For Few Bus Riders, Prospect of Route’s End Gets Officials’ Attention

STONE HARBOR – Nobody’s happy, New Jersey Transit, borough officials, and least of all the few riders who count on New Jersey Transit buses to get from here, Avalon and Sea Isle City to the rest of the state.
The route that runs through the Seven Mile Beach and to Sea Isle City could end prior to Memorial Day.
“It’s not good,” said Mayor Suzanne Walters at the Tue., March 6 Borough Council meeting. She added that meetings had been held with county officials earlier in the day, but the outlook isn’t hopeful.
“We received word from NJ Transit that two bus routes, 315 and 319 that come through Stone Harbor, Sea Isle City and Avalon have been on a detour route because of the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge.” That fact means a lengthy detour for the buses.
If buses were filled, perhaps the operator might be more inclined to do what is necessary to keep the lines in operation, but ridership is scarce. However lacking the ridership might be, one of those riders informed a borough official that the bus is vital getting him to work. Without it, work seems a distant dream.
“They said it could happen by Memorial Day,” said Walters. “So it’s permanent,” said Council President Joan Kramar.
Walters said further talks are planned between the three affected mayors, Avalon’s Martin Pagliughi and Sea Isle City’s Leonard Desiderio.
“It’s a typical cookie cutter approach. They are not making money so they want to eliminate the route,” Walter said.
On New Jersey Transit’s website the following was posted as of Jan. 6:
“Bus Route Nos. 315 & 319: Townsend Inlet Bridge Detour in Avalon & Sea Isle City
January 06, 2012:
Effective immediately and continuing until further notice, Bus Route Nos. 315 and 319 will not operate south of 63rd Street in Sea Isle City and north of 30th Street in Avalon due to Townsend Inlet Bridge repair work. There will be no alternative service available between these two locations.
Detour:
• Buses traveling toward New York/Philadelphia will travel on Ocean Drive to 30th Street (Avalon Boulevard) in Avalon, make a left on 30th Street and continue to the Garden State Parkway. The bus will travel via the Garden State Parkway to Sea Isle Boulevard. Buses will serve Landis Avenue between Kennedy Boulevard and 63rd Street then turn around via 63rd Street, Central Avenue and 65th Street to Landis Avenue, then return to Kennedy Boulevard for New York or Philadelphia via the regular route.
• Buses traveling toward Cape May will travel on Landis Avenue to 63rd Street in Sea Isle City, turn around via 63rd Street, Central Avenue and 65th Street to Landis Avenue, return to Kennedy Boulevard. The bus will then travel on Kennedy Boulevard to the Garden State Parkway to Avalon Boulevard. Buses will continue to Ocean Avenue and begin service to Cape May on Ocean Avenue at 30th Street.
We apologize for any inconvenience.”