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.

Port Authority to Realign Some Bus Gates at Terminal This Fall

The Port Authority will be realigning certain NJT gates and Coach USA gates starting this September at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.  Gates affected will be on the third and fourth floors of the terminal. This is part of the effort to reduce delays and improve movement of buses into and out of the terminal.  It will be years until major renovations or a new terminal will be built so hopefully these changes will help alleviate some of the overcrowding and congestion that has been plaguing the terminal for years.  For more on the story, click here.

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.

NJ Live Bus

Want to see exactly where your bus currently is in real time?  How about where every NJT bus is currently located on the map?  Check out NJ Live Bus.  This cool website is not only informative in showing you exactly where the bus is, it is fun to watch the buses drive around the map!

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.