concourse.  Traffic around the Lincoln Tunnel is a nightmare, and getting worse.  Both Bloomberg and The Record have recently reported how the terminal is outdated, overcrowded, in disrepair, but yet there are no immediate plans to remedy the problems.

The Record reports how there is no space to park buses.  They have to travel empty back to New Jersey after their morning runs to park, only to return for the evening rush.  This creates even more traffic jams inbound at the Lincoln Tunnel and at the terminal.  An expanded or new terminal is needed, as well as a garage to park the buses. 

Capital funding for a bus garage, however, was withdrawn.  Yet the Port Authority is planning on spending $1.5 billion to extend the PATH line to Newark Airport. Instead of allocating funding to remedy problems at the bus terminal, the agency would rather spend billions to duplicate rail service that is already provided by NJ Transit.

There is a parking garage for cars on the top level of the terminal.  A short term solution could be to use this space for buses - but this is not in the Port Authority's plans.  We only suppose this is because the Port Authority would rather rake in $45 a day in daily parking fees to fill its coffers as opposed to providing more efficient public transportation.  The parking revenues alone could help fund improvements to the terminal.

Saddle River Tours Taking Over the 11C and 20/84 Routes Effective May 5th

Saddle River Tours is taking over the soon to be discontinued Rockland Coaches 11C and 20/84 Routes beginning Monday May 5th with their new Ameribus Service.  They have cut one run on the 20/84 in each direction.  They have also cut several more 11C runs with the last bus leaving the GWB at 6:45 on weekdays.   The weekday 8:45PM trip to Spring Valley has been eliminated from the new weekday schedule, but it will continue to run on weekends.  They are also providing very limited weekend service on the 11C with only 3-4 buses in each direction. 

We wish them luck but this will not help increase ridership or alleviate the crowding at the PABT and Lincoln Tunnel.  To increase GWB ridership, innovative new services need to be introduced including exclusive bus lanes over the bridge, more convenient service, introduction of express runs, and service to midtown via the east side.  

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. 

NJT to take over Rockland Coaches 11C and 20/84 Routes?

There is a possibility that NJ Transit may be taking over Rockland Coaches 11C and 20/84 routes.  We previously reported that TransportAzumah announced that it will begin operating the route from the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal to Spring Valley, NY effective May 5, 2014 replacing the  discontinued Rockland Coaches 11C. 

Transport Azumah has also announced it will revive the Route 303 line from the GWB to Newark Airport starting May 5, 2014.  The express route will run daily between 5:15AM and 11PM.  NJT ran a similar route 303 in the 1980s. 

GWB Bus Station April 18, 2014 (updated)

NJBus visited the GWB Bus Station at rush hour on April 18, 2014.  Only three platforms are in service due to the terminal's reconstruction.  There is still uncertainty regarding which company will take over the 11C and 20/84 lines when Rockland Coaches discontinues service on May 4, 2014. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.