Mysterious Electric Signs Appear At 2 NJ Transit Bus Stops In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — Want to know when the next NJ Transit bus is coming? You're not alone.

Thousands of riders depend on the NJ Transit buses that crisscross Hoboken each day.

The buses emerge from the Lincoln Tunnel, thread through the city to the train terminal at the south end, then head back to the mouth of Manhattan, running 21 hours per day.

While some riders rely on a phone app to tell them when the next bus is coming, others are looking for another means.

Last month, a new electric sign appeared at a bus station on 15th Street in Hoboken, telling the times for the next buses and which routes were coming.

The sign had a button that riders could press to get the information.

Patch reached out to NJ Transit three weeks ago to find out if the signs are a pilot program or were placed at the city's north end for some other reason.

NJ Transit did not respond.

Then, a new sign appeared — this time closer to the city's waterfront, at a stop at Ninth and Washington streets.

Patch again reached out for an explanation, and didn't hear back.

But riders at the Ninth Street stop on Thursday said they appreciated the addition.

"I don't use the apps," said Hoboken resident William Smith. "I'm one of the few oddballs. I'm always asking my wife when the next bus will come. This is convenient for people who aren't as tech savvy."

He did have a complaint with the buses, saying he's seen some of them going too fast.

Another rider, Chahinda Ben, said the signs will relieve some of her stress.

"I get stressed waiting," she said. "It'll be good for when the phone [dies]."

Other riders had mixed views, with some saying the app was good enough for them, while others said the buses aren't always on time, so the signs will help.

Most of the light rail stops in Hudson County have signs that tell clearly when the next train is coming, but the bus stops do not.

Patch will post a followup story once the new NJ Transit devices are explained.