Traffic & Transit
Nutley Mayor Says Gap Will Be Filled When DeCamp Bus Stops NYC Routes
Nutley Mayor: "The entire board of commissioners was on this issue from the moment we heard our residents would be affected."
NUTLEY, NJ — NJ Transit is set to pick up most of the slack behind by DeCamp Bus Lines, and networking among elected officials in the region paid off for commuters in Nutley, the town’s mayor says.
On Tuesday, NJ Transit released schedules, towns, times and other information for its “DeCamp Alternative” emergency routes. They are being rolled out in response to DeCamp service cuts that will take effect on April 7.
According to NJ Transit, it will be extending four of its existing bus routes starting on Monday, April 10. The expansion will accommodate about 85 percent of DeCamp’s current weekday customers. Read More: NJ Transit, DeCamp Bus Update: Schedules And Map Released
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While NJ Transit was unable to completely take over the entire DeCamp routes, they were able to extend their existing 192 route to accommodate affected Nutley residents. Town officials elaborated on the impact on local commuters in a news release:
“Beginning April 10, former DeCamp Route 33 riders will utilize the NJ Transit 192-D route during peak weekday hours. The 192-D is an extension of the current 192 route already in place that runs through Nutley with stops on Broad Street, Bloomfield Avenue, West Passaic Avenue and Darling Avenue before heading into Manhattan. The route departs from Port Authority Bus Terminal Gate 208, Door 2.”
Nutley Mayor Joseph Scarpelli said that he and his peers immediately reached out to NJ Transit and urged the agency to help fill in the gaps for local commuters after learning about the situation on March 20.
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“The entire board of commissioners was on this issue from the moment we heard our residents would be affected,” Scarpelli said, adding that NJ Transit “advised us that they were looking into it.”
The mayor said that after a subsequent meeting with County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., DiVincenzo also reached out to NJ Transit to advocate for local bus riders.
“He voiced his concerns and reiterated how important this issue was to residents of Essex County, along with New Jersey Sen. Teresa Ruiz, who was also in the conversation,” Scarpelli added. “They were a big push in getting NJ Transit to listen to our concerns.”
“NJ Transit feels that this interim plan will take care of approximately 85 percent of DeCamp commuters who have been affected,” Scarpelli noted, citing the agency’s own prediction.
“The gap that was there for riders of the 33 will be filled with the 192-D,” he said.
NJ TRANSIT has announced an emergency bus service plan to provide as many alternate transit options for weekday DeCamp bus customers as possible. The plan includes extending four existing NJ TRANSIT bus routes. Visit https://t.co/2tTzUCU9op for more information. pic.twitter.com/8n2z2MTsIW
— NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) April 4, 2023
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