J’burg eyed for commuter bus service to Manhattan

By sandi carpello
Staff Writer

J’burg eyed for commuter
bus service to Manhattan
By sandi carpello
Staff Writer

JAMESBURG — With the absence of a commuter rail line in the borough, there may soon be good news for residents who are employed in or around New York City.

Suburban Transit, a bus service based in New Brunswick, along with Councilwoman Barbara Carpenter, is currently working to provide the borough with a park-and-ride service to Manhattan.

"Within the last several years, the areas surrounding Jamesburg have grown tremendously. There is constant traffic throughout the town day and night, especially with easy access to the New Jersey Turnpike," said Carpenter, who is also a member of the Middlesex County Transportation Committee.

Currently, the park-and-ride bus routes located on Route 130 in South Brunswick represent the closest depot to the borough. However, Carpenter said, "The parking lot is so overcrowded that if you are not there by 7 a.m. on weekdays, it is almost impossible to get a parking spot."

Monroe Township has a park-and-ride service on Applegarth Road, but due to the high demand at that location, only Monroe residents are permitted to park there.

Carpenter recently met with Suburban Transit sales Vice President Solon Karakoglou and Director of Operations Ronald Kohn to draft a questionnaire in an effort to determine the number of passengers who would use the service. If the results establish that a Jamesburg park and ride is needed, a commuter line will be formed.

Carpenter said there is a possibility that the commuter station would be located near the Jamesburg section of Thompson Park. However, the location and other issues related to the service will not be known until the demand for the service has been projected.

"The more people want it, the more [likely] we will get it," she said.

The borough will not incur expenses related to the park and ride, the councilwoman said.

Carpenter noted that if the bus route is implemented, it would possibly make stops in other areas such as Hoboken and Jersey City on its route to and from New York.

Interested parties may pick up surveys at Borough Hall, the Cumberland Farms on Gatzmer Avenue, or at Mendoker’s Bakery on West Railroad Avenue.

Residents with any additional questions may contact Carpenter at (732) 521-0257, or e-mail her at [email protected].