LINCROFT — Officials from Brookdale Community College, Monmouth County Planning Board, Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and NJ Transit announced on Aug. 16 that bus route adjustments designed to improve commutes for area residents and college students will begin Sept. 3.
The adjustments, announced during the Brookdale Board of Trustees’ monthly public meeting in Lincroft, will expand access to the college’s Lincroft campus, which is currently served by the 833 bus route running between Freehold and Red Bank. The 833 route currently runs every 70 minutes between 7:30 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. and provides no weekend service.
The 833 route will be combined with NJ Transit’s 835 route to create a new 838 route, which will operate between the Freehold Raceway Mall and Sea Bright. The 838 route will run hourly, offering a “single-seat” ride to Lincroft or Freehold for residents commuting from Sea Bright, Rumson, Fair Haven and eastern Red Bank. The 838 will also operate between Sea Bright and Lincroft on Saturdays, running every 85 minutes.
NJ Transit’s 832 bus route will also be extended to Brookdale, running hourly on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The 832 will offer “single-seat” rides to Lincroft for residents commuting from Shrewsbury, Eatontown, Ocean Township, Neptune Township and Red Bank.
The route adjustments will also expand service to Brookdale’s Northern Monmouth Higher Education Center in Hazlet, which is currently located 1.5 miles from the nearest bus stop. NJ Transit’s 817 route will be extended to the Hazlet campus, offering service to commuters from Perth Amboy, South Amboy, Old Bridge, Aberdeen, Keyport, Union Beach, Keansburg and Middletown. The 817 will also offer timed connections with the 834 line, providing service to commuters from Red Bank, Leonardo, Atlantic Highlands and Highlands.
“We are grateful to our partners, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, the Planning Board and NJ Transit, for working so hard on these changes, which will ease the burden on students who rely on public transportation to attend college,” said Brookdale President Maureen Murphy. “These are some of our most determined, hard-working students, and now it will be easier than ever for them to earn a degree, start a new career and build a better life for themselves and their families.”
The route changes will also include schedule adjustments designed to improve connectivity at major hubs in Red Bank, Middletown, Long Branch and Asbury Park.
All of the route adjustments will be made at no additional cost to the taxpayer.
“NJ Transit welcomes opportunities to work collaboratively with our community partners to devise practical, commonsense solutions to transportation issues facing our customers,” said NJ Transit Interim Executive Director Dennis Martin. “The changes being implemented for the bus routes serving Brookdale will go a long way toward providing a more efficient and pleasant commute for students and area residents alike.”