By: Yuritza Arroyo
Residents of Bloomfield can now breathe a sigh of relief because NJ TRANSIT is implementing an emergency plan and will be taking over the bus route recently abandoned by the DeCamp bus company.
According to officials, after DeCamp unexpectedly decided to terminate commuter service from Bloomfield to New York City beginning on April 7, Mayor Venezia immediately took action by sending a letter to NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Kevin Corbett requesting his agency take over service of the route.
“I am thrilled that NJ TRANSIT has stepped up to the plate to continue providing high-quality bus service to the Bloomfield community,” said Bloomfield Mayor Venezia.
“The loss of this bus route would have had a major impact on the lives of our residents, especially those who depend on it for reliable transportation to work, school, doctor’s appointments, and many other essential destinations. I want to thank Executive Director Corbett for hearing the needs of our residents and responding by making this tremendous decision.”
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:
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191D – Provides alternate service for DeCamp’s Route 66 customers in West Orange and Montclair. Departs PABT from Gate 208, Door 1.
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192D – Provides alternate service for DeCamp’s Route 33 customers in Bloomfield. Departs PABT from Gate 208, Door 2.
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195D – Provides alternate service for DeCamp’s Route 33 customers in West Caldwell, Caldwell, and Verona. Departs PABT from Gate 208, Door 3.
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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 have provided commuter service to and from New York City for over 150 years; however, buses to New York have been operating at only 20% or less of pre-COVID levels, and state and federal pandemic subsidies are ending soon.