NJ TRANSIT LAUNCHES NEW BRANCH OF JERSEY CITY BUS ROUTE TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICE TO HUDSON COUNTY PLAZA

Bus No. 6 ¿Lafayette Loop¿ service begins June 29

June 22, 2009
NJT-09-062

NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT will introduce a new branch of the No. 6 Ocean Avenue bus route starting Monday, June 29, to connect more Jersey City residents with the Journal Square area, County government offices and light rail service options.

“Ensuring that my constituents’ public transportation needs are heard and addressed is a top priority, and I appreciate NJ TRANSIT’s responsiveness in helping to meet those needs,” said State Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham. “Last year’s implementation of the No. 6 route was a step toward addressing service gaps left by private carrier decisions, and the new branch will further close the gap for Jersey City residents.”

June 22, 2009
NJT-09-063

NEWARK, NJ — As part of a broader effort to put seats where they are needed most, NJ TRANSIT’s No. 39 bus route will be split into two routes starting June 27, 2009, to provide more service for customers traveling to and from Newark Penn Station and to improve reliability. A new bus route—the No. 30—is being introduced to serve customers in North Arlington, Kearny, Harrison and Newark.

As a result of these changes, customers along the new No. 39 route will benefit from more direct service to Newark Penn Station, making it easier to make connections to other modes. In addition, by shortening the length of the route, buses will operate more reliably for all customers.

In February 2008, NJ TRANSIT introduced the No. 6 Ocean Avenue-Journal Square bus route to replace the discontinued Coach USA Bus No. 99, which operated between Greenville and Journal Square.

The new No. 6 branch, called the “Lafayette Loop,” will connect the Lafayette neighborhood and a section of Garfield Avenue with the Journal Square area in Jersey City, addressing a service gap identified in NJ TRANSIT’s Jersey City Bus Study that is currently being completed.

“When the private bus carriers began to drastically cut back their service in Jersey City, NJ TRANSIT was there to help,” said Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith. “Together with Senator Cunningham, County Executifont-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">All customers will continue to have bus service from their regular bus stop to downtown Newark. However, customers who travel through downtown Newark (e.g. from Irvington through to North Arlington) will now have to transfer between the No. 30 and No. 39 routes on Broad Street or at Newark Penn Station.

Beginning June 27, the new No. 39 will operate between Irvington and Newark Penn Station, serving all of the same stops between these locations. However, No. 39 buses will no longer serve points north of Raymond Boulevard in Newark, Harrison, Kearny or North Arlington. Most No. 39 buses will begin and end their trips at Newark Penn Station. Certain trips, known as “39X” (EXPRESS), will continue to operate to and from Washington Park in Newark.

The new No. 30 bus route will serve ve DeGise and Mayor Healy, I am pleased with our results to date as we continue to work with NJ TRANSIT to improve public transportation for our residents.”

“We introduced the No. 6 bus route to help address private carrier cutbacks, and created a new branch to further improve service for Jersey City residents,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Richard Sarles. “We are committed to serving the bus customers who depend on public transportation for their day-to-day needs and appreciate the interest of community leaders in championing robust public transportation for their residents."

“Jersey City has one of the most comprehensive public transportation systems in the county, and the bus lines play a vital role in that network,&rdquobus stops previously served by No. 39 buses in North Arlington, Kearny, and Harrison, as well as selected stops along Broad Street in Newark. On weekdays until 6 p.m., buses will operate from North Arlington to/from Lincoln Park in Newark. Starting with the 6:20 p.m. departure from North Arlington on weekdays and all day on weekends, No. 30 buses will begin/end their trips at Newark Penn Station. (On weekdays, the first trip from Newark Penn Station to North Arlington departs at 7:05 p.m.)

Fares

The one-zone fare will continue to be $1.35, and the zone boundary for the new No. 39 will continue to be the border of Newark and Irvington, so most customers will not have to pay more than they do today. Customers who transfer between the new No. 39 and the No. 30 will need a 65¢ transfer (just like any other bus transfer). However, customers who travel one zone on the new No. 39 to connec; said Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise. “This new branch of service will link more Jersey City residents with public transit, enhancing access to county government buildings, community health clinics, light rail service, and PATH and bus connections at Journal Square.”

"We are pleased that NJ TRANSIT has continued to work with the community and with this administration to provide much-needed bus service for our residents,” said Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy. “The Lafayette Loop will extend bus service to another Jersey City neighborhood, connecting residents with the greater public transportation network and providing access to employment, school, recreation and medical facilities.”

The new Lafayette Loop service will supplement existing No. 6 service to provide four trips per hour during peak periods and twt to the No. 30 can pay less than they do today by purchasing a one-zone bus card.

Boarding locations at Newark Penn Station

No. 39 buses to Irvington will continue to board from Bus Lane 1A at Newark Penn Station. No. 30 buses to North Arlington will board from Bus Lane 3B until 10:00 p.m. After 10:01 p.m., No. 30 buses will board at Bus Lane 1B. (On weekdays, the first departure from Newark Penn Station is 7:05 p.m.)

Destination signs

Bus destination signs will read as follows for customers traveling from the points below:

Traveling from Irvington to Newark Penn Station: 39 NEWARK PENN STATION
Traveling from Irvington to Washington Park (express): 39X EXPRESS / WASH PARK
Traveling from Newark Penn Station to Irvington: 39 IRVINGTON
It will also connect Hudson County Plaza and Journal Square with two Hudson-Bergen Light Rail stations: Garfield Avenue and Liberty State Park.

The Lafayette Loop will operate in a continuous loop within the Lafayette neighborhood, originating and ending trips at Journal Square between approximately 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays.

For schedules and fares, customers may visit njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555.

About NJ TRANSITrmal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Traveling from Washington Park to Irvington (express): 39X EXPRESS / IRVINGTON
Traveling from Newark to North Arlington: 30 KEARNY / N ARLINGTON
Traveling from North Arlington to Newark: 30 NEWARK / (LINCOLN PARK or PENN STATION)

NJ TRANSIT is advising customers to carefully check bus schedules dated June 27, 2009, as many departure times have changed.

For schedules and fares, customers may visit njtransit.com or call 973-275-5555.

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 895,000 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.

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About NJ TRANSIT