County expands bus service
to two days in Plumsted
PLUMSTED — Despite cuts in federal transportation funds, Ocean County will launch extended bus service for residents of Plumsted beginning Aug. 10.
"We advised Plumsted we would expand the current Ocean Ride service," said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to Ocean Ride. "And, despite unanticipated funding cuts, the Board of Freeholders will move this upgrade forward."
Starting Aug. 10, Ocean Ride will increase service from one day a week to two days per week – Tuesday and Thurs-day.
The Tuesday service will feature a "downtown loop" followed by service to the Brick Township area with stops at retail locations along Route 70 including Brick Plaza, ShopRite and Kohl’s. On Thursdays, the route also will include a downtown loop in Plumsted before traveling through Dover and Manchester to the Ocean County Mall and Seacourt Pavilion in Dover Township.
"This expanded service will now be funded by this Board of Freeholders due to the restrictive operating requirements of the Section 5311 grant," Little said. "Ocean Ride continues to work with NJ Transit to find alternate grant programs to offset the loss of this funding."
The board, as part of its 2004 county budget, allocated nearly $355,000 to cover this funding shortfall to avert any service reductions to existing Ocean Ride bus routes.
In May, Ocean County submitted its grant application, requesting $92,168 from NJ Transit. The county in the past had received more than $500,000 from the grant program, according to a press release.
"The funding criteria has changed dramatically as a result of the 2000 Census," Little said.
As a result of changing development patterns away from the rural designation since the last census, only two key areas of the county – Jackson and Plum-sted – were eligible for the federal funding as of July 1.
"This board has taken a proactive approach in making certain transportation programs are not reduced in any way to the residents that rely on them," Little said. "Without the county allocation, services would have to be reduced drastically."
A fare of 50 cents for the general public and 25 cents for seniors and persons with disabilities is charged for this service.
For additional information on this bus route or any of those operated by Ocean Ride, call (732) 736-8989 and press 4 or visit co.ocean.nj.us.