In an editorial, Hudson County Complete Streets President Johan Andrade explains why he’s appealing to NJ Transit to save the Coach USA bus routes that serve local commuters.
When I first heard the news that Coach USA would be canceling bus 88 between North Bergen and Journal Square, my first thought was for the hundreds of students who will be left stranded at the start of the school year.
My family moved to Hudson County from Ecuador in 1993 when I was 5 years old, and to North Bergen in 2001.
Like many immigrant families who move to the US for better opportunities, my parents wanted their four children to have the chance at higher education.
As a former student who relied heavily on bus route 88 to commute to my university, I can personally attest to the critical role this route plays in the lives of students and residents. During my college years, route 88 was my only means of getting to campus.
Without it, completing my degree would have been significantly more challenging, if not impossible.
Before me, my two older sisters used this route as well to travel to Journal Square where transit access to jobs and universities are prominent.
This route is not just a number; it represents a lifeline for thousands of students who will be returning to school in late August.
The premature termination of Coach’s agreements, particularly the routes in Hudson, Bergen, and Passaic counties, places NJ TRANSIT in an extraordinarily difficult position.
With only a few weeks’ notice, the task of finding drivers and possibly another private contractor to take over these routes is daunting, especially given the current challenges in staffing bus routes.
But the decision to terminate these routes, including route 88, will have far-reaching consequences for the entire county, especially the 11,000 residents who depend on this service daily.
This isn’t the first time NJ TRANSIT has faced such a challenge.
Last year, we saw a similar situation when A&C abruptly ended their services on several routes in Jersey City. NJ TRANSIT responded with an “emergency stabilization” plan, creating new bus routes and extending existing ones to ensure continued service for the affected riders.
The swift action taken then ensured that communities didn’t lose their vital transportation links.
Furthermore, reducing the number of available bus routes will inevitably lead to increased car dependency and traffic congestion.
Fewer bus routes mean more people will be forced to rely on private vehicles, exacerbating traffic issues and contributing to environmental concerns.
It’s crucial to maintain robust public transportation options to mitigate these negative effects and support sustainable urban mobility.
In closing, I ask our state government to consider the impact on the lives of those who depend on this service and step in to save these bus routes now.
Funding transit is not just about maintaining a transportation service; it’s about preserving access to jobs, education and opportunity for thousands of students and investing in the long-term sustainability of our regional transportation system.
Those readers wanting to make a difference can sign the HudCoStreets Action Network petition here.
