Following Coach USA‘s abrupt contract cancellation earlier this summer, NJ Transit has unveiled an emergency bus service plan for affected customers in three North Jersey counties.

As NJBIZ reported, Coach USA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June, citing effects from the pandemic. It notified NJ Transit July 10 of its intentions to cancel three of its five contracts with the agency, in Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties, by the close of business Aug. 16.

That led officials on a mad dash to maintain continuity for thousands of customers who use those routes — in a very compressed timeframe.

The affected routes include:

• Bergen County – 751, 752, 753, 755, 756, 762, 772, 780
• Passaic County – 702, 705, 707, 709, 722, 744, 746, 748, 758
• Hudson County – 2, 84, 88

Under the Aug. 8 plan, Academy Bus will assume the affected Bergen and Passaic tracks. Routes, schedules and fares will note change.

Academy was previously awarded the Passaic County contract, effective Sept. 1. It will begin service 15 days earlier under this emergency bus service plan.

In Hudson County, NJ Transit will directly operate the service routes.

Business as usual

Officials stress that affected customers will see no difference in the schedules, fares, routes, bus stops or look of the buses. Further information is available here.

“While presenting significant challenges to NJ Transit resources, we are once again stepping up after yet another private carrier abandons service with little notice,” said NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett, pointing to the agency’s absorption of abandoned routes last year from private carriers DeCamp, A&C and O.N.E. “We are ensuring that the thousands of customers who depend on these routes for their mobility retain these vital bus services.”

The situation is the latest twist in a whirlwind year for NJ Transit. In addition to finding itself at the middle of the state budget fight (with the CTF, or corporate transit fee) pertaining to its looming fiscal cliff, the agency also faced blowback over a fare hike. And its drawn the ire of customers – along with Amtrak – throughout the summer over service meltdowns on the rail side.

Filling a ‘critical’ role

Regarding Coach, the agency was applauded for its proactive efforts to find a solution and maintain continuity of service.

“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to NJ Transit for stepping up and taking swift action to ensure that Bergen County residents continue to have access to reliable public transportation. The resolution that NJ Transit has provided ensures that there will be no disruption in service for the many commuters, students, and workers who rely on these bus routes daily,” Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said in a statement.

He continued, “When faced with the sudden termination of these routes by Coach USA, NJ Transit acted with urgency and responsibility to safeguard our community’s needs. Their commitment to maintaining service continuity underscores the critical role that public transit plays in the lives of our residents and in the overall economic health of Bergen County.”

Industry-wide issues

“Coach USA has engaged all stakeholders for some time in a very proactive manner with regard to what we have been experiencing as it relates to increased insurance costs, surges in fuel costs, and difficulty in obtaining drivers and wage pressures as a consequence of the pandemic,” a Coach USA spokesperson told NJBIZ in a statement.

Coach USA stressed that these are issues that the entire industry is contending with.

“When NJT needed immediate assistance with a number of bus routes just a few years ago, we provided it with very short notice. We in no way would do something that would create issues for the riding public unless there was no other recourse,” the statement continued. “We are looking forward to continuing conversations with government officials and others on how best to meet the needs of the riding public through public private partnerships that make sense for all concerned.”