(The following story by Melissa Hayes of Jersey City News appeared on June 14, 2010.)
NJ Transit is working with Hudson County officials to restore weekend shuttle service at Liberty State Park.
The service was cut last month as part of statewide service reductions. NJ Transit officials pointed to the scant ridership on the 305 Liberty State Park shuttle as the reason for the cut.
For $1.35 riders could buy an all-day pass to ride the shuttle around the park.
Cutting the 305 and another shuttle, the 981 route between Grove Street and Port Liberte in Jersey City, saved a combined $400,000 NJ Transit officials said.
Sam Pesin, president of Friends of Liberty State Park, and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy spoke out against the cuts.
Their pleas seem to have reached Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, who asked the county Board of Freeholders to allocate up to $12,000 for the shuttle.
The freeholders voted Thursday to allow DeGise to enter into an agreement with the Hudson County Improvement Authority and NJ Transit. The resolution calls for spending up to $12,000, which would be matched by NJ Transit.
Freeholder Bill O’Dea, of Jersey City, said he hopes service can be restored by next weekend.
“NJ Transit and the county are working cooperatively to restore the service,” NJ Transit spokeswoman Penny Bassett Hackett said.