Politics & Government

Poll: What Do You Think of a Livingston Commuter Shuttle to South Orange?

Livingston council discussed plan Monday night for Livingston Mall shuttle to South Orange Train Station.


Monday night, Livingston council members discussed starting a shuttle service for township residents to transport commuters into New York City or Hoboken via the South Orange train station.

Under the plan proposed by Alan Karpas, chairman of the township's Vision 20/20 committee and Don Watt, vice president of Transoptions, a transportation non-profit organization, a commuter van would run from the Livingston Mall's parking lot to the South Orange train station, which has New Jersey Transit trains heading to New York City and Hoboken. 

Under the proposal, the 15-passenger van would run from 6 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. from the Livingston Mall, where there would be free commuter parking. 

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Karpas and Watt said the service would cost about $450 per day for the driver, vehicle and insurance, or $54,000 for a six-month trial run.

They proposed charging passengers $2 per ride and the shuttle would need a total of 25 riders per hour to break even. 

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Besides sending workers to New York City and Hoboken, the shuttle could also be used for Day-trippers and as an alternative commuting system for workers at the Livingston Mall and Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Karpas said.

South Orange Village President Alex Torpey endorsed the plan Tuesday, telling Patch South Orange sub-editor Scott Egelberg, "I think that people, not just in South Orange, but in surrounding towns, see our town as kind of a transit destination and so I think we'll be happy to have Livingston residents come use our train station. We have a lot of West Orange residents that do so also, and that will hopefully be good for business in South Orange as well."

So, what's your thoughts. If the council goes through with their plan and begins shuttle service, would you take advantage of it?

Take our poll below and leave us your thoughts in the comment stream. 


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