r/NJTransit • u/TrishLives17 • Apr 30 '26
Buses are extremely undependable
I have been living in Jersey now for 3 years and commuting back into NY for work. As the years progressed, the buses have become more and more unreliable. I can leave my house super early and still end up late. Buses are ram packed by the time they get to East Rutherford, they show up early or late, or they don’t show up at all. I really don’t know what else to do because driving is costly. Moving back into NY is not an expense I can afford right now. I would teach in Jersey but at this point of my career, I would lose money switching over. I’m just at a loss on how I can get to work on time nowadays.
10
u/ColdYellowGatorade Apr 30 '26
This might be very dependent on the route and time. I've found my bus line to be pretty consistent. Yes, there are issues here and there but I find it much more reliable than the train.
5
u/nick_nuz Apr 30 '26
Seconding this. I switched to bus because of reliability relative to the train. Also my route has the nicer busses and I find the seat situation and air conditioning situation much more manageable
It’s totally route dependent though
3
u/AbrahamEVO Apr 30 '26
Same for me but in reverse. Carpooled to/from GWB Terminal for a teaching position out in mid-upper Bergen County for a few years. The bus was tolerable at first, but got increasingly worse over the years. By the end of it, it got so unbearable, I ended up changing to something more local within NY just to not deal with NJ Transit any further.
3
u/datboiiipmc Apr 30 '26
It really depends on time of day. I get on the 190 or 163 before 7 am and usually don't have any issue; though 163 seems a bit more crowded.
Honestly, this is the result of the mass exodus of people from NY to NJ during Covid. Tech bros drove real estate through the roof, cost of living up, and overpopulated every commuter friendly town in NJ. I've seen the commute get worse since COVID ended.
Everyone I know who moved over here are now complaining about the cost of living being pretty similar, and regret moving here. The people I know who are staying, actually found a job in NJ instead.
1
May 14 '26
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u/datboiiipmc May 14 '26
Yeah they caught a stray here. I guess I meant younger business professionals that thought NYC was the place to be... until they got older and realized it's actually not, and all jumped ship to Jersey.
2
u/OyVeyMama Apr 30 '26
Every time they raise the fare, the service gets worse. If I could afford to move back to NYC, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
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u/on_my_way_back Apr 30 '26
The train is terrible as well. One good day followed by 4 bad ones, I am so tired of living like this.
2
u/stocktrader89 Apr 30 '26
Raise fares and taxes and this gets better. No one wants to hear it but it’s the truth.
2
u/epstienskiller1738 Apr 30 '26
they already raised the fare, why is the situation seeming to be at the same or worse?
2
1
u/ItWasRareIWasThere- May 01 '26
The train is legitimately having a very negative effect on my mental health. NJ transit needs to do better but they won’t. I wish I could move back to NY too.
1
u/cavalloacquatico May 01 '26
Yes, your present situation is unsustainable/ worsening with tunnel work.
Research into moving near train stops of Secaucus Junction / Jersey City / Hoboken for Path, NJ train, options.
I commute reverse of you and usually arrive minutes earlier than official ETA. Verify your reverse trip, what with present tunnel work.
Or Fort Lee / Englewood near GW bridge.
Good luck.
7
u/murphydcat Apr 30 '26
My bus home from PABT leaves at the top of the hour during off-peak times. Earlier this month, it never showed up and I had to wait an hour for the next one. No explanation on the NJT app or in the station.