NJ TRANSIT ADJUSTS BUS SCHEDULES TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY AND REDUCE OVERCROWDING

NEWARK, NJ, August 21, 2002 -- NJ TRANSIT will revise schedules on a number of bus lines on Saturday, August 31 in response to changing travel patterns and customer requests and to address capacity issues on some lines. The Corporation regularly reviews its bus routes and makes changes to improve service.

Additional seats and trips will be added on various bus routes throughout the system to reduce overcrowding.

New 45-foot Super Cruiser buses will be assigned to routes in Bergen, Middlesex, Monmouth and Passaic counties. The new buses will provide 16 percent more seats in an effort to relieve overcrowding on the following selected routes:

68 East Brunswick -- Newark
131 Sayreville -- New York
133 Old Bridge -- Matawan -- New York
137 Toms River -- New York
138 East Brunswick -- New York
166 Dumont -- Tenafly -- New York
192 Clifton -- New York
193 Willowbrook -- New York
194 Newfoundland -- New York

The Corporation reassigned some of its articulated buses, which are equipped with 20 additional seats than conventional buses, to the a.m. and p.m. 154 Fort Lee -- New York route in an effort to reduce overcrowding. Evening service on the 158 Fort Lee -- Edgewater -- New York route will also be operated with articulated buses.

Also, additional trips will be operated during current periods of overcrowding (weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays depending on need and available resources) on the following lines:

71 Newark -- West Caldwell
72 Paterson -- New York
139 Lakewood -- New York
165 Westwood -- New York
166 Dumont -- Tenafly -- New York

Specific information regarding these services is listed below, highlighted by county.

In addition, routes that traditionally have adjusted summer levels of service will revert to fall service levels.

Following are highlights of the August 31 bus schedule changes:

Atlantic County

Service on the No. 319 New York-Atlantic City-Cape May route will be restored to fall season levels. Labor Day weekend service will include fall service levels supplemented by extra service to meet anticipated passenger demand.
On the No. 508 Atlantic City-Richard Stockton College-Hamilton Mall route, the 7:30 a.m. trip from Atlantic City will be extended to Bellvue Commons.
On the No. 551 Philadelphia-Atlantic City-Ocean City route, the 8:10 a.m. trip from Atlantic City and the 4:20 p.m. trip from Philadelphia will be adjusted to serve the Farley Service Area on the Atlantic City Expressway.

Bergen County

On the No. 156 Englewood Cliffs-New York route, one weekday p.m. peak Park Avenue/Bergenline Avenue trip will be eliminated between 4:40 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. due to low ridership. On Saturdays, the Bergenline-River Road "BR" trip will be converted into a regular route with trips operating via Bergenline and Park avenues. Weekday local departures from New York operating via Park and Bergenline avenues between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. will be moved to Door 2 on Platform 200 at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. (These adjustments will benefit customers in Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Cliffside Park, Edgewater).
On the No. 158 Fort Lee-Edgewater-New York route, two weekday morning peak inbound trips to New York will be added and trip times will be adjusted to address overcrowding. Two evening peak outbound trips will be added and evening peak operation will be converted to articulated buses, providing added seating capacity. Weekday p.m. peak departures from New York will be moved from Platform 200 --Door 4 to Door 3 to accommodate the articulated buses. (These adjustments benefit customers in Fort Lee, Edgewater).
On the No. 159 Fort Lee-New York route, four weekday peak 60th Street Express trips will be added between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Three weekday peak Bergenline Avenue local trips between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. will be eliminated due to low ridership. The Bergenline-River Road "BR" service will be discontinued due to low ridership. Weekday local departures from New York operating via Bergenline Avenue between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays only, will be moved from Door 3 to Door 2 on Platform 200. (These adjustments will benefit customers in Fort Lee, Cliffside Park, Fairview, Edgewater).
On the No. 161 Patterson-Passaic-New York route, three weekday p.m. peak trips will operate from Teterboro to New York via the Carlstadt-Commerce Boulevard pattern. As a result, Commerce Boulevard service will be discontinued on selected p.m. peak inbound Paterson-New York local trips. One p.m. peak outbound trip will be added to relieve overcrowding. (These adjustments benefit customers in Elmwood Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Teterboro, Little Ferry, Garfield, Saddle Brook, Carlstadt, Lodi).
On the No. 164 Midland Park-New York route, a weekday p.m. "E" Essex Street Express trip from New York will be added at 10:50 p.m. to address overcrowding. (These adjustments will benefit customers in Hackensack, Maywood, Rochelle Park, Paramus, Fair Lawn, Glen Rock, Ridgewood, Midland Park). Two summer season Friday only trips will be discontinued.
On the No. 165 Westwood-New York route, a weekday p.m. peak Turnpike Express (T) trip from Westwood will be added and trip times will be adjusted to improve on-time performance and in an effort to alleviate overcrowding. A weekday p.m. peak local inbound trip will also be added. On Saturdays an early a.m. outbound trip to Westwood will be added to address overcrowding. (These adjustments will benefit customers in Westwood, Emerson, Oradell, River Edge, Hackensack, Little Ferry, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Fairview).
On the No. 166 Dumont-Tenafly-New York route, a weekday afternoon trip from Madison Avenue and Washington Avenue to New York will be added. Minor adjustments will be made to the p.m. inbound trip times and 45-foot Super Cruiser buses will be assigned to this route in effort to reduce overcrowding. The a.m. and p.m. peak I-95 Express (X) trip and Turnpike Express (T) trip will be adjusted due to low ridership. (These adjustments will benefit customers in Cresskill, Dumont, Bergenfield, Tenafly, Englewood, Leonia, Palisades Park, Ridgefield).
On the No. 167 Harrington Park-New York route, on Fridays a p.m. Teaneck Express "T" trip via Glenpointe to Chestnut Bend, Dumont will be added. Other minor changes will occur; customers are encouraged to check their timetables. (These adjustments will benefit customers in Teaneck, Bergenfield, Dumont).
On the No. 192 Clifton-New York route, additional 45-foot Super Cruiser buses will be added to selected a.m. and p.m. peak trips in an effort to reduce overcrowding. One Friday only summer trip from New York will be converted into a weekday, year-round operation to address ridership demand. (These adjustments benefit customers in Lyndhurst).

Burlington County

Minor changes will occur on the No. 407 Philadelphia-Merchantville-Moorsetown Mall and No. 409 Trenton-Willingboro-Philadelphia routes. Customers should check their timetables carefully.

Camden County

Minor changes will occur on the No. 405 Philadelphia-Merchantville-Cherry Hill Mall and No. 459 Echelon Mall-Avandale routes. Customers should check their timetables carefully.

Cape May County

Service on the No. 319 New York-Atlantic City-Cape May route will be restored to fall season levels. Labor Day weekend service will include fall service levels supplemented by extra service to meet anticipated passenger demand.

Essex County

On the No. 1 Newark route, the service to River Terminal in Kearny will be adjusted. There will be minor trip time adjustments on some trips operating to and from Jersey City. (These adjustments benefit residents and employees in Newark and Irvington).
On the No. 21 Main Street route, two weekday evening trips will be added from Newark to reduce overcrowding. (The adjustments benefit customers in Newark, East Orange, Orange, West Orange).
On the No. 70 Newark-Livingston Mall route, an additional weekday late afternoon trip from Short Hills Mall to Irvington Center will be added to reduce overcrowding. (This adjustment benefits customers in Millburn, Maplewood, Irvington).
On the No. 71 Newark-Livingston-West Caldwell route, additional midday weekday and weekend service will be added between East Orange and Livingston to reduce overcrowding. (These adjustments benefit East Orange, Orange, West Orange, Livingston).
On the No. 72 Paterson-Newark route, weekday service will be increased during the p.m. peak from every 30 minutes to every 25 minutes, inbound to Newark between 1:50 p.m. - 5:35 p.m. and outbound from Newark between 3:05 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. (These adjustments benefit customers in Bloomfield and Newark).
On the No. 73 Newark-Orange-Livingston Mall route, additional weekend service will be added between East Orange and the Livingston Mall and trip times of other trips will be adjusted to reduce overcrowding. Included is a later Sunday evening trip from Livingston Mall to East Orange via East Hanover leaving the mall at 9:15 p.m. (These adjustments benefit customers in East Orange, Orange, West Orange, Livingston).
On the No. 94 Stuyvesant Avenue Crosstown route, trips will be added to accommodate additional passengers traveling to and from the new East Orange Central High School. (These adjustments benefit customers in East Orange and Bloomfield).
On the No. 192 Clifton-New York route, additional 45-foot Super Cruiser buses will be added to selected a.m. and p.m. peak trips in an effort to reduce overcrowding. One Friday only summer trip from New York will be converted into a weekday, year-round operation to address ridership demand. (These adjustments benefit customers in Nutley).
Minor changes will occur on the No. 26 Irvington-Elizabeth, No. 108 Newark-New York routes. Customers should check their timetables carefully.

Gloucester County

On the No. 402 Pennsville-Philadelphia route, on weekdays the 4:06 p.m. trip from Beckett will be adjusted to depart from Pennsville to expand access to and from Pureland Industrial Park.
The No. 412 Glassboro-Philadelphia route will be changed in Glassboro to operate via Heston Road, Joseph Bowe Boulevard, US Rt. 322 and Main Street to improve access to Rowan University.

Hudson County

On the No. 64 Lakewood-Jersey City-Weehawken route, select p.m. express trips from Weehawken will be adjusted to bypass the Freehold Center to speed up trips in response to customer suggestions.
On the No. 67 Toms River-Lakewood-Newark route, service will be restored to fall service levels with Seaside Heights/Seaside Park branch service ending after Labor Day.
On the No. 78 Newark-Secaucus route, two Secaucus short trips will be eliminated due to the lack of ridership.
On the No. 156 Englewood Cliffs-New York route, one weekday p.m. peak Park Avenue/Bergenline Avenue trip will be eliminated between 4:40 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. due to low ridership. On Saturdays, the Bergenline-River Road "BR" trip will be converted into a regular route with trips operating via Bergenline and Park avenues. Weekday local departures from New York operating via Park and Bergenline avenues between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. will be moved to Door 2 on Platform 200 at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. (These adjustments will benefit customers in North Bergen, West New York, Guttenberg, Union City, Weehawken).
On the No. 158 Fort Lee-Edgewater-New York route, two weekday morning peak inbound trips to New York will be added and trip times will be adjusted to address overcrowding. Two evening peak outbound trips will be added and evening peak operation will be converted to articulated buses, providing added seating capacity. Weekday p.m. peak departures from New York will be moved from Platform 200 --Door 4 to Door 3 to accommodate the articulated buses. (These adjustments benefit customers in Weehawken, West New York, Guttenberg, North Bergen).
On the No. 159 Fort Lee-New York route, four weekday peak 60th Street Express trips will be added between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Three weekday peak Bergenline Avenue local trips between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. will be eliminated due to low ridership. The Bergenline-River Road "BR" service will be discontinued due to low ridership. Weekday local departures from New York operating via Bergenline Avenue between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays only, will be moved from Door 3 to Door 2 on Platform 200. (These adjustments will benefit customers in North Bergen, West New York, Guttenberg, Union City, Weehawken).
On the No. 161 Patterson-Passaic-New York route, three weekday p.m. peak trips will operate from Teterboro to New York via the Carlstadt-Commerce Boulevard pattern. As a result, Commerce Boulevard service will be discontinued on selected p.m. peak inbound Paterson-New York local trips. One p.m. peak outbound trip will be added to relieve overcrowding. (These adjustments benefit customers in Union City and North Bergen).
On the No. 165 Westwood-New York route, a weekday p.m. peak Turnpike Express (T) trip from Westwood will be added and trip times will be adjusted to improve on-time performance and in an effort to alleviate overcrowding. A weekday p.m. peak local inbound trip will also be added. On Saturdays an early a.m. outbound trip to Westwood will be added to address overcrowding. (These adjustments will benefit customers in North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York, Weehawken).
On the No. 166 Dumont-Tenafly-New York route, a weekday afternoon trip from Madison Avenue and Washington Avenue to New York will be added. Minor adjustments will be made to the p.m. inbound trip times and 45-foot Super Cruiser buses will be assigned to this route in effort to reduce overcrowding. The a.m. and p.m. peak I-95 Express (X) trip and Turnpike Express (T) trip will be adjusted due to low ridership. (These adjustments will benefit customers in North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York, Weehawken).
Minor changes will occur on the No. 320 North Bergen Park/Ride-New York route. Customers should check their timetables carefully.

Mercer County

On the No. 605 Montgomery-Princeton-Quaker Bridge Mall route, the 8:08 a.m. trip from the Princeton train station to Montgomery will be adjusted to depart from Quaker Bridge Mall at 7:45 a.m. Other minor schedule changes will occur on this route, customers should check their timetables carefully.
Minor changes will occur on the No. 409 Trenton-Willingboro-Philadelphia route. Customers should check their timetables carefully.

Middlesex County

On the No. 64 Lakewood-Jersey City-Weehawken route, select p.m. express trips from Weehawken will be adjusted to bypass the Freehold Center to speed up trips in response to customer suggestions.
On the No. 67 Toms River-Lakewood-Newark route, service will be restored to fall service levels with Seaside Heights/Seaside Park branch service ending after Labor Day.
On the No. 114 Bridgewater-New York route, the times for morning express trips from Bridgewater and Dunellen to New York may be adjusted by up to five minutes. (These adjustments benefit customers in Middlesex, Dunellen, Piscataway).
On the No. 139 Lakewood-New York route, weekday summer peak service levels will be maintained and 45-foot Super cruiser buses will be added to select trips. Three a.m. Gordon's Corner express trips will be changed to become express at Freehold Mall to match customer demand. One weekday p.m. trip from New York to Old Bridge park/ride will be added to meet customer demands. Extra scheduled weekend evening service that operated during the summer season will be eliminated.
On the No. 815 New Brunswick-East Brunswick-Woodbridge Center route, the 5:35 a.m. weekday trip from South River to Woodbridge will be adjusted to depart at 5:25 a.m. The 6:45 a.m. weekday trip from Woodbridge Center to New Brunswick will depart at 6:30 a.m. in response to requests made by workers in the area.
On the No. 980 New Brunswick-Piscataway WHEELS route, the following trips will be eliminated due to low ridership: 8:13 a.m. and 5:07 p.m. from New Brunswick and the 7:18 a.m., 8:47 a.m. and 5:34 p.m. from Piscataway.

Monmouth County

On the No. 64 Lakewood-Jersey City-Weehawken route, select p.m. express trips from Weehawken will be adjusted to bypass the Freehold Center to speed up trips in response to customer suggestions.
On the No. 67 Toms River-Lakewood-Newark route, service will be restored to fall service levels with Seaside Heights/Seaside Park branch service ending after Labor Day.
On the No. 139 Lakewood-New York route, weekday summer peak service levels will be maintained and 45-foot Super cruiser buses will be added to select trips. Three a.m. Gordon's Corner express trips will be changed to become express at Freehold Mall to match customer demand. One weekday p.m. trip from New York to Old Bridge park/ride will be added to meet customer demands. Extra scheduled weekend evening service that operated during the summer season will be eliminated.
On the No. 830 Asbury Park-Point Pleasant Beach route, the weekday trips from Asbury Park to Wall that depart at 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. to meet seasonal demand will not operate during the fall and winter seasons.
Minor changes will occur on the No. 836 Asbury Park-Freehold Reaceway Mall-Centra State Hospital route. Customers should check their timetables carefully.

Morris County

On the No. 73 Newark-Orange-Livingston Mall route, additional weekend service will be added between East Orange and the Livingston Mall and other trip times will be adjusted to reduce overcrowding. The new service includes a later Sunday evening trip from Livingston Mall to East Orange via East Hanover leaving the mall at 9:15 p.m. (These adjustments benefit customers in Florham Park, East Hanover).

Ocean County

On the No. 64 Lakewood-Jersey City-Weehawken route, select p.m. express trips from Weehawken will be adjusted to bypass the Freehold Center to speed up trips in response to customer complaints.
On the No. 137 Toms River-New York route, service will be restored to fall service levels with Seaside Heights/Seaside Park and Island Beach State Park branch services ending after Labor Day.
On the No. 139 Lakewood-New York route, weekday summer peak service levels will be maintained and 45-foot cruiser buses will be added to select trips. Three a.m. Gordons Corner express trips will be changed to become express at Freehold Mall to match customer demand. One weekday p.m. trip from New York to Old Bridge park/ride will be added to meet customer demands. Extra scheduled weekend evening service that operated during the summer season will be eliminated.

Passaic County

On the No. 72 Paterson-Newark route, weekday service will be increased during the p.m. peak from every 30 minutes to every 25 minutes, inbound to Newark between 1:50 p.m. - 5:35 p.m. and outbound from Newark between 3:05 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. (These adjustments benefit customers in Clifton and Paterson).
On the No. 161 Paterson-Passaic-New York route, three weekday p.m. peak trips will operate from Teterboro to New York via the Carlstadt-Commerce Boulevard service replacing Commerce Boulevard service on selected p.m. peak inbound Paterson-New York local trips. One p.m. peak outbound trip to Paterson will be added to relieve overcrowding. (These adjustments benefit customers in Paterson).
On the No. 190 Paterson-New York route, minor weekday p.m. peak trip reductions will be made due to low ridership. Customers should check their timetables carefully.
On the No. 192 Clifton-New York route, additional 45-foot Super Cruiser buses will be added to selected a.m. and p.m. peak trips in an effort to reduce overcrowding. One Friday only summer trip from New York will be converted into a weekday, year-round operation to address ridership demand. (These adjustments benefit customers in Clifton).
On the No. 193 Pompton Lakes-Packanack Lake-Willowbrook-New York route, the existing 9:03 a.m. and 9:33 a.m. weekday trips from the Wayne-Rt. 23 park/ride to New York via Willowbrook will be converted into Wayne-Rt. 23 park/ride-New York Express trips. On Sundays, schedule adjustments have been made; customers should check their timetables carefully. (These adjustments will benefit customers in Wayne).
On the No. 744 Passaic-Wayne route, weekday trips will be rerouted to serve the new William Paterson University Business School at 1600 Valley Road, north of Hamburg Turnpike. (These adjustments will benefit customers in Passaic, Clifton, Paterson, Prospect Park, Haledon, Wayne).

Salem County

On the No. 402 Pennsville-Philadelphia route, on weekdays the 4:06 p.m. trip from Beckett will be adjusted to depart from Pennsville to expand access to and from Pureland Industrial Park.

Somerset County

On the No. 114 Bridgewater-New York route, the times for morning express trips from Bridgewater and Dunellen to New York may be adjusted by up to five minutes. (These adjustments benefit customers in Bridgewater, Somerville, Bound Brook, North Plainfield, Watchung).

Union County

On the No. 70 Newark-Livingston Mall route, an additional weekday late afternoon trip from Short Hills Mall to Irvington Center will be added to reduce overcrowding. (This adjustment benefits residents and employees in Summit, Springfield).
On the No. 114 Bridgewater-New York route, the times for morning express trips from Bridgewater and Dunellen to New York may be adjusted by up to five minutes. On Sundays, additional service will leave New York and operate to Mountainside between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to reduce overcrowding on existing trips. (These adjustments benefit customers in Plainfield, Scotch Plains, Mountainside, Springfield, Union).
Minor adjustments will be made to the No. 26 Irvington-Elizabeth route. Customers should check their timetables carefully.

For further information, riders in North Jersey can call NJ TRANSIT between 6 a.m. and midnight at 1-800-772-2222 or at 973-762-5100 from out of state. In South Jersey, riders may call NJ TRANSIT between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. at 1-800-582-5946 or at 215-569-3752 from Pennsylvania. For persons with hearing impairments, the number is 1-800-772-2287.

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 761,000 daily trips on 238 bus routes, two light rail lines and 12 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 163 rail stations, 27 light rail stations and more than 17,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.