For the sixth time since 2021, NJ Transit will take over a route of a private bus carrier that is leaving the local bus business when it takes over for Broadway Bus Company in Bayonne on Dec. 1.

NJ Transit officials announced Monday it will operate the lone route run by the Broadway Bus Company. That company announced this November it was shutting down.

Broadway runs through the heart of Bayonne’s business and shopping district.

Beginning Dec. 1, NJ Transit will start the No. 12 Broadway Route to serve former Broadway Bus riders. That company’s last day of service is Nov. 30, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis said in a statement.

“Bayonne has a long tradition of being a convenient community with several transportation options. I am glad that tradition will continue,” Davis said. “NJ Transit will now be providing bus service on Broadway, Avenue C, and Kennedy Boulevard.”

Broadway Bus ran hourly service and NJ Transit will run more frequent service, every 30 minutes, said Mike Kilcoyne, NJ Transit bus operations general manager.

The sole Broadway bus route has “very, very light ridership,” Kilcoyne said.

The route will not continue all the same stops as Broadway Bus service did, but will be structured to provide more efficient coverage with better connections, officials said. Complete schedules and route changes will be available in the coming weeks

The Broadway route could not be combined with other existing NJ Transit bus routes, Kilcoyne said.

“It runs parallel to everything, there is no way to combine it with other lines, and the distance between the avenues is large for people with challenges,” he said.

Operating the Broadway line is estimated to cost $1.6 million annually, Kilcoyne said. While NJ Transit will get eight buses back, which were provided through a private carrier bus allocation program, drivers will need to be hired, he said.

“I would like to thank Emil Massa and his predecessors for their long service to the community with the Broadway Bus,” Mayor Davis said.

He also thanked NJ Transit for taking over the route, “so that bus service will continue for the senior citizens, shoppers, students, workers, and others who use the Broadway Bus.”

In the Fiscal Year 2025 budget, NJ Transit allocated $40 million to run bus routes taken over since 2021 when DeCamp Bus, A&C and Orange-Newark-Elizabeth Inc. (Coach USA) ended their commuter bus operations and NJ Transit stepped in.

“This is the sixth time since 2021 we have taken over for a private carrier,” said Kris Kolluri, chief executive officer of NJ Transit. “It’s becoming a pattern where we step in when a private carrier walks away because it doesn’t financially work.”

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