Commuter concerns at issue with bus co.'s new contract
Resident says more guarantees needed for quality bus service
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

EAST BRUNSWICK - Always a hotly debated topic, the township's commuter service contract is again on the table.

Though officials are expected to award the contract to the same bus company, Suburban Transit, several questions led the Township Council to table the deal in a 4-1 vote Monday night. The contract allows exclusive service between the township's two park-and-ride facilities on Route 18 and New York City.

During Monday's meeting, commuters and some council members voiced concerns about the 17-month contract, which they said does not go far enough with provisions that would guarantee good service.

Suburban has long held the township's exclusive contract, which has been the subject of litigation in the past. The township tried to award the contract to Academy Bus Service in 2001, but Suburban sued the township successfully to hold on to the service. The last three-year contract was awarded in 2004 and is set to expire in December. The township is opting for a shorter-term contract due to the expected completion next year of a commuter parking garage at the Transportation and Commerce Center (TCC).

One resident and commuter, Madeline Molinari, said Suburban has not lived up to the terms of its current contract, violating provisions designed to make it easier for commuters to get to work on time. She said the company has done a poor job of making sure its drivers make important announcements. Other commuters have complained of times in which the drivers do not, for example, provide an explanation when a bus breaks down.

She also said more buses are needed to keep up with the flow of commuters.

Dispatch services were also brought up. Part of a dispatcher's job is to communicate with other dispatchers and inform waiting commuters of the whereabouts of buses, and in some cases to call for extra buses. Molinari said she would like to see the township force the bus company to provide better quality dispatch services.

Molinari also asked that the bus company provide comfortable seats that "do not fall apart."

"The company also needs better drivers who do not cause whiplash," she said.

"The bus company needs us more than we need them," Molinari added.

But Township Finance Director L. Mason Neely, who runs the township's parking utility, defended Suburban as well as the township. East Brunswick commuters are getting a great deal on bus tickets, he said, and the new contract would guarantee that someone could purchase 10-trip tickets for $64.

Township Business Administrator James White said the contract keeps the cost to bus-riders the same as present. Other financial aspects, such as the annual fee Suburban pays the township for use of its facilities, would remain the same.

Neely agreed with Molinari that the low ticket prices demonstrate that Suburban needs the township more than East Brunswick needs the company. Rates for the same package are $20 to $30 higher at other park-and-rides.

Council President Nancy Pinkin said she knows of no other town that gets so involved in making sure their commuters receive quality bus service.

One of Molinari's biggest objections to the new contract was that it would limit the power of commuters to force Suburban to live up to the terms. She wants language that would allow a fine to be levied if three or more commuters cite a specific violation.

Her sentiment was echoed by another resident and commuter, Camille Ferraro, who noted that the contract allows a fine to be imposed only if an offense is witnessed at least three times by a township auditor.

"The auditor already has too much to look at," she said.

Neely said there were times in the past when a number of commuters complained to him about a violation, and that he fined Suburban. In fact, the township has levied about $12,000 in fines.

Councilwoman Catherine Diem asked Neely if he could supply a history of those fines. Neely said he would give that information to the council members, but would not make it public. Doing so would likely inspire more people to press complaints, he said.

"It feeds on itself," Neely said.

Diem disagreed with the suggestion that fines be issued when three or more commuters complain. She said that would be "deputizing" residents.

Neely said the new contract does allow for him to levy a fine if he has proof of a violation. Suburban would have a few days to appeal the fine.

However, Councilman David Stahl said he did not see that provision in the new contract. He also said he is concerned about longstanding complaints from commuters about Suburban's drivers not making announcements.

He also took umbrage at the administration's claim that the proposed contract is basically the same as the current one, especially when it comes to quality-control issues. He said the new contract has a page and half of deleted quality assurances.

"It's not identical to the last [one]," he said.

At that point, Neely said the council could table the vote, since the issue is not yet pressing.

Earlier, Neely had said the new contract requires Suburban to have additional dispatchers in New York, and to allow for the 10-trip tickets to be valid for up to 20 business days after purchase.