In Response to DeCamp Bus Line Cancellations, Rep. Sherrill Urges NJ Transit to Protect Affordable Public Transit Options

Washington, DC–  Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) sent a letter to New Jersey Transit today urging them to use all available options to protect and expand bus and rail commuter routes to ensure affordable access to jobs, education, and healthcare options. The Congresswoman is working to help thousands of NJ-11 residents who are impacted by DeCamp’s announcement that they will close key commuter bus routes.

“I strongly urge New Jersey Transit to use all of the tools at its disposal to ensure that commuters can still access reliable service from North Jersey to Manhattan and to protect the good-paying union jobs that are now imperiled by route closures,” Rep. Sherrill wrote to NJ Transit. 

“There are tens of thousands of commuters per month that still rely on this critical service. The loss of access to these forms of transportation will cause longer commute times and financial strain as commuters are facing New York’s congestion pricing, a tax that only punishes New Jerseyans and does nothing to stimulate our economy. Furthermore, a lack of public transportation will put more cars onto our roads and highways, worsening emissions and making it difficult to meet our state’s climate goals,” she continued. 

This action comes on the heels of the letter Congresswoman Sherrill sent last week to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, which urged them to provide the highest possible level of funding for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) programs that can support state public transit agencies and transportation providers.

The letter was co-signed by a number of officials in North Jersey, including Essex County Commissioner President Wayne L. Richardson, Essex County Commissioner Vice President Carlos M. Pomares, Essex County Commissioner-At-Large Brendan W. Gill, Belleville Mayor Michael A. Melham, Glen Ridge Mayor Stuart K. Patrick, Montclair Mayor Sean M. Spiller, Bloomfield Mayor Michael J. Venezia, Montclair Deputy Mayor William J. Hurlock, Montclair Councilors Robert J. Russo, Peter Yacobellis, Robin Schlager, and Lori Price Abrams, Glen Ridge Council President Rich Law, and Glen Ridge Councilors Deborah Mans, David Lefkovits, Peter A. Hughes, Ann Marie Morrow, and Rebecca Meyer.

The full text of the letter to New Jersey Transit is available here and below:

Dear President Corbett,

I represent thousands of New Jerseyans who rely on affordable, reliable public transportation to commute to work every day, which is why I appreciate New Jersey Transit’s efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain commuter routes and access. However, I write to express my concerns about the availability of many of these commuting options for working families as we move out of the pandemic, particularly given the recent announcement by DeCamp Bus Lines that it will be cutting its commuter bus service. I strongly urge New Jersey Transit to use all of the tools at its disposal to ensure that commuters can still access reliable service from North Jersey to Manhattan and to protect the good-paying union jobs that are now imperiled by route closures.

During the pandemic, commuter bus and rail lines were hit exceptionally hard as millions of Americans stopped going into the office. This was especially true in North Jersey, where hundreds of thousands of workers rely on commuter trains and buses to get to their jobs in New York City every day. Even as public health conditions have improved, these companies continue to deal with ridership that is below pre-pandemic levels due to workers continuing to work from home. This slow return to normalcy has greatly impacted the ability of bus and rail operators to stay in business, and is now causing many operators to consider permanently shuttering critical commuter routes or reducing their frequency of operation. However, there are tens of thousands of commuters per month that still rely on this critical service. The loss of access to these forms of transportation will cause longer commute times and financial strain as commuters are facing New York’s congestion pricing, a tax that only punishes New Jerseyans and does nothing to stimulate our economy. Furthermore, a lack of public transportation will put more cars onto our roads and highways, worsening emissions and making it difficult to meet our state’s climate goals.

DeCamp Bus Lines—which has operated for 153 years—announced this week that it would cut its commuter bus service due to decreased ridership. Not only has this left riders in search of options to make their way from North Jersey to Manhattan, it has put into jeopardy the good union jobs that the commuter service supports. As you know, reliable access to transit is crucial for economic dynamism and competitiveness, and I am concerned that major gaps in New Jersey’s transportation network will emerge in the absence of immediate action.

In recognition of the importance of maintaining access to bus and rail commuter routes during the pandemic, Congress—with large bipartisan majorities—created the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) program in December 2020. This ensured that bus carriers could continue providing crucial commuter services and protected the jobs of thousands of workers. Congress also provided significant funding to state public transit agencies, including New Jersey Transit, through the CARES Act, American Rescue Plan, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to maintain reliable service even as ridership collapsed.

While the public health crisis has improved since that legislation was enacted, the pandemic-induced challenges facing the transit sector have continued. With this in mind, I urge you to take all available actions to protect bus and transit access. This should include using available operating funds to ensure that closed commuter routes are filled by NJ Transit buses and trains, increasing the availability of shuttles that transport commuters to local train stations, working with the Amalgamated Transit Union to hire previously-employed workers to meet NJ Transit workforce shortages, including for commuter bus drivers, and providing flexibility in contract negotiations with passenger bus companies operating NJ Transit routes to support their continued operations where applicable.

I greatly appreciate NJ Transit’s work over the past three years to support commuter bus and rail access for millions of New Jerseyans, and look forward to working together now to ensure that key commuter routes remain open and accessible for working families, which will greatly support the long term growth and dynamism of our state.

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