ROCHELLE PARK

Free shuttle service launches in Hackensack

Melanie Anzidei
NorthJersey

HACKENSACK — Commuters can now hop on a free bus to get around parts of the city.

The shuttle, which is paid for by a grant and county funds, will connect commuters between five stops in Hackensack, officials said. The free service runs between the city's bus terminal, two train stations, the county complex and the local hospital, and is offered to anyone commuting in the city.

The goal of the Hackensack Transit Connector is to entice citygoers to leave their cars behind, while also providing relief for those who may not have cars, said Alicia D'Alessandro, communications director for the office of the county executive. 

"This is the county seat. Whether you're a county employee, coming to the city for legal issues or another reason, we want it to be accessible to all people, not just people with a car," D'Alessandro said.

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The service runs weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every hour, an online brochure says. The service will not run on holidays, and it does not require that passengers be Hackensack residents.

The first shuttle is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. at the Essex Street station. The shuttle then takes riders to the County Administrative Complex, then to the bus terminal, followed by the Anderson Street station and then Hackensack University Medical Center at Atlantic Street.

The route is estimated to last about 45 minutes between the first and last stops.

As of this week, the shuttle is running only on a northbound loop, D'Alessandro said. Officials anticipate that a second bus will begin running the southbound loop soon.

County officials said they will monitor the program to see how many people use it. If warranted, the program could expand to cover a larger footprint in Hackensack.

Hackensack welcome sign.

“By better connecting transit hubs and Hackensack’s downtown area, we are encouraging more environmentally friendly behavior and making public transit more accessible for those with mobility issues,” Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said in a statement. "As we move forward, we’ll be working with riders, community stakeholders and Hackensack officials to maximize the use of these routes and expand their paths as needed.”

The shuttle service could expand as the city's commercial sector continues to develop, Deputy Mayor Kathleen Canestrino said Thursday. The city is in the midst of a redevelopment push, with a growing number of projects in the works.

"We're grateful" for the service, Canestrino said. "As you have more people doing more walking than driving, it will offer a huge incentive for people to way, 'Wow, this [shuttle] is easier than driving.' "

The service was funded through a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement grant, totaling $593,000, and additional county funds totaling $197,000, D'Alessandro said. The funds will pay for workers' salaries, two buses and management of the program. 

The grant is provided by the Federal Transit Administration in conjunction with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.