Three Routes Picked for Bergen County Bus Rapid Transit

Bergen County and NJ Transit have picked three potential new routes for a new Bergen County Bus Rapid Transit system.  As we have been reporting, the County and NJ Transit have been studying a Bus Rapid Transit System and have now narrowed the original nine proposed routes down to three. The routes are:

• Montvale Park and Ride to the Secaucus Junction Rail Station via Paramus Park, Bergen Community College and Garden State Plaza.
• Paramus Park Mall to the Secaucus Junction Rail Station via Bergen Community College, Garden State Plaza and Hackensack.
• Englewood Hospital to Paterson via Hackensack and Garden State Plaza.

More details about these routes are available here.  Some of the routes that weren't picked for implementation travelled from Bergen County to New York City.  Officials cited overcrowding at the Port Authority as part of the reason these routes weren't picked.

We welcome any new transportation initiatives for Northern New Jersey but we think alleviating the trans-hudson commuting issues should still be a top priority for NJ Transit. 

Bergen County Bus Rapid Transit Meeting - Nov. 13

There will be a meeting for the proposed Bergen County Bus Rapid Transit System on November 14, 2014 at the Hackensack Campus of Bergen Community College.  Information about the meeting is available here.  As we previously reported, Bergen County is studying the possibility of creating a Bus Rapid Transit system.  A proposed route map is available here. 

Vintage Public Service Bus Model #L627 (1957 GM Coach)

A few pictures of Public Service Coach #L627.  The bus was part of an order for 49 Model PD4104s built by GM and entered service in 1957.  These buses were purchased for long distance and shore services.  The 35 foot model has air conditioning, seats 41 with 183 hp.  The cruiser was the predecessor of the MC9s and Eagle buses.  It began service out of the Berlin garage and later serviced the Newton Ave., Maple Shade, Union City, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy and Elizabeth Garages.  The cruiser was retired in 1973 after 16 years of service. 

 

 

 

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.

George Washington Bridge Bus Station Renovations

Construction at the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal continues as part of its $183 million renovation.  On Monday August 25, the concourse level and the lower departure levels were closed leaving only the upper level available for bus arrivals and departures.  Passengers must use steep temporary stair cases to enter and leave the station.  A trailer has been set up on Fort Washington Avenue where passengers can use rest rooms, wait for their bus and buy tickets.  Passengers will also have to exit the terminal and walk outside to catch the A train at 177th and Ft. Washington Ave.

This phase of the construction is expected to last approximately one year.  More information about the renovations, and some renderings of what the terminal will look like are available here.

Bus service and ridership to the terminal has diminished over the past few years.  Hopefully the revived terminal will attract new riders as an alternative to the decrepit and overcrowded Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown.  We continue to advocate for increased bus service over the GWB to the terminal.   Innovative new express routes, service to midtown via the east side and express bus lanes at the bridge are all potential solutions at little additional investment to the infrastructure to help alleviate overcrowding at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.   

NJT Reports Buses are "Late" 32% of the Time

The Record is reporting on new data just released by NJ Transit that its buses have an on-time performance rate of just 68%.  NJT is using a new computerized system for tracking buses.  The report defines being "on time" as arriving at a scheduled stop between 1 minute before the scheduled arrival time and up to 6 minutes late.  More interesting is that the report states that 86% buses at the Port Authority Bus Terminal departed on time in June.  We find that statistic quite hard to believe. 

It's Official - The Port Authority Bus Terminal is Declared "The Worst Place on Earth"

Check out this VERY humorous clip from John Oliver's Last Week Tonight Show on HBO claiming that the Port Authority Bus Terminal is the "single worst place on planet earth."  Click here to view the clip.


Also from this past weekend, The Bergen Record reports on the dismal conditions at the terminal and describes how some bus drivers do laps around the bus terminal in order to meet their scheduled departure time.