NJ Transit Holding Public Hearings On American Dream Service

JERSEY CITY, NJ — NJ Transit is holding public meetings on expanding bus service in North Jersey, including an express route to American Dream in East Rutherford.

Beginning Oct. 25, when American Dream opens, NJ Transit will begin operating an express route, No. 355, from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to American Dream. Buses will run every 30 minutes. NJ Transit wants to establish a premium fare for this route.

A second bus will run daily from Secaucus Junction to American Dream every half hour.

NJ Transit added weekend and weekday service to route No. 772 so people could attend job fairs for positions at American Dream. The route operates from Hackensack to the Meadowlands.

The modified service will include stops at American Dream, but until a dedicated hub is completed at the mall, the buses will stop at the Racetrack at the Meadowlands.

NJ Transit added Sunday service to route No. 119 on Sept. 1. The route runs between Bayonne and Jersey City and New York City every hour during the day and every two hours during late night and early morning hours.

Two public hearings about these pilot programs will be held next month:

• Journal Square Transportation Center, 1 PATH Plaza in Jersey City, on the concourse level, from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Bergen County Freeholders Office at the Bergen County Administrative Building at 1 Bergen County Plaza on Oct. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Between 30 and 40 million people are expected to visit American Dream within its first year of opening. Triple Five, American Dream's owner and developer, is hoping to lure millions of New York City tourists to the $5 billion retail and entertainment destination.

When the mall opens, it will contain more than 450 retail, food and specialty stores and more than a dozen entertainment venues, such as indoor amusement and water parks, an aquarium, a performing arts theater, and an ice rink.

Related: NJ Transit Expanding Service, Adding Routes To American Dream

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com