SMART buses would go to train station, Park and Ride
by Sean Ruppert, Staff Writer
The township is still making plans for a shuttle system for residents, but has made some changes to the proposed routes it will use.
The township hopes to put the South Brunswick Municipal Area Residential Transit shuttle system in use by the spring, according to township spokesman Ron Schmalz.
The SMART buses would pick up residents at designated neighborhoods along four separate routes. Three of these routes would end at the Jersey Avenue train station in New Brunswick, with a fourth going to the Park and Ride near N.J. Turnpike Exit 8A.
The township had previously planned three routes with shuttles ending at Jersey Avenue, the Park and Ride, and the Princeton Junction train station. Princeton Junction was dropped though due to the amount of time it would take for the shuttles to make a roundtrip and two routes to Jersey Avenue were added in its place.
In 2003, South Brunswick received $4.1 million in federal transportation funds to be used for the SMART bus system. The money was used to order the shuttles from NJ Transit. The township is currently waiting for the delivery of the buses, according to Mr. Schmalz.
The 20-seat transports will run during the morning rush between 5 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., and in the evening between 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Schmalz says that the buses also will be equipped with GPS tracking units, which residents will be able to follow on the township’s Web site and TV3 television station, so they know exactly where the bus is at any given time.
According the Mr. Schmalz, the township will likely begin the SMART system with a route from Kendall Park to Jersey Avenue, and then expand with a route that will service Monmouth Junction and Kingston, and another servicing Dayton. The shuttle route to the Park and Ride will pick up passengers from around the entire township.
Mr. Schmalz says there will be several buses per route, and he hopes to eventually have 10 buses for the system.
During non-commuter hours the SMART buses will be used for transporting senior and disabled citizens to shopping centers, medical facilities and the township’s senior center.
According to Mr. Schmalz, the township is meeting the senior advocacy group Citizens for Independent Living for input on how these routes will be scheduled and designed.