Port Authority: 2 Bus Routes From Rockland Eliminated

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is ending an agreement with Saddle River Tours to run bus service originating in Rockland County to and from the George Washington Bridge station.

As of Jan. 25, the bus company will no longer operate two of its lines, Route 11C and Route 20/84, to the terminal, according to the Port Authority.

The 11C line ran from Spring Valley to the GWB terminal. Route 20/84 started in Tappan. The two routes combined served 200 customers in New York and New Jersey each weekday, the agency said.

"We understand that Saddle River provided about 130 rides a day for Rockland commuters, and we will make every effort to ensure the riders are informed and know what alternatives are available to them," said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. "Our Public Transportation Department will be posting transit alerts on the County website and at bus stops to ensure riders are aware, and our Transit Information Center can provide trip planning assistance."

Rockland and New Jersey commuters now have the option of taking buses from Rockland Coach, which serves similar towns but offers service to Midtown Manhattan Port Authority Bus Terminal instead of the George Washington Bridge station.

In a statement the Port Authority said it has been in touch with Rockland Coach and “has been assured” the carrier has the capacity to provide service to Saddle River Tour riders.

• Route 11C passengers may take Rockland Coach bus 11A into the Port Authority Bus Terminal
• Route 20/84 passengers may take Rockland Coach bus 20T into the Port Authority Bus Terminal

“We will continue to assess alternatives for Rockland and Bergen County customers seeking to access Port Authority facilities in Manhattan,” the agency also said.

The Port Authority cited “prolonged financial delinquencies, non-responsive communication and recent abandonment of service to commuters over the past two years” as why the operating agreement is ending with the Carlstadt-based carrier.

Saddle River Tours could not be reached for comment Friday morning.

Port Authority spokesperson Steve Coleman said “service reliability” was a factor when it came to the decision to part ways with Saddle River Tours.

“They cancelled a lot of days and I think there was a week where they didn’t offer service at all,” he said.

Service advisories posted by the Port Authority over the last two years show routine cancellations of company's buses from the George Washington Bridge station.

Besides service issues, Coleman said Saddle River Tours failed to pay $57,000 in rent to operate in and out of the station. Coleman said he believes the Port Authority will "take whatever recourse possible" to try and recoup that money.

In addition to the bus options that provide service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Rockland Coaches offers service to the George Washington Bridge Terminal from Rockland County and through NJ via its Route 9 buses.

Visit the Rockland Transit Information Center online. Customer Service available via email to TransitHelp@co.rockland.ny.us, or by calling (845) 364-3333, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kimberly Redmond, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.