31 Bus To Cease Operation Effective October 8, 2023
joan_crystal said:
According to an article in Tap Into SOMA, the Coach Franchise operated 31 bus which connects South Orange with Newark will cease operation on October 8, 2023 for budgetary reasons. This would leave a significant number of South Orange residents without any local bus service at a time when South Orange is looking to build its identity as a community where residents do not need a car to get around. It would force more South Orange residents to use a car to get to vital destinations in the South Orange Avenue business district and to locations in Newark not directly accessed by the NJT trains on the Morris and Essex Line. It would increase commuting cost for South Orange residents who can no longer afford the more expensive train in this period of raising prices. I doubt there is anything that can be done to reverse this decision. I am hoping that public outcry combined with support from the BOT might get NJT to consider taking over the route. Hope is that South Orange residents will do what they can to save this bus service.
That seems insane there will be no public transit option connecting South Orange to Newark.
Who can we contact at NJT?
yahooyahoo said:
That seems insane there will be no public transit option connecting South Orange to Newark.
Who can we contact at NJT?
There will still be the 107 bus but it serves only those in walking distance of Irvington Avenue. It should be noted that residents in the northeast section of Maplewood who live in walking distance of South Orange Avenue would also be negatively impacted as would everyone in both towns who relied on the 31 bus whenever NJT was on strike.
@rcarter31 posted a link to NJT. However, since the 31 is NOT an NJT route but one served by a private carrier under franchise to NJT I am not sure what NJT can do other than take over the route themselves. I have written to the mayors of both Maplewood and South Orange in which I quoted the Tap Into article and asked what can be done politically to reverse the drain on public transportation options in our area. If and when I receive a response I will share it here.
Anyone who wants to protest the loss of the 31 route should contact their municipal and State officials as well as officials at NJT and point out the negative impact loss of this service will have on Maplewood and South Orange in addition to its impact on Newark.
I remember taking the 31 bus when I was a child. It was operated by Trackless Transit, which was replaced by/renamed NJT. NJT found it to be an unprofitable route and turned the route monopoly over to a private bus company which cut down service and routing. Apparently, the private bus line has also found it to be unprofitable. Good luck trying to get NJT to resume service on a line they gave up long ago. But it may happen.
There used to be an NJ Transit bus route down Valley Street, but I can't recall when it was discontinued.
yahooyahoo said:
There used to be an NJ Transit bus route down Valley Street, but I can't recall when it was discontinued.
That was the portion of the 31 Coach bus route that connected South Orange Avenue with Maplewood Loop. Coach also ran a 32 bus at one time that ran along Prospect Street to Maplewood Center (now more generally referred to as Maplewood Village)
According to an article in Tap Into SOMA, the Coach Franchise operated 31 bus which connects South Orange with Newark will cease operation on October 8, 2023 for budgetary reasons. This would leave a significant number of South Orange residents without any local bus service at a time when South Orange is looking to build its identity as a community where residents do not need a car to get around. It would force more South Orange residents to use a car to get to vital destinations in the South Orange Avenue business district and to locations in Newark not directly accessed by the NJT trains on the Morris and Essex Line. It would increase commuting cost for South Orange residents who can no longer afford the more expensive train in this period of raising prices. I doubt there is anything that can be done to reverse this decision. I am hoping that public outcry combined with support from the BOT might get NJT to consider taking over the route. Hope is that South Orange residents will do what they can to save this bus service.