In 1980, the publicly owned New Jersey Transit (NJT) acquired the privately owned Transport of New Jersey (TNJ). And in 1982, NJT adopted a route numbering system to replace an old numbering system which had been adopted in 1925. Under the old system, streetcar routes had odd numbers and bus routes had even numbers. And numbers were duplicated among the several TNJ operating divisions. The new system would eliminate duplicated numbers. The streetcars were eventually replaced with buses, with "All Service Vehicles" (combination trolleybuses and motor buses) operating briefly on some routes. Some routes were eventually discontinued, with route numbers in parentheses. This page lists New Jersey Transit routes which can trace their histories back to the privately owned transit companies. Not listed are routes newly formed by New Jersey Transit.
In 1926, Public Service Coordinated Transport introduced its first "Super Service" bus routes, covering longer distances, with some express routes, and charging premium fares. Routes were numbered in the 100's. A few routes operated entirely within New Jersey, and in 1982 were renumbered by New Jersey Transit into the 60's and 70's. But the 1931 opening of the George Washington Bridge, and the 1937 opening of the Lincoln Tunnel, made it easy to introduce new bus routes operating directly into New York City.
In 1950, the Port Authority Bus Terminal (PABT) opened in New York City, conveniently located off the Lincoln Tunnel.
Many of the 100 series routes serving New York City were renumbered in 1982 by New Jersey Transit, reflecting the areas served.
Discontinued longer distance and interstate routes are not listed.
ESSEX COUNTY-NEW YORK/PABT Route Route Bus Former Company Buses Streetcars Number Name Type & Route Numbers Introduced Discontinued 107 Irvington-New York T TNJ 107 new 1946 108 Newark-New York T TNJ 118 new 1928 UNION COUNTY-NEW YORK/PABT Route Route Bus Former Company Buses Streetcars Number Name Type & Route Numbers Introduced Discontinued 112 Clark-New York M Somerset 15 1926 112 Clark-New York M Somerset 111 1952 113 Dunellen-New York M Somerset 143 1946 113 Dunellen-New York M Somerset 222 1952 114 Bridgewater-New York M Somerset 148 1948 115 Rahway-New York M TNJ 135 new 1957 116 Perth Amboy-New York M TNJ 139 new 1958 HUDSON COUNTY-NEW YORK/PABT Route Route Bus Former Company Buses Streetcars Number Name Type & Route Numbers Introduced Discontinued 123 Union City-New York T Hudson 3 125 Journal Sq.-New York T No. Blvd. 5 126 Hoboken-New York T TNJ 63 new 1939 127 Ridgefield-Union City M TNJ 67 new 1939 129 Secaucus-New York M Hudson 6 139 Lakewood-Old Bridge M TNJ 139 new 1958 BERGEN COUNTY-NEW YORK/PABT Route Route Bus Former Company Buses Streetcars Number Name Type & Route Numbers Introduced Discontinued 154 Ft. Lee-Palisades Pk. T Hudson 4 156 Englewood Cliffs-NY T MEC/O&B 6 1951 156 Englewood Cliffs-NY T MEC/O&B 10 PSCT 1926 156 Englewood Cliffs-NY T TNJ 61 new 1959 158 Ft. Lee-Edgewater T MEC/O&B 8 1976 159 Ft. Lee-New York T MEC/O&B 7 1951 159 Ft. Lee-New York T MEC/O&B 9 1939 161 Paterson-Passaic M Manh. 51 161 Paterson-Passaic M Manh. 52 161 Paterson-Passaic M Manh. 53 163 Ridgewood-New York M MEC/GSBL 35 1927 164 Hasbrouck Heights M MEC/GSBL 35 1927 165 Westwood-New York M TNJ 165 new 1939 166 Dumont-Tenafly M TNJ 166 new 1939 167 Harrington Pk.-Dumont M TNJ 167 new 1939 168 Paramus-New York M TNJ 168 new 1946 BERGEN COUNTY-NEW YORK/GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE Route Route Bus Former Company Buses Streetcars Number Name Type & Route Numbers Introduced Discontinued 171 Paterson-New York T MEC/ICTC 40 1933 175 Ridgewood-New York T MEC/GSBL 45 1935 178 Hackensack-New York M TNJ 78 acq. 1939 181 Hoboken-New York T TNJ 21 1937 1937 ASV to 1947 181 Hoboken-New York T TNJ 98 new 1951 182 Hackensack-New York M TNJ 82 new 1931 186 Dumont-New York M TNJ 86 new 1936 188 River Rd.-New York T TNJ 8 new 1926 PASSAIC COUNTY-NEW YORK/PABT Route Route Bus Former Company Buses Streetcars Number Name Type & Route Numbers Introduced Discontinued 190 Paterson-New York M MEC/ICTC 30 1925 191 Willowbrook-New York M TNJ 191 new 1948 192 Clifton-New York M TNJ 192 new 1948 193 Packanack Lake-NY M TNJ 193 194 Newfoundland-New York M MEC 194 195 Willowbrook-New York M MEC 195 196 Warwick-New York M MEC 196 197 Warwick-Wayne M MEC 197NJT route 181 was originally PSCT Hudson Division local routes 21 and 98, while NJT route 188 was originally PSCT Bergen Division local route 8. Routes were extended into New York City in 1951 and 1950, respectively.
Independent Bus Companies
Prior to the formation of New Jersey Transit, most bus routes were part of Public Service Coordinated Transport (PSCT) or Transport of New Jersey (TNJ). While some bus routes were newly created by New Jersey Transit (NJT). The following abbreviations are used for bus companies which remained independent from PSCT and TNJ, and were later acquired by NJT.
Hudson - Hudson Bus Transportation Co.
Manh. - Manhattan Transit Co.
MEC - Maplewood Equipment Co.
ICTC - Inter City Transportation Co. (controlled by MEC)
GSBL - Garden State Bus Lines (controlled by MEC)
O&B - Orange & Black Bus Lines (MEC after 1972)
No. Blvd. - North Boulevard Transportation Co.
Somerset - Somerset Bus Co.