SAYREVILLE – A commuter bus service’s routes between Sayreville and New York City will remain operational, with alterations to its routes to Wall Street.
On May 23, officials in Sayreville announced that Academy Bus, a private transportation company that operates commuter buses between New Jersey and New York City, would continue its service to Sayreville. The announcement follows a report that Academy Bus had previously intended to end the service earlier in the year.
According to information provided by the company, Academy Bus provides weekday commuter bus service from locations in Sayreville to midtown Manhattan and Wall Street. Locations in Sayreville where bus service is currently available are the Harbor Club condominiums and Winding Wood apartments for midtown Manhattan and Wall Street, and Park Village and the Sayreville Park and Ride for Wall Street.
Effective on June 3, the route to midtown Manhattan will remain unchanged, but the route to Wall Street will start at the Sayreville Park and Ride and end at the Park and Ride in Old Bridge. According to borough officials, the trip into Wall Street will be approximately 20 minutes longer for individuals who currently commute from the Sayreville Park and Ride. The residents of the Harbor Club will also lose service to Wall Street because the Harbor Club stop will be eliminated along the local route.
The bus service has been provided to the borough for more than 25 years, but in a notice released in January to announce the end of service by March, company executives said they have continued to see a consistent decline in ridership.
The company’s announcement to end the service in Sayreville was met with objection from residents who voiced their opposition during a Borough Council meeting in February.
In response, borough officials re-established a commuter committee to work with Academy Bus. Following negotiations between the two sides, the service to New York City was extended through the end of June.
With the extension still in effect, Academy cited a collaborative effort between state, Middlesex County and borough officials, the Sayreville Commuter Committee and Academy Bus to continue both the midtown Manhattan and Wall Street services.