JERSEY CITY AND BAYONNE — The Red and Tan No. 99S bus is a thing of the past, ever since the bus line discontinued this route on Nov. 6. But since Nov. 7, NJ Transit has been operating the 119 bus through its subcontractor Academy Bus Lines, to cover the old 99S route. However, this replacement bus only travels the old 99S route during the morning and evening rush hours of 5 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 10 p.m.
NJ Transit’s No. 88 bus picks up a portion of the former 99S route during off-peak hours. But much of the old 99S route isn’t serviced at off-peak times.
Regular 99S riders have started an e-mail petition to have the old 99S route serviced at all times.
The petition reads, in part: “We, the riders of the old Coach USA 10/99s bus, request that you take action to extend the evening, midday, and weekend hours of the new 119 Bus between Bayonne, through Jersey City and into the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. While the advent of the 119 bus immediately following the November 6 departure of Coach USA is a positive development, it remains an imperfect solution with significant gaps in service, especially for those whose jobs based in New York City are not 9 to 5s. Service during these high-demand time-periods buses must be restored.”
The petition is being sent to members of the Jersey City Council, among others.