By EARL MORGAN, JERSEY JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Buses will run again on Central Avenue this weekend, thanks to a grant from the Hudson County Transportation Authority.
And best of all – it’s free.
Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and Ward C Councilman Bill Gaughan will announce the program today at 3 p.m. at the corner of Bowers Street and Central Avenue.
Coach USA abruptly shut down its Central Avenue bus line several weeks ago, to the frustration of local residents and merchants. It recently resumed limited weekday service, from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., but not weekend service.
The new free service will run on Saturdays and Sundays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Central Avenue from Hague Street to Journal Square.
“Norman Guerra, the director of the HCIA was able to free up some funds to run the jitney service,” Gaughan said at last week’s City Council meeting.
The funding – about $47,300 – is being provided by the Hudson County Transportation Management Association through a grant from the state Department of Transportation. The Hudson County TMA is a division of the Hudson County Improvement Authority.
The free service begins Saturday and will run through June 30.