Shortage Of Drivers, Vehicles Impacts West Orange Jitney Bus Riders

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange is experiencing a shortage of vehicles and drivers for its jitney bus service, which is impacting service for local commuters, the town’s mayor says.

West Orange provides free jitney service for local residents to three train stations: Orange, South Orange, and Brick Church. The bus runs in the mornings from 6 to 9 a.m., and in the evenings from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Learn more and see schedules for all routes here.

Over the past year, the town has made changes to the jitney schedule and routes, prompting complaints from some residents.

Mayor Susan McCartney addressed their concerns in a letter on Nov. 7. She wrote:

“On behalf of the Transportation Division, I thank you for taking the time to share your concerns about the recent jitney service issues. We sincerely apologize for the schedule changes, missed runs, delays, and overall inconvenience that you have been experiencing. We understand how inconvenient and disruptive this has been, especially when relying on train schedules to get to work on time.

“Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing an ongoing shortage of both vehicles and drivers. Several jitneys are temporarily out of service due to unexpected mechanical issues, and despite our efforts to recruit and train new drivers, staffing levels remain below normal. These challenges have directly impacted our ability to maintain the full schedule and provide reliable service.

“Please be assured that we are actively working to resolve these issues as quickly as possible. Our maintenance team is prioritizing repairs to get vehicles back on the road, and we are expediting the hiring and training of additional drivers.

“We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these temporary challenges. Your feedback helps us identify where we need to improve, and we are committed to restoring the dependable and consistent service you rely on.”

• See Related: West Orange Will Change Jitney Bus Schedule For 2025
• See Related: Town Jitney Bus Changes Take Effect With Updated Schedules
• See Related: West Orange Tweaks Jitney Bus Route, Temporarily Removes Whole Foods Stop

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