Coach USA and Central Avenue SID Partnering to Improve Transit Accessibility and Affordability in the Heights
Jersey City, NJ – Coach USA bus routes 10 and 99s have been operating on Central Avenue in Jersey City since August 2007, offering Heights residents a convenient one-seat ride to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. While ridership is increasing along the centrally-located route, Coach USA is working in partnership with the Central Avenue SID (CASID) to improve the accessibility and affordability of the local transit infrastructure even further.
To entice new riders and improve the overall viability of the 10 and 99s routes, which are the only routes to service Central Avenue, Coach USA Red & Tan in Hudson County has announced plans to offer a promotional fare to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. The new fare, which will be available only to riders boarding north of Journal Square on the 10 and 99s bus routes starting April 7, will be $4.50 round-trip, a 44% discount off the previous round-trip fare of $8.
Riders can pay the $2 one-way fare in cash on New York-bound buses. To pay the discounted fare on return trips from New York, riders must show tickets purchased in advance. These tickets will be available for sale at Goehrig’s Bakery (475 Central Ave.), Garden State News (366 Central Ave.) and Mendez Agency (263 Central Ave.). A $0.50 handling fee will apply.
In response to customer feedback, the company is adding two additional New York-bound trips making stops along Central Avenue during the morning rush hour as of April 7. With the additional service, being offered on a trial basis, New York-bound buses will stop on Central Avenue at Hutton St. at 7:03, 7:25, 7:49, 8:03, and 8:37 AM, arriving at the Port Authority Bus Terminal approximately 30 minutes later.
Also as of April 7, the 10 and 99s will no longer operate any trips along Palisade Avenue. The three southbound evening trips that currently travel along Palisade Avenue will now travel on Central Avenue.
“Coach USA is doing what it takes to stay competitive in a market where commuters have many transit options,” said Coach USA South District General Manager John Emberson. “By lowering the fare to New York and improving service during the morning rush, we want to encourage more commuters to take advantage of the convenient ride into the city from the Jersey City Heights on the 10 and 99s.”
“I don’t think anyone is going to argue with saving $3.50 a day on bus fare while getting better service – that adds up quickly and will go far to improve ridership along Central Avenue,” said CASID President Michael Yun. “We appreciate Coach USA’s responsiveness to the needs of Jersey City commuters and look forward to continuing our partnership with them to improve mass transit access.”
To promote the new fare, Coach USA is donating 200 complimentary passes to the CASID for distribution to potential new riders who would board the 10 and 99s north of Journal Square. (Note: sorry but the passes have all been given out)
For more information about Coach USA bus schedules and fares, visit CoachUSA’s website or call (908) 354-3330. To learn more about the ongoing campaign to improve mass transit in the Heights and throughout Jersey City, click here.