NJT increases airport bus service
June 20th 2007 02:27 pm
Experienced transit users know that the cheapest way from downtown Newark to Newark Airport is via NJ Transit’s #62 bus. The bus costs $1.35 each way, while the train + monorail costs $7.75. The main reason for the large difference is the $5.50 fee extorted imposed by the Port Authority and NJ Transit for the privilege of riding the monorail from the train station to the airport terminals. Now it looks like the idea to impose that hefty fee has bitten NJT on its butt.
NJT announced yesterday that they are increasing service between Newark and the airport on the #62 bus by 19%. Presumably, the reason is that there are a lot of people riding the bus and more service is needed to meet the demand. Publicly available figures indicate that the number of people taking the #62 bus to/from the airport is about the same as those using the airport rail station. (Although the rail passengers are likely going to/from NYC, central NJ or other destinations. More airport passengers going to/from downtown Newark are taking the #62 bus than the train.)
The extra bus service is good, but I wonder if the bus service increases (which increases operating costs and diverts buses from other routes which could use more service) wouldn’t be needed if NJT didn’t charge extra to use the rail + monorail route. Or to put it another way, should NJT be relying on bus service when there’s a parallel rail route? Wouldn’t the buses be more useful in areas where there is no rail service? If NJT didn’t charge the extra monorail fee (remember when the monorail was supposed to be free?), more people would ride the train instead of the bus, and the extra buses could be used on other routes best served by bus.
How do you normally travel to/from Newark Airport?
- Rail + monorail: 11 (33%)
- #62 bus: 5 (15%)
- NYC express bus: 0 (0%)
- Limo / car / taxi: 16 (48%)
- Other: 1 (3%)
Total Voters: 33
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Joe Versaggi responded on 21 Jun 2007 at 7:06 pm #
I am afraid it is a bit worse than just a $5.50 surcharge. It is $9.50 on a direct ticket from New York Penn. You are also denied any benefits by NJT from the off-peak round trip excursion fare, or from inter-branch thru ticketing from other Newark Division stations lacking TVM machines. Station posters advice airport passengers to simply buy another ticket at Newark Penn. There may be tricks to avoid some of that that, like buying separate tickets for trip segments, but one should not have to resort to those measures to avoid being ripped-off in this expense account/ tourist trap.
The Port Authority is responsible for $5 surcharge. For all else, NJT simply got greedy, and outsmarted themselves. Dropping airport charges for child fares was a small consolation prize and chicken bone for us for the last fare hike.
Conceptually, the EWR Rail Station is not really practical to anyone except those from points south on the NEC to begin with. A PATH extension to the airport could be a practical replacement for much of these extra bus frequencies and for the entire monorail. As with JFK/Jamaica, airport transportation should run directly from the multi-modal station hub.
Bob Scheurle responded on 21 Jun 2007 at 7:18 pm #
That’s correct, but my point remains that:
1. NJT/PA charge extra fees for the monorail.
2. Those extra fees drive riders to the cheaper buses.
3. That requires bus service to be increased.
4. Resulting in fewer buses available to increase bus service in areas that don’t already have rail service.
transitriter responded on 24 Jun 2007 at 11:20 am #
And since NJT rail pass holders can ride free on connecting bus service, it actually costs nothing to get to the airport if you already have a monthly or weekly pass. This is fodder for my column.
E-44 responded on 04 Jul 2007 at 6:16 pm #
Somehow, I think that the original driver for the high monorail fare was the PA’s fear that if EWR station became a success, parking revenues would decline.
Ramping bus service denies the PA on both sides of the equation; provides a small incremental farebox increase and doesn’t punish riders unduly.
Let’s see how long this lasts before the PA complains to Corzine or retaliates in some way against NJ residents.
John 76 responded on 05 Jul 2007 at 7:20 pm #
A litter more column fodder:
From the South Airport bound riders can transfer to the 62 bus at East Jersey Avenue by the Elisabeth station. The bus ride is still 20 minutes but Elizabeth is 10 minutes before Newark. Also reduced fare tickets are good if you get off at Elizabeth even during the rush hour.
I would like to see a list of easy train-bus connections, for example Trenton Rail Station to the Trenton DMV office and to the State Archives by taking any Capital bus.
There is no better easy connection than the North East Corridor line to the 62 bus at Newark or Elizabeth.