Rutgers_Campus_Buses

Rutgers Campus Buses

Rutgers Campus Buses

Bus service used by students at Rutgers University in the US

Rutgers Campus Buses are a zero-fare bus service used by students at Rutgers University campuses. It is the second-largest bus service in New Jersey after NJ Transit, and one of the largest university bus systems in the United States. Service is provided by Transdev year-round, including weekends and holidays. Late night shuttle service for students is provided by Rutgers Department of Transportation Services (known as the "Knight Mover") when the New Brunswick campus transit system is not in service.[1] Football and other event shuttles are operated by Academy Bus Lines.

Quick Facts Founded, Locale ...

History

From July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2011, Rutgers New Brunswick Campus bus service was provided by Academy Bus Lines. Prior to that, Suburban Transit was the operator.[2]

Rutgers began to install new bus shelters in the summer of 2010. The new shelters incorporate red roofs to cast a red tone on the sidewalk, showcasing university colors.

Director Jack Molenaar announced that the L route would be discontinued due to budget cuts, effective 28 August 2010. Molenaar called the bus a "relic" and said it was "slowest and most underutilized" of the bus routes.[3] There was significant opposition to the move, especially from graduate students and Highland Park residents who had already made housing arrangements expecting the bus to be there. After 600 people signed an online petition calling for its reinstitution,[4][5] a temporary LXc route was created for the 2010-11 school year, stopping at Cedar Lane every 30 minutes.[6] A second bus was later added to shorten wait times to 15 minutes. In addition, the three weekend buses (A, EE, L) were reorganized into two all campus loop buses (Weekend 1 and Weekend 2).

On October 21, 2010, First Transit was awarded a 5-year contract with an option to extend up to 15 years for the operation of New Brunswick Campus shuttle system.[7] The main reason cited for the switch is cost. First Transit will refurbish existing buses and supply new ones for a total of 50 buses featured automatic stop announcements, whereas now drivers may or may not announce stops.[8][9]

On December 10, 2010, Academy filed a lawsuit against the University over the loss of the contract.[10][11] Despite the loss of shuttle operations, the company continues to provide the chartered bus operations used for tours and football games.

First Transit expanded their bus service to the Newark Campus beginning September 1, 2014; to Camden Campus since September 1, 2019.[12] The new Rutgers-logo fleet of buses utilize the NextBus system and real-time status is available via the official Rutgers app. In 2018, Rutgers replaced the NextBus system with TransLoc.[13] After Transdev completed the acquisition of First Transit on March 7, 2023, all current First Transit contracts were transferred to Transdev.[14] Starting August 2, 2023, Rutgers replaced TransLoc with Passio Go! as the new tracker for Rutgers buses.[13]

Alternative plans

Several times over the past decade, it has been suggested that the bus system be partially or fully replaced with bus rapid transit (BRT), monorail, or light rail.[15][16] Closing College Avenue to non-bus motor vehicle traffic was also proposed, but indefinitely canceled in February 2010, due to excessive costs.[17] Current plans are for incorporating the Rutgers bus system into the proposed New Brunswick Bus Rapid Transit, which would be centered on the New Brunswick Station near the intersection of Route 18 and Route 27.[18][19]

Routes

New Brunswick Campus

Rutgers New Brunswick Bus System Map - Weekdays - Fall 2022

There are currently 10 routes on weekdays, 2 routes on weekends, 2 routes during Summer sessions, and 1 route on holidays for New Brunswick campus.

Weekday routes

As of Spring 2023.

More information Name, Route ...
Knight Mover operated by RUDOTS

The Knight Mover operates when weekday buses stop running; it runs Monday through Thursday from 3:00AM to 6:00AM.[1]

Weekends and Breaks

In spring 2021, a variation of the weekend routes were introduced. They are essentially an express version of the regular weekend routes, stopping only at the stops served by the color routes on each campus. In fall 2021, a revised version of previous Letter Routes with redundant stops eliminated was introduced. Weekend Routes were also based on revised Letter Routes.

More information Name, Route ...

Special event shuttles

Buses for the following routes are not trackable.

More information Name, Route ...

Former routes

Color Routes

In fall 2020, 6 Color Routes were introduced to help with social distancing on Rutgers buses due to COVID-19. They were based on regular intercampus routes, but featured less stops to reduce students traveling time on bus. These routes were implemented on August 26, 2020. However, due to low ridership, these routes were discontinued after October 2, 2020 and weekend routes were used until the end of Spring 2021 semester. In early 2021, Color Routes were planned to continue in fall 2021. However, this plan was scrapped in summer 2021, and Letter Routes were brought back for Fall 2021 with slight modifications.[30]

Rutgers New Brunswick Color Routes (Fall 2020)
More information Name, Route ...
Shuttles
More information Name, Route ...
Routes Operated Under Previous Contractors

The majority of the below routes ran throughout the late 20th Century as alternative variants or service patterns of the current routes.

More information Name, Route ...

Newark Campus

Rutgers Newark Bus System Map - Weekdays - Fall 2022

There are currently 4 routes on weekdays and 1 night service running seven nights a week for Newark campus.[31]

Weekday routes

More information Name, Stops ...

The Newark Penn Station Midnight Express Security Shuttle operates between 12:00AM and 4:00AM every day, providing transportation between Newark Penn Station and the Rutgers Newark Campus via Boyden Hall.

Former routes

More information Name, Hours of Operation ...

Camden Campus

Rutgers Camden Bus System Map - Weekdays - Fall 2022

Bus routes for Camden campus only operate on weekdays.

More information Name, Stops ...

Fleet

Current Fleet

More information Fleet number(s), Photo ...

[34][35]

On Order

As of October 2021, a multi-year order of diesel ENC Axess BRT 40' buses has been placed to replace the current ElDorado and New Flyer buses. These buses will feature same paint scheme as 202-203 and 205, with all aisle-facing seating (35 seats total), 8 sets of dual USB power ports on seatings & rear deck. All buses in this order are owned by Rutgers University and operated by Transdev.

More information Fleet number(s), Photo ...


  • 2010 ElDorado Axess #1002 - Route A
  • 2007 New Flyer D40LF #1495 - Route B/He
  • 2007 New Flyer D40LF #1496 - Route B
  • 2011 ElDorado Axess BRT #4186 - Route C
  • 2007 New Flyer D40LF #1493 - Route EE
  • 2010 ElDorado Axess #1011 Route F
  • 2010 ElDorado Axess #201 - Route H
  • 2011 ElDorado Axess BRT #4190 - Route LX
  • 2011 ElDorado Axess BRT #4194 - Route REXB
  • 2014 ElDorado Axess BRT #4053 - Route REXL
  • 2011 ElDorado Axess BRT #4181 - Route All Campuses
  • 2015 ElDorado Axess BRT #4132 - Route Penn Station Express
  • 2007 New Flyer D40LF #1510 - Route Summer 2
  • 2007 New Flyer D40LF #1504 - Route Winter Break 1
  • 2007 New Flyer D40LF interior (35 seats)
  • 2010 ElDorado Axess interior (35 seats)
  • 2010 ElDorado Axess interior (37 seats)
  • 2014 ElDorado Axess BRT interior (39 seats)
  • 2015 ElDorado E-Z Rider II BRT interior (30 seats)
  • 2015 ElDorado Axess BRT interior (39 seats)
  • 2023 ENC Axess BRT interior (35 seats)

References

  1. [1]
    "New Brunswick Campus Buses/Shuttle Service | Institutional Planning and Operations". ipo.rutgers.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  2. [2]
    Bigelow, Pete (1999-09-23). "On a bus to nowhere, with no time to spare". The Central New Jersey Home News.
  3. [3]
    Kypers, Neil P. (20 August 2010). "Campus bus route changes to increase service". The Daily Targum. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  4. [4]
    "Save the L Bus". Facebook. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  5. [5]
    "Save the L Bus". Wordpress. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  6. [6]
    Roache, Colleen (6 September 2010). "New LXc bus route frustrates students". The Daily Targum. Archived from the original on 10 September 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  7. [7]
    "Rutgers selects First Transit as bus operator". Metro Magazine. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  8. [8]
    Roache, Colleen (5 November 2010). "University to lower costs with new bus company". The Daily Targum. Archived from the original on November 9, 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  9. [9]
    Stokes, Timothy (2 November 2010). "First Transit Named Campus Bus Service Operator for Rutgers University". First Transit. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
  10. [10]
    "Academy Bus of Hoboken sues Rutgers University". NJ.com. Associated Press. 15 December 2010.
  11. [11]
    Malwitz, Rick (13 December 2010). "Contractor sues Rutgers over loss of bus contract". MyCentralJersey.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012.
  12. [12]
    "Department of Transportation Services". Retrieved 6 September 2014. Starting Monday September 1st a new transit system will provide enhanced service while meeting the daily transportation needs of all students, faculty and staff of Rutgers University – Newark and RBHS, as well as NJIT, Essex County College (ECC) and University Hospital (UH).
  13. [13]
    Isaacs, Uriel (August 28, 2023). "U. unveils new bus tracking app for campus fleet". The Daily Targum. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  14. [14]
    "Transdev Completes Acquisition of First Transit to Become Leading Private Operator of Transportation in the U.S." (News release). Transdev. March 7, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  15. [15]
    Godfrey, Greg J. M. (29 September 2001). "Say goodbye to the future". The Daily Targum. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  16. [16]
    Murphy, Austin (22 November 2002). "Light railway, busway no help". The Daily Targum. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  17. [17]
    Roache, Colleen (17 February 2010). "U. trims back plans for greening project". The Daily Targum. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  18. [18]
    "Greater New Brunswick Are Bus Rapid Transit" (PDF). NJTPA. May 2008. Retrieved 2012-04-04.[permanent dead link]
  19. [19]
    "A New Face of TOD: Bus Rapid Transit". Voorhees Transportation Institute. January 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
  20. [20]
    "Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules". Rutgers IPO. Rutgers University. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  21. [21]
    "Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules". Rutgers IPO. Rutgers University. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  22. [22]
    "Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules". Rutgers IPO. Rutgers University. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  23. [23]
    "Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules". Rutgers IPO. Rutgers University. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  24. [24]
    "Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules". Rutgers IPO. Rutgers University. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  25. [25]
    "Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules". Rutgers IPO. Rutgers University. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  26. [26]
    "Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules". Rutgers IPO. Rutgers University. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  27. [27]
    "Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules". Rutgers IPO. Rutgers University. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  28. [28]
    "Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules". Rutgers IPO. Rutgers University. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  29. [29]
    "Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules". Rutgers IPO. Rutgers University. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  30. [30]
    "Rutgers University-New Brunswick Campus Buses | Institutional Planning and Operations".
  31. [31]
    "Newark Campus Buses | Institutional Planning and Operations".
  32. [32]
    "Rutgers University-Newark Campus Buses | Institutional Planning and Operations".
  33. [33]
    "Rutgers Camden Shuttle Bus | Institutional Planning and Operations".
  34. [34]
    "Department of Transportation Services | Institutional Planning and Operations".
  35. [35]
    https://rutgers.transloc.com/
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