GO BUS SERVICE DOUBLES STARTING SEPTEMBER 2

New bi-directional service offered between Newark and Irvington

August 13, 2008
NJT-08-065

NEWARK, NJ - Customers of NJ TRANSIT's popular "Go Bus" between Newark and Irvington will benefit from expanded, bi-directional service beginning September 2, 2008, with the addition of 18 new trips.

"Since its introduction in April, "Go Bus" has been very well-received by our customers in the heavily-traveled Springfield Avenue corridor," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Richard Sarles. "Our goal was to provide a premium level of service along one of the busiest transit corridors in the state, and we are taking it a step further by offering new bi-directional service to meet ridership demand."

On April 7, NJ TRANSIT launched "Go Bus" - the state's first "premium" local bus service - offering enhanced amenities and greater convenience to customers along the Springfield Avenue corridor.

Serving the 4.8 miles between Irvington Bus Terminal and Newark Penn Station, Go Bus currently operates 18 trips each weekday along Springfield Avenue and Market Street. Starting September 2, the addition of nine new morning trips and nine new evening trips will double the level of service, adding capacity to the corridor for customers of NJ TRANSIT's existing No. 25 bus route.

Current Go Bus service operates in the peak direction only, offering service to Newark Penn Station during the morning peak period and to Irvington Bus Terminal during the evening peak period. With the introduction of bi-directional service, Go Bus will provide new outbound service from Newark to Irvington in the morning peak period and inbound service from Irvington to Newark in the evening peak.

Buses will depart Newark Penn Station every 15 minutes between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. for the new outbound service and will depart Irvington Bus Terminal every 15 minutes between 3:35 p.m. and 5:35 p.m. for the new inbound service.

Designed for and by customers, Go Bus showcases a unique identity and offers easily identifiable, enhanced bus stops and upgraded onboard amenities. To gather customer feedback, NJ TRANSIT conducted focus groups of customers on the No. 25 line, who selected the "Go Bus" name and helped to design every element of the vehicles and service.

The service has 11 fixed "super stops" for faster trip times between Irvington Terminal and Newark Penn Station - approximately 21 minutes to Newark Penn Station and 22 minutes to Irvington Bus Terminal. Each stop outside the Downtown area is easily identified with a weather-protected shelter in Go Bus green and blue. The bus does not stop at locations that are not designated for Go Bus.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing nearly 865,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 164 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.