Free buses to Freehold introduced in Monroe

MONROE - Residents who want to travel to Freehold no longer have to get behind the wheel and brave the traffic.

A free round-trip shuttle service started Monday, bringing passengers to CentraState Medical Center and Freehold Raceway Mall.

The shuttles pick up passengers at various points in town, making two morning and two afternoon trips. While most of the pick-up points are located in adult communities, all residents are welcome, and there is a pick-up at the Monroe Community Center, Monmouth Road, twice a day.

With the new system, a resident of Rossmoor, for example, could choose to get on the bus at 9 or 11:15 a.m., go to the Freehold Raceway Mall and get back on the bus at either 1:30 or 3:45 p.m. to go home.

The buses will run Monday through Friday.

"It takes a little while for word to get around, and as we get closer to the

holiday I'm sure we are going to fill those buses up," Councilman Irwin Nalitt said.

Township officials conducted a survey to find out what towns were the most popular destinations for residents, and Princeton came out on top, Nalitt said. But after 90 days of shuttle operation to Princeton, it was assessed that only one bus was needed, instead of the original two. The other bus was diverted to the Freehold route, residents' second choice in the survey.

"The ridership has been kind of disappointing," Nalitt said of the Princeton route.

The township acquired five buses through a $400,000 grant presented by U.S. Congressman Rush Holt. Three of those buses are used at any one time for the shuttle service. The other two are rotated in order to allow for less wear and tear. As for the operating costs, Township Administrator Wayne Hamilton said he did not have an exact figure available, but they are funded by the township.

For the bus schedules, visit the township's Web site at www.monroetwp.com.