NJ Transit Trying To ‘Reimagine’ Bus System In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — When Newark residents get on a NJ Transit bus, they’re feeding one of the busiest local systems in New Jersey. And with up to 165,000 weekday riders before the coronavirus pandemic hit, it’s time to “reimagine” busing in the Brick City for the first time in decades, officials say.

On Monday, NJ Transit announced that it’s launching a new campaign to redesign bus service in the greater Newark area.

According to NJ Transit, the “NewBus Newark” initiative, will include a deep dive into the area’s 38 local bus routes. The findings will be used to create a “new intrastate bus network” for the region at a time when the COVID-19 crisis is changing travel patterns throughout the city.

The agency is seeking public feedback on the plan, which is expected to be finalized in the summer of 2021. Learn more here.

Hopefully, the project will help to boost routes that show “underperforming service,” improve links with local train service, and improve the “overall experience” for bus riders in Newark, officials said.

The announcement comes on the heels of a state-funded, $190 million renovation at Newark Penn Station, which will take place over the next five years.

• See related article: New Jersey Will Spend $190M To Renovate Newark Penn Station

“NewBus Newark is an extraordinary opportunity for NJ Transit and the city of Newark,” NJ President and CEO Kevin Corbett said.

“Through this initiative, NJ Transit is working to completely reimagine and redesign Newark’s indispensable bus network, allowing it to meet the evolving demands of residents, businesses and employers,” Corbett said.

THE NEED FOR BUSING IN NEWARK

The need for quality bus service in Newark is critical, especially amid the pandemic, a report from the nonprofit Regional Plan Association (RPA) claimed in November 2020.

In the Garden State, there's a clear racial divide when it comes to who's taking the bus, the study said. Car ownership plays a part in the disparity, including cities such as Newark, where in 2017, about 39 percent of Latinx and 41 percent of Black households didn't have access to a personal vehicle, compared to only 26 percent of white households.

And for those who take the bus or train to work in the state's largest city, the transportation gap costs a hefty price: time.

Commuters who start their trips within the city take an average of 23 minutes to get to work if they drive, and 38 minutes if they take public transportation. People starting their commutes outside of Newark face an even bigger gap, spending about 53 minutes to get to the job if they take the bus or train, but only 33 minutes if they drive themselves.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka previously said that bus service is a major concern in the Brick City.

"Over a third of our residents don't have access to a car and rely on the region's network of buses to reach jobs, education, housing and other essential services," Baraka said.

• See related article: NJ Needs To Step Up For Bus Riders In COVID Pandemic, Report Says

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