Breaking Down NJ Transit Bus Service To American Dream

SECAUCUS, NJ — One of the biggest complaints about the currently-unopened American Dream mega mall is the nightmare it will cause Secaucus roadways — and Rt. 3, the main artery in and out of town.

American Dream is scheduled to open Oct. 25. To help alleviate congestion, NJ Transit is significantly expanding bus service there and back. A breakdown of plans so far:

Buses from Secaucus train station: NJ Transit will be adding extra buses from Secaucus Junction train station. Although their routes have not been made public yet, one can presume they will run back and forth along Meadowlands Parkway. It will run daily, leaving the train station every half hour. The fare will be the same as the current rail fare between Secaucus and MetLife - $2.25. (Gov. Murphy previously said he'd like to build a high-speed Maglev train from the train station to American Dream, but that appears to be an unfunded pipe dream.)

A special express bus from Port Authority: NJ Transit announced they will run a special direct express bus from Port Authority to American Dream. The #355 expresses from Port Authority to the mall, and vice versa, with no other stops. It begins October 25. This is to take New York City shoppers back and forth to American Dream. It will depart every 30 minutes. NJ Transit wants to charge customers a new premium fare for this "frequent, express bus service." NJ Transit is not yet revealing what they want this premium fare to be.

Expanding the #772 from Paramus: On August 31, NJ Transit added pilot weekend and weekday evening service to #772 to accommodate people interested in employment at American Dream. Evening service has been extended along the line until 10:20 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday service will operate approximately every 30 minutes between 8:30 a.m. and 10: 30 p.m.

The #772 will run back and forth between Paramus and American Dream, making stops at Bergen County Community College, New Milford, Dumont, Bergenfield, Teaneck, Hackensack, Teterboro, Little Ferry and Carlstadt along the way. Here is the full route and schedule of the #772 to American Dream: https://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0772.pdf

Expanding the #85 and #703: NJ Transit will expand operating hours on the following lines starting Aug. 31.

• No. 85 – which operates from Hoboken/Union City to Secaucus. The 85 starts at Hoboken terminal and makes many stops in Jersey City, Union City, North Bergen and Secaucus. Route: https://moovitapp.com/index/en/public_transit-line-85-NYCNJ-121-516-432986-0
• No. 703 – which operates from Paterson/Passaic to East Rutherford