Bloomfield Pulls Plug On Shuttle Bus Expansion Plan: DeCamp Update

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Township of Bloomfield is walking back its plans to expand local shuttle service for residents affected by the DeCamp Bus Lines situation, officials announced Monday.

When DeCamp announced it will be ending commuter service from North Jersey to New York City on April 7, it set off ripples of activity among local residents, officials and other transportation agencies. Read More: End Of An Era For DeCamp Bus: NJ Company Stopping NYC Routes

Commuters and elected officials in the area – including Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia – called for someone to pick up the slack that will be left after DeCamp’s departure. Read More: DeCamp Bus Is Stopping NYC Trips; Officials Look To NJ Transit

That call was partly answered when NJ Transit announced that it will roll out an "emergency service" plan on April 10, modifying four existing bus routes to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) during weekday peak periods only. Read More: NJ Transit Will Roll Out Emergency Routes For DeCamp Bus Riders

Prior to NJ Transit’s announcement last week, Bloomfield officials had planned to help ease the pain for commuters by expanding the town’s existing shuttle bus service. But now, that will no longer be necessary, officials say.

Here’s the message that was shared on Monday:

“The Township of Bloomfield will no longer be expanding its shuttle service now that NJ Transit has announced it will implement emergency service to cover the route recently abandoned by the DeCamp bus company. The Township had planned to expand the service as an alternate means by which residents could access New York City, however that will no longer be necessary now that NJ Transit is taking over the route. After DeCamp made the unexpected decision to terminate commuter service from Bloomfield to New York City beginning on April 7, Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia immediately took action by sending a letter to NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett requesting his agency take over service of the route. ‘This route is vital to the Bloomfield community, as well as many other neighboring localities, and DeCamp’s decision to abandon it will leave residents without reliable transportation to work, school, doctor’s appointments, and many other essential destinations,’ said Mayor Venezia in his letter.”

Beginning Monday, April 10, NJ Transit will implement emergency service, modifying four existing bus routes during weekday peak periods, to/from Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT). These routes will not entirely duplicate current DeCamp routes.

The four modified routes will temporarily depart from Gate 208 at the PABT:

• 191D – Provides alternate service for DeCamp’s Route 66 customers in West Orange and Montclair. Departs PABT from Gate 208, Door 1.
• 192D – Provides alternate service for DeCamp’s Route 33 customers in Bloomfield. Departs PABT from Gate 208, Door 2.
• 195D – Provides alternate service for DeCamp’s Route 33 customers in West Caldwell, Caldwell and Verona. Departs PABT from Gate 208, Door 3.
• 199D – Provides alternate service for DeCamp’s Route 44 customers in Newark, Belleville, North Arlington and Lyndhurst. Departs PABT from Gate, Door 4.

DeCamp bus lines had been providing commuter service to and from New York City for over 150 years; however, buses to New York had been operating at only 20 percent or less of pre-COVID levels, and state and federal pandemic subsidies are ending soon.

For more information and updates on the NJ Transit DeCamp Emergency Bus Service Plan, the township encourages Bloomfield residents to check NJ Transit's website on Tuesday, April 4 at: https://www.njtransit.com/decamp

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