Bus service enhancements from NJ Transit, Snoqualmie Valley Transportation, Virginia Breeze

New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit), the Snoqualmie Valley Transportation (SVT) and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (Virginia Breeze) have each made updates to their bus services to best suit their community's needs.

NJ Transit

NJ Transit launched an interim River LINE weekday schedule Aug. 12, adding a supplemental bus service at six high ridership stations to provide customers with additional travel options during weekday mornings and afternoon peak hours (6 a.m.- 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.). 

NJ Transit notes the temporary schedule will help to provide a more consistent, predictable and reliable schedule for customers while allowing time for delivery of custom replacement auxiliary power units (APUs) for the light-rail vehicles. The River LINE light-rail vehicles were custom-built more than 20 years ago to share the tracks with Conrail freight trains. The agency says the delivery of needed custom replacement APUs has been delayed longer than anticipated because of manufacturing and supply chain issues.

"The recent performance on the River LINE has not been acceptable and we apologize to our customers for their experience," said NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin S. Corbett. "This interim measure is part of a broader long-term commitment and action plan that continues holding our contract operator accountable to make the necessary vehicle upgrades and restore the reliable and predictable service our customers expect and deserve."

The River LINE will continue to operate every 30 minutes from all stations throughout the service day, with supplemental buses operated by Academy Bus Company during the morning and afternoon peak periods. 

SVT

SVT's fixed route bus, Valley Shuttle, will begin operating on Saturdays and Sundays with expanded services on Aug. 17. This was made possible through SVT's partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), King County Metro and the Snoqualmie Tribe.

“Weekend service has been one of our community needs basically since I started here in 2012,” said Amy Biggs, director of SVT, a program of Mt. Si Senior Center. “People have weekend jobs they need to reach or they ride our little SVT buses to work during the week but need weekend service for grocery shopping and all their errands. Transportation is a basic need for everyone and not just on weekdays.”

Biggs worked with King County Metro and WSDOT to coordinate funding for the new service.

 “King County Metro is responsible for funding this particular part of the new weekend service and we are so grateful that they are responding to this need. Our next project will be to start our door-to-door services on the weekends. We’re still hiring drivers for that service and are accepting applications. It will be great to get the whole SVT system going on the weekends and this is a terrific start," Biggs said.

Now operating 17 vehicles, SVT was launched in 2003 with the loan of a single King County Metro bus from the Community Access Transportation (CAT) program.

The weekend Valley Shuttle service will operate from 6 a.m. to 9:15 p.m., with buses roughly every 90 minutes. Biggs noted that this is different from the weekday service, on which King County Metro increased service frequency in March 2023 to have buses arriving about every hour. 

Virginia Breeze

Virginia Breeze Bus Lines has relocated its Blacksburg stop to the Multimodal Transit Facility (MMTF) on Virginia Tech's campus. The move is part of the agency's effort to move Virginia Breeze passenger boarding locations, including future stop relocations in Wytheville and Staunton. The agency is working to provide passengers a more efficient travel experience throughout the system.

The new location at the MMTF incorporates several enhanced amenities that will greatly benefit passengers with improved shelter lighting and accessibility features to provide a safer and more comfortable waiting area for travelers. Additionally, the strategic placement of the MMTF on Virginia Tech's campus allows for easier access by local transit providers, ensuring a seamless connection for passengers traveling to and from the university.

"We are thrilled to be relocating our Blacksburg stop to the Multimodal Transit Facility," said Zach Trogdon, acting director of Virginia Breeze. "This move represents a significant step forward in our commitment to providing a top-notch transit experience for our passengers. We are confident that the enhanced amenities and convenient location will greatly improve the overall journey for our valued customers."