Jersey City BRT Community Meeting Set for Sept. 23

Picture this: you’re standing at a bus stop on JFK Boulevard, the evening rush is in full swing, and you’re not sure when the next bus is coming. It’s a familiar scene for many in Hudson County. But a proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system could change that. And the county wants your input.

On Wednesday, September 23rd, from 6 to 8 p.m., Hudson County will host a community meeting at the Hudson County Community College Library, on the 6th floor of 71 Sip Ave. in Jersey City. The purpose? To present the latest recommendations and concept designs for bringing BRT to the county’s busiest corridor.

If you can’t make it in person, the county has also launched an online survey to gather feedback. The survey is available in multiple languages, including Arabic, Spanish, and Hindi, and asks about your travel habits and what you’d like to see from a new transit system.

What is Bus Rapid Transit, exactly?

Think of it as a bus system that tries to behave like a train. It often has dedicated lanes so buses don’t get stuck in traffic, off-board fare payment to speed things up, and raised platforms for easier boarding. The goal is to make bus travel faster, more reliable, and more comfortable than the regular local bus you might ride today.

The study has been in the works since January, when County Executive Craig Guy secured $150,000 in county funding for a feasibility study. In April, the Board of Commissioners unanimously hired the consulting firm Nelson/Nygaard to run the analysis. Now, with the study well underway, the county is ready to share its early findings and hear what residents think.

Why this matters for your commute

If you live along JFK Boulevard in Bayonne or Jersey City, this meeting is about how you get to work, school, or the doctor. It’s about whether you can count on a bus to get there on time, and whether you’ll be able to get a seat. Right now, the corridor is served by several NJ Transit bus routes, but they often get caught in the same congestion as everyone else.

Advocates from groups like Hudson County Complete Streets have been pushing for better transit options for years. At earlier meetings, they called the BRT study a step in the right direction. They see it as a chance to make the boulevard safer for pedestrians and cyclists, too, making it easier to get around without a car.

The county says the study builds on broader efforts to improve transit, and it wants to make sure the plan reflects what riders actually need. That means real talk about bus frequency, station locations, and how to connect with the PATH and light rail.

What the county is saying

“Public input is an essential part of planning a transit system that works for the people who live, work, and travel throughout Hudson County,” Guy said in a statement. “This meeting and our online survey give residents multiple opportunities to share what they want to see from the future of bus rapid transit in our communities.”

County staff and consultants will be on hand to explain the corridor recommendations and concept designs. They want to hear not just what you think, but how you actually move through the county—what stops you rely on, what times you travel, and what would make transit work better for you.

What you can do now

The meeting is your chance to see the plans up close and ask questions. If you can’t attend, the online survey is open now. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s your way to make sure your voice is part of the final recommendation.

After the meeting, the county will compile the feedback and use it to shape the next phase of the project. No firm timeline has been announced for construction, but the sooner the input is gathered, the sooner decisions can be made.

So mark your calendar for September 23rd. Bring a friend, bring your questions, and bring your commute stories. Because the future of the bus in Hudson County isn’t just something that happens to you—it’s something you can help design.