Nutley Jitney Offers Connection to NJTransit Trains

•Morning and Evening Rush Hour Service Starts Monday, Jan. 5

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Photo by Nutley Parks and Recreation

Click on timetable to enlarge.

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Photo by Parks and Recreation Dept.

Notice the new bus and NTS logo for "Nutley Transportation System." Commissioner Mauro Tucci, seen here, says says connecting NJTransit rail service via the new Nutley jitney begins service for weekday commuters starting Jan. 5.

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Photo by Neglia Engineering Associates

Nutley Jitney route.

Dec 31, 2008 – How about a hassle-free morning commute into mid-town Manhattan that skips the Route 3 traffic jams, tunnel backups, and routinely gets you to work in 30 minutes?

That's the objective of a new NJ-Transit jitney service operated by the Town of Nutley that begins operation next Monday morning.

The system works like this: a 20-seat jitney bus will make five circular early morning trips around town each weekday carrying riders to connect with NJ Transit trains at the Delawanna rail station. From Delawanna, it's a 14 minute ride before transferring for the final 10-minute leg into Manhattan – either via NJ Transit to Penn Station on 34th Street or to any PATH station from the Hoboken terminal.

"The options for commuters are tremendous," says Nutley Commissioner Mauro Tucci. "It's easy; you don't have to worry about parking; you're not paying for gas and you don't have the stress of getting to work on time."

Beside Penn Station Manhattan, the Delawanna trains connect with the Jersey City waterfront district and the downtown World Trade Center via PATH lines. Additionally, Nutley riders at the intermediate stop in Secaucus also connect with westbound trains to places like New Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton and the Jersey Shore.

The initial jitney schedule basically will run a circular route along Washington and Passaic Avenues. NJHometown asked Tucci why the service is limited to the eastern half of Nutley; the jitney route initially offers no service west of Passaic Avenue.

"We are starting with a schedule that was developed on a survey made by our township engineer," Tucci said. "They came up with this route to begin with but certainly it's not etched in stone. If we need to change or extend the basic route, we can do that," Tucci said.

The concept of jitney service in Nutley was developed by Mayor Joanne Cocchiola two years ago at a meeting with N.J. Transit. Fiscal complications delayed the original planned launch a year ago. This past May, at the reorganizational meeting of the Board of Commissioners, all the town's transportation services were centralized in the Parks & Public Library.

"This started as Mayor Cocchiola's project and it's a good one," Tucci said.

"And environmentally, the jitney service complements our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. All of us, in all five departments, are trying to go 'green' wherever possible," Tucci emphasized.

"We'll be taking cars off the road, encouraging the use of mass transit and creating a good marketing tool for our town and realtors.:

The jitney will be driven by Walter Kyzima, a full time Parks Dept. employee. He will also collect fares – one dollar a ride but with reduced fares by using coupon books offered at the Parks & Recreation Building at 44 Park Avenue.

During off-hours, the jitney bus itself is available to the town for other purposes like transporting senior citizens and children.

"In fact, we starting what we call the "NTS – the Nutley Transportation System," Tucci announced. "We'll soon have the NTS emblem on all our transportation vehicles."

The Parks Dept. presently provides transportation for the town's Nutrition Program, for social and athletic events for the Special Young Adults and other recreation programs. Tucci said many of the summer sports and camp programs will be offered transportation services beginning in 2009.

During commuting hours, the transfer to Penn Station NY trains at the Frank Lautenberg Transfer Station in Secaucus is immediate. And tranfers in Hoboken to the Path trains to all NJ and NY points also are a 3-5 minute schedule.