Bus Rapid Transit: How Hudson County hopes to make bus commuting faster
The county says these changes could double the bus speed.
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Hudson County wants to make commuting by bus faster and it could mean a major redesign of John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Bayonne and Jersey City.
The county says there are more than 30,000 daily riders in this area. All those buses and stops can slow down traffic on a busy road already rife with traffic and stoplights. Hudson County is looking into an alternative called Bus Rapid Transit.
“The best way to explain BRT is a bus system that looks more like a light rail," said Francesca Giarratana, of Hudson County's Planning and Business Opportunity Office. "It would be quicker, there would be less stops, it would be easier getting on and off the bus. It’s all about moving people quicker.”
Doing so involves rethinking the Boulevard - a 14-mile Hudson County heartbeat. Renderings shared by the county show dedicated bus lanes and traffic signals. Also, longer buses with more doors. Instead of everyone entering, exiting and paying all at the same door, riders could pre-pay like on light rail.
The stops themselves could also change.
“We will be doing a review of the amount of bus stops we have," said Hudson County Executive Craig Guy. "Are they in the right spots?”
The county says optimized stops - plus the other changes - could nearly double the bus speed to 16-18 mph. A final feasibility study is due in the spring.
Riders say they’d appreciate a more consistent schedule.
“The frequency reduces a lot," said bus commuter Prasath. "I have to wait for at least 15 or 20 minutes to take a bus. If it’s within peak hours, it’s fine.”
NJ Transit told News 12 it looks forward to participating in further planning, including discussions on dedicated bus lanes and traffic signal prioritization. The agency said the proposed improvements could "greatly enhance reliability and the customer experience."
“There is less funding out there for hard rail, and we need to utilize the resources that we have," said Giarratana. "That’s the great thing about BRT. It is a low-cost way to create a transit system.”
Bus commuters looking to share their thoughts with the county can do so at the survey linked here.
