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.

Massive Delays Anticipated At Lincoln Tunnel Due To Route 495 Viaduct Reconstruction

Massive delays are in the forecast for commuters using the Lincoln Tunnel due to reconstruction of the Route 495 viaduct that will eliminate one lane in each direction.  The project is expected to last for the next two years.  The exclusive bus lane ("XBL") will still be in operation during the morning rush hour for New York City bus traffic.  However, massive delays are still anticipated because there will be one less outbound lane for bus traffic leaving the Port Authority and returning back to New Jersey.  Of course, there have been no contingency plans announced for alternate routes, or any cross honoring NJT tickets on NY Waterway Ferries or trains.  Besides over crowded NJT trains, and ferries, some alternate bus service is available for Northern NJ bus passengers via the George Washington Bridge Bus Station.  More details about the construction are available here. 

Saddle River Tours New Operator Of Bergen County Local Bus Routes

The Record has reported that Saddle River Tours has further expanded its footprint in New Jersey and commuter bus service by winning NJ Transit's contract to run the Bergen County Local Bus Routes.  We previously reported that it lost a bid last year due to a technicality that allowed Coach USA's Community Coaches to continue to run the service until it could be rebid.  Saddle River recently outbid Community Coach by almost $500,000 to win the contract to run the routes for 7 years.  These are the 751, 752, 753, 755, 756, 762, 772 and 780 lines.  We are glad to see them get this contract and wish them luck since they unfairly lost the bid in 2017.  Saddle River has also recently picked up other bus routes cancelled by other companies including Coach USA/Rockland's 11C and 20/84 routes as well as the Route 55 line, previously operated by Carefree Lines until they went under.

NJ Bus Commuters Fix It List For Governor Murphy

Although NJ Transit Rail Riders have been getting the most press about the crumbling rail infrastructure in NJ, bus riders have their share of complaints as well.  Larry Higgs has an excellent article describing many of them, including broken down buses, delays at the Port Authority Bus Terminal and in the Exclusive Bus Lane and Lincoln Tunnel.  Hopefully NJ Transit and the Port Authority are reading and listening to these complaints along with those of rail passengers.  The article can be found here.

Rockland Coaches New Weekend Express Route From Rockland and Northern NJ -- Beginning December 2

Rockland Coaches has announced a new weekend express bus serving Spring Valley, NY, the Exit 14 Park and Ride and the Montvale NJ Park and Ride off the Garden State Parkway beginning December 2.  They are offering express bus service to the Port Authority every 90 minutes from these park and rides with the last trip leaving New York at 11:30PM.  Seems like a good idea considering the only other options from Rockland County and Northern Bergen County are either local buses that can take as much as 90 minutes to get into New York or the slow Pascack Valley line train, other than a couple of express runs to Pearl River on weekends.  We wish them luck and hope the service is successful.  More details are available on the Coach USA/Rockland website here and the schedule is available here.

Greyhound Begins New Service From GWBBS

Greyhound has just started new service from the newly renovated George Washington Bridge Bus Station.  Greyhound is offering 10 weekday and six weekend trips to Washington DC, Philadelphia and Boston.  Greyhound has indicated it may expand service and routes in the future.  Greyhound and Trailways both served the terminal with long distance routes until the 1970's.  We applaud the move as a great alternative to the midtown Port Authority Bus Terminal and hope the service is successful.  Looks like Greyhound is offering low fares to inaugurate the service.  We found fares from the GWB to Washington ranging from $11 to $22 on the Greyhound website.

One of the Sorriest Bus Stops In the USA - Englewood Route 4 --Updated October 2

A bus stop on Route 4 West in Englewood has made the Streetsblog USA Final Four of "Sorriest Bus Stops" in the Country.  The stop is used by Jitneys that run between Paterson and the George Washington Bridge Bus Station as well as NJT's 171 and 175 lines.  The Saddle River Tours/Ameribus  11C  line also serves the bus stop.  Like many of the bus stops along Route 4, there is no bus shelter.  The blog notes that riders have to climb over the guardrail or walk along the busy highway to exit.  The stop is heavily used by bus and jitney riders going to the new housing developments in the area.  There is no cross-over to get to the east-bound side of the highway where there are also new housing developments.  The stop is near the proposed future Route 4/Englewood Hudson Bergen Light Rail Stop along the Northern Branch.  We hope that NJT creates an upgraded bus stop on Route 4 in both directions with direct connections to the light rail extension - if it ever is built.

This also draws attention to the sorry state of the bus stops along the entire length of Route 4.  Many lack shelters, are poorly lit, or require a dangerous walk along the busy highway.  Something should be done to improve the stops before a bus passenger is severely injured.

Unfortunately, Englewood lost to Munhill, PA in the Final Four.  A stop in Seattle just won the title of Sorriest Bus Stop for 2017.  Apparently we can't even be successful at being Sorriest!

UPDATE:  On October 2, 2017, NJ Transit announced that effective October 9, 2017 this bus stop is being eliminated at the request of the City of Englewood and advising riders to use the Grand Avenue stop.