On April 7, 2023, the last DeCamp buses ran between Port Authority and towns in Essex County. With this change, we are now left without convenient transportation to New York City on the weekends. In addition, the Montclair-Boonton line of NJ Transit only runs 1 train set every 2 hours that terminates at Bay Street. As a result, thousands of local residents who lived convenient to mass transit for either work or play now find themselves in a transit desert. 

Since DeCamp is no longer supplying commuter service, NJ Transit needs to step up and serve the citizens of Essex County. We are simply asking for NJ Transit to utilize existing infrastructure and restore what the community once had. 

This is the appropriate time to act because the residents of Essex County have few local options for mass transit with circumstances soon to change. Congestion Pricing has changed the cost structure for driving into Manhattan. In addition, Amtrak is evaluating whether to utilize the Montclair-Boonton line for daily train service to the Poconos and Scranton, leading to additional upgrades on the line and an opportunity to take advantage of this once in a generation change.

We, the citizens of Essex County, call on our local governments, the State of New Jersey, NJ Transit, and the federal government to provide funding for the following:

• Regularly-scheduled, 7-day bus service to Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City that mirrors the former DeCamp 33, 44, 66, and 88 bus routes.
• Hourly weekend train service on the Montclair-Boonton line running to at least Montclair State University.

Thank you,

ROUTE (Restore Our Transit in Essex)