ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Within a week, commuters won’t be able to catch a DeCamp bus to New York City from North Jersey. And as the clock ticks down, the scramble for a post-DeCamp future continues.
When DeCamp Bus Lines announced it will be ending commuter service from North Jersey to New York City on April 7, it set off ripples of activity among local residents, officials and other transportation agencies. Read More: End Of An Era For DeCamp Bus: NJ Company Stopping NYC Routes
DeCamp is the oldest privately owned and operated bus company in New Jersey (read more about its history here). Over the past years, many commuters in North Jersey have depended on its routes as a way to get to work in New York City.
The company is headquartered in Montclair, and has routes in West Caldwell, Roseland, West Orange, Clifton, Bloomfield, Newark, Belleville, Harrison, Kearny, North Arlington, Lyndhurst, Rutherford, Caldwell and Verona.
DeCamp says it has seen a large drop in ridership since the coronavirus pandemic.
“DeCamp has sustained commuter services up to this point, thanks to the various federal and state financial assistance programs,” the company previously stated. “But, without further assistance on the horizon, the economic losses from continued operations of the commuter services are too much to bear.”
The company recommended that commuters seeking a new way of getting across the Hudson River try NJ Transit.
Meanwhile, elected officials in the area continue to call for someone to pick up the slack that will be left after DeCamp’s departure. Read More: DeCamp Bus Is Stopping NYC Trips; Officials Look To NJ Transit
Here are some updates on the situation, as of Friday.
NJ TRANSIT ANNOUNCES 'EMERGENCY SERVICE'
Beginning Monday, April 10, NJ Transit will roll out an "emergency service" plan, modifying four existing bus routes to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) during weekday peak periods only.
The routes will not entirely duplicate current DeCamp routes, NJ Transit officials noted.
The four modified routes will temporarily depart from Gate 208 at the PABT:
Another announcement about NJ Transit's emergency service plan is expected next week. Information will also be shared online here.
BOXCAR ENTERS THE GAME
On Thursday evening, commuter bus company Boxcar announced that it will be expanding into Essex County. The company posted the following message on social media:
“Dear DeCamp riders … We hope this email finds you well. We understand that the suspension of DeCamp's services has left many of you searching for reliable transportation options. We are excited to announce that Boxcar is stepping in to fill a part of this gap and ensure your commute remains as smooth as possible. Announcing the ‘Essex Express!’ Starting April 10, Boxcar will be operating 10 buses every morning between 5:30 and 10:30 a.m., and 10 buses every evening between 3:30 and 9:30 p.m. Initially, our service will only operate Monday to Friday.”
“Our route will follow Bloomfield Avenue from West Caldwell through Montclair, then take DeCamp's previous route up Park Avenue and Valley Avenue to Route 3. We will make the same stops along this route as DeCamp did. We are committed to keeping you informed and will be providing more information on the schedule and stops in the coming days.”
The prices for tickets are $8.99 per ride for members and $13.49 per ride for non-members. A membership costs $29.99 per month.
An announcement on Boxcar expansion in the wake of DeCamp's suspension of commuter services pic.twitter.com/T62l9tb8fF
— Boxcar (@boxcartransit) March 30, 2023
TOWNS TAKE ACTION
Some towns on the DeCamp route have been putting their own plans into action.
On April 10, Bloomfield will be expanding its existing shuttle service, which will take residents to the Allwood (Clifton) Park and Ride, from which they can transfer to the 192 bus to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, as well as several other alternatives. Read More: Bloomfield Expands Shuttle Bus Service To Ease DeCamp Fallout
“We are committed to getting our residents to where they need to go, and while these alternatives are not ideal, I want to assure the Bloomfield community that my administration will not rest until a reliable solution has been found,” Mayor Michael Venezia said.
In West Orange, town officials are promoting the municipal jitney bus as an alternative for local commuters. Read More: West Orange Jitney May Help Bridge Gap Left By DeCamp Bus Lines
“West Orange residents can utilize the existing jitney shuttle service to secure transportation to train stations in Orange, South Orange, Brick Church and East Orange along NJ Transit’s Morris and Essex Line,” a spokesperson previously said. “Eastbound service is available via the Kearny Connection to Secaucus Junction and Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan and there is also service to Hoboken Terminal.”
NJ TRANSIT URGED TO ‘USE ALL THE TOOLS AT ITS DISPOSAL’
Meanwhile, elected officials are still pressing NJ Transit to do what it can to ease the coming pain for local commuters and people who work for DeCamp.
Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill sent a letter to the agency, urging administrators to “use all of the tools at its disposal” to ensure that commuters can still access reliable service from North Jersey to Manhattan. Read the full text here.
“There are tens of thousands of commuters per month that still rely on this critical service,” said Sherrill, who represents the 11th District in Congress (which includes parts of Essex County).
“The loss of access to these forms of transportation will cause longer commute times and financial strain as commuters are facing New York’s congestion pricing, a tax that only punishes New Jerseyans and does nothing to stimulate our economy,” Sherrill said. “Furthermore, a lack of public transportation will put more cars onto our roads and highways, worsening emissions and making it difficult to meet our state’s climate goals.”
Sherrill has also reached out to her peers in the House with a letter about the issue, urging them to “provide the highest possible level of funding” for Federal Transit Administration programs that can support state public transit agencies and transportation providers.
The letter to Rep. Tom Cole and Rep. Mike Quigley was co-signed by a number of officials in North Jersey, including Essex County Commissioner President Wayne Richardson, Essex County Commissioner Vice President Carlos Pomares, Essex County Commissioner-At-Large Brendan Gill, Belleville Mayor Michael Melham, Glen Ridge Mayor Stuart Patrick, Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia, Montclair Deputy Mayor William Hurlock, Montclair Councilors Robert Russo, Peter Yacobellis, Robin Schlager and Lori Price Abrams, Glen Ridge Council President Rich Law, and Glen Ridge Councilors Deborah Mans, David Lefkovits, Peter Hughes, Ann Marie Morrow and Rebecca Meyer.
Other elected officials from the Essex County area who have weighed in about DeCamp’s departure include state senators Richard Codey and Nia Gill. Codey reportedly plans to propose legislation that would create a $60 million relief fund for private bus carriers impacted by the pandemic to maintain commuter service.
Montclair Town Council member Bob Russo said he has been pushing for a plan to protect DeCamp’s drivers. And with more than 100 vacancies at NJ Transit to fill from retirements – as well as a $6,000 signup bonus – none of them should be out of work when DeCamp ends commuter service in North Jersey, he told Patch.
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