Rutgers Campus Buses Explained

Rutgers Campus Buses
Founded:	1961
Locale:	Rutgers University
Service Area:	New Brunswick/Piscataway, Newark, and Camden
Service Type:	University bus system
Routes:	12 (New Brunswick); 4 (Newark); 1 (Camden)
Fleet:	101 (83 buses & 18 cutaways)
Ridership:	70,000 (daily); 6 million (annually)
Fuel Type:	Diesel Gasoline (Ford cutaways)
Operator:	Transdev
Leader:	John Karakoglou
Leader Type:	Assistant Director
Website:	Rutgers Campus Buses
Ceo:	Henry X. Velez

Rutgers Campus Buses are a zero-fare bus service used by students at Rutgers University campuses. It is the second-largest bus service in New Jersey after NJ Transit, and one of the largest university bus systems in the United States. Service is provided by Transdev year-round, including weekends and holidays. Late night shuttle service for students is provided by Rutgers Department of Transportation Services (known as the "Knight Mover") when the New Brunswick campus transit system is not in service. Football and other event shuttles are operated by Academy Bus Lines.

History

From July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2011, Rutgers New Brunswick Campus bus service was provided by Academy Bus Lines. Prior to that, Suburban Transit was the operator.^[1]

Rutgers began to install new bus shelters in the summer of 2010. The new shelters incorporate red roofs to cast a red tone on the sidewalk, showcasing university colors.

Director Jack Molenaar announced that the L route would be discontinued due to budget cuts, effective 28 August 2010. Molenaar called the bus a "relic" and said it was "slowest and most underutilized" of the bus routes.^[2] There was significant opposition to the move, especially from graduate students and Highland Park residents who had already made housing arrangements expecting the bus to be there. After 600 people signed an online petition calling for its reinstitution,^{[3] [4]} a temporary LXc route was created for the 2010-11 school year, stopping at Cedar Lane every 30 minutes.^[5] A second bus was later added to shorten wait times to 15 minutes. In addition, the three weekend buses (A, EE, L) were reorganized into two all campus loop buses (Weekend 1 and Weekend 2).

On October 21, 2010, First Transit was awarded a 5-year contract with an option to extend up to 15 years for the operation of New Brunswick Campus shuttle system.^[6] The main reason cited for the switch is cost. First Transit will refurbish existing buses and supply new ones for a total of 50 buses featured automatic stop announcements, whereas now drivers may or may not announce stops.^{[7] [8]}

On December 10, 2010, Academy filed a lawsuit against the University over the loss of the contract.^{[9] [10]} Despite the loss of shuttle operations, the company continues to provide the chartered bus operations used for tours and football games.

First Transit expanded their bus service to the Newark Campus beginning September 1, 2014; to Camden Campus since September 1, 2019.^[11] The new Rutgers-logo fleet of buses utilize the NextBus system and real-time status is available via the official Rutgers app. In 2018, Rutgers replaced the NextBus system with TransLoc.^[12] After Transdev completed the acquisition of First Transit on March 7, 2023, all current First Transit contracts were transferred to Transdev.^[13] Starting August 2, 2023, Rutgers replaced TransLoc with Passio Go! as the new tracker for Rutgers buses.

Alternative plans

Several times over the past decade, it has been suggested that the bus system be partially or fully replaced with bus rapid transit (BRT), monorail, or light rail.^{[14] [15]} Closing College Avenue to non-bus motor vehicle traffic was also proposed, but indefinitely canceled in February 2010, due to excessive costs.^[16] Current plans are for incorporating the Rutgers bus system into the proposed New Brunswick Bus Rapid Transit, which would be centered on the New Brunswick Station near the intersection of Route 18 and Route 27.^{[17] [18]}

Routes

New Brunswick Campus

There are currently 10 routes on weekdays, 2 routes on weekends and winter/spring/summer breaks, and 1 route on holidays for New Brunswick campus.

Weekday routes

As of Spring 2023.

Name	Route	Stops	Hours of Operation
A	College Avenue/Busch	College Avenue Student Center → The Yard → Student Activities Center → Stadium West Lot → Hill Center (North) → Science Buildings → Busch Student Center → Werblin Recreation Center ^[19]	7:00AM–9:20PM (Mon-Fri)
B	Livingston/Busch	Livingston Student Center → Quads → Hill Center (North) → Science Buildings → Busch Student Center → Livingston Plaza ^[20]	7:00AM–10:40PM (Mon-Fri)
B-He	Livingston/Busch	Livingston Student Center → Quads → Busch-Livingston Health Center → Busch Student Center → Allison Road Classroom Building → Hill Center (South) → Livingston Plaza ^[21]	6:00AM–2:25AM (Mon-Fri)
C	Busch Commuter Loop	Stadium West Lot → Hill Center (North) → Allison Road Classroom Building → Hill Center (South) ^[22]	7:30AM–10:00PM (Mon-Thurs)7:30AM–7:30PM (Fri)
EE	College Avenue/Douglass-Cook via George Street	College Avenue Student Center → The Yard → SoCam Apartments (SB) → Red Oak Lane → Lipman Hall → Biel Road → Henderson Apartments → Gibbons → College Hall → SoCam Apartments (NB) → Student Activities Center ^[23]	6:00AM–2:54AM (Mon-Wed)6:00AM–3:41AM (Thurs-Fri)
F	College Avenue/Douglass Express via Route 18	Red Oak Lane → Lipman Hall → College Hall → Student Activities Center → The Yard ^[24]	7:00AM–9:24PM (Mon-Fri)
H	College Avenue/Busch	College Avenue Student Center → The Yard → Student Activities Center → Werblin Recreation Center → Busch Student Center → Allison Road Classroom Building → Hill Center (South) → Stadium West Lot ^[25]	6:00AM–3:16AM (Mon-Wed)6:00AM–4:00AM (Thurs-Fri)
LX	College Avenue/Livingston Express	College Avenue Student Center → The Yard → Student Activities Center → Livingston Plaza → Livingston Student Center → Quads ^[26]	6:00AM–2:46AM (Mon-Wed)6:00AM–3:46AM (Thurs-Fri)
REXB	Douglass/Busch	Red Oak Lane → Lipman Hall → College Hall → Hill Center (North) → Allison Road Classroom Building → Hill Center (South) ^[27]	7:00AM–11:18PM (Mon-Fri)
REXL	Douglass/Livingston	Red Oak Lane → Lipman Hall → College Hall → Livingston Plaza → Livingston Student Center ^[28]	7:00AM–11:22PM (Mon-Fri)

The Knight Mover operates when weekday buses stop running; it runs Monday through Thursday from 3:00AM to 6:00AM.^[29]

Weekends and Breaks

In spring 2021, a variation of the weekend routes were introduced. They are essentially an express version of the regular weekend routes, stopping only at the stops served by the color routes on each campus. In fall 2021, a revised version of previous Letter Routes with redundant stops eliminated was introduced. Weekend Routes were also based on revised Letter Routes.

Name	Route	Hours of Operation	Notes
Weekend 1	College Ave → Busch → Livingston → Douglass-Cook	4:00AM–6:00AM (FRI)4:00AM (SAT)-3:00AM (MON)	Known as Summer 1 during summer break, Winter Break 1 during winter break, and Spring Break 1 during spring break.
Weekend 2	College Ave → Douglass-Cook → Livingston → Busch	4:00AM–6:00AM (FRI)4:00AM (SAT)-3:00AM (MON)	Known as Summer 2 during summer break, Winter Break 2 during winter break, and Spring Break 2 during spring break.
All Campuses	College Ave → Busch → Livingston → Douglass-Cook	10:00AM–7:00PM	Identical to the Weekend 1 route, operates on weekends during breaks and during holidays (Thanksgiving, Holiday Recess, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Fourth of July).

Special event shuttles

Buses for the following routes are not trackable.

Name	Route	Notes
Campus Tour	Visitor Center → Werblin Recreation Center → Livingston Student Center → College Avenue Student Center → Biel Road → Gibbons	Operated by Transdev & Academy Express
Commencement Shuttle	Jersey Mike's Arena → Busch Practice Bubble	Operated by Transdev
	College Avenue Student Center → New Brunswick Train Station (Albany St) → Lot 48 (Busch Campus)	Operated by Academy Express
Convocation Shuttle	Busch Campus pickup: Busch Student Center → Green Lot; Busch Campus return: Lot 101 → Busch Student Center	Operated by Transdev
	College Avenue Campus pickup: College Avenue Student Center → Green Lot; College Avenue Campus return: Lot 101 → College Avenue Student Center
	Douglass/Cook Campuses pickup: Biel Road → Green Lot; Douglass/Cook Campuses return: Livingston Student Center → Biel Road
Football Shuttle	Jersey Mike's Arena → Busch Practice Bubble	Operated by Transdev & Rutgers Department of Transportation
	College Avenue Student Center → New Brunswick Train Station (Albany St) → Johnson Park	Operated by Academy Express
	Red Oak Lane → Biel Road → Johnson Park	Operated by Academy Express
New Student Orientation	Livingston Student Center → College Avenue Student Center → Gibbons → Werblin Recreation Center	Operated by Transdev & Academy Express
Open House Day Shuttle	Visitor Center → Livingston Student Center → College Avenue Student Center → Gibbons	Operated by Transdev
Rutgers Day Shuttle	Busch Student Center → Lot 48 Far → Student Activities Center SB → Zimmerli Art Museum SB → SoCam Apt SB → Douglass Student Center → George Street Northbound at Liberty Street → Zimmerli Art Museum NB → Student Activities Center NB → Lot 48 Near	Operated by Transdev
Shopping Shuttle	Bevier Road (Busch Campus) → ShopRite → Walmart → Kam Man Food	Operated by Rutgers Department of Transportation Open to students with slightly different routes on select dates throughout the semester
Social Security Shuttle	College Avenue Student Center → Social Security Administration (550 Jersey Ave #200)	Operated by Transdev Available by appointment via Rutgers Global

Former routes

Color Routes

In fall 2020, 6 Color Routes were introduced to help with social distancing on Rutgers buses due to COVID-19. They were based on regular intercampus routes, but featured less stops to reduce students traveling time on bus. These routes were implemented on August 26, 2020. However, due to low ridership, these routes were discontinued after October 2, 2020 and weekend routes were used until the end of Spring 2021 semester.In early 2021, Color Routes were planned to continue in fall 2021. However, this plan was scrapped in summer 2021, and Letter Routes were brought back for Fall 2021 with slight modifications.^[30]

Name	Route	Notes
Purple (PRL)	College Avenue/Busch
Blue (BLU)	Livingston/Busch	One bus designated as Blue-He (BLU/H) stops at the Busch-Livingston Health Center.
Scarlet (SCR)	College Avenue/Douglass via George Street
Orange (ORG)	College Avenue/Livingston
Green (GRN)	Douglass/Livingston
Yellow (YLW)	Douglass/Busch

Shuttles

Name	Route	Hours of Operation	Notes
Douglass Library Shuttle	Mabel Smith Douglass Library to residence halls on Cook/Douglass Campus upon request	10:00PM-2:00AM	Operated on weekdays during the academic year only. Operated by Rutgers Department of Transportation. Discontinued after March 11, 2020.
New BrunsQuick 1 Shuttle	College Ave/New Brunswick Train Station via select stops in New Brunswick	6:00AM–11:00PM	Operated on weekdays during the academic year and during summer. Operated by First Transit. Discontinued after April 24, 2020.
New BrunsQuick 2 Shuttle	College Ave/New Brunswick Train Station via select stops in New Brunswick	6:30AM–10:00PM	Operated on weekdays during the academic year only. Operated by First Transit. Runs roughly the same route as New BrunsQuick Shuttle 1, but in the opposite direction. Discontinued after March 11, 2020.
RBHS	Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/ Clinical Academic Building	5:00AM–11:00PM	Operated on weekdays during the academic year and during summer. Operated by First Transit. Discontinued after March 11, 2020.

Routes Operated Under Previous Contractors

The majority of the below routes ran throughout the late 20th Century as alternative variants or service patterns of the current routes.

Name	Route	Notes
AX	College Avenue Express/ARC Building (Busch)	Ran for the 2000-01 school year as a test-run replacement for the A to expedite travel between Busch classes, and College Avenue for commuters. Reverted back to the A the following year.
CA	College Avenue/Stadium Lot West (Busch)	Ran as a shuttle from the Rutgers Stadium parking lot during the 1997-98 school year to help alleviate commuter congestion on College Avenue. Replaced by rerouted A and H buses the next term.
D	College Avenue/Livingston via Highland Park	Operated as a local version of the former L route, which it was later replaced by circa 1990.
E	College Avenue / Douglass–Cook via George Street	Former local variant of the EE which originally made less stops via Downtown. Eventually dissolved into the current EE by the mid-1990s.
G	Busch/Douglass-Cook via Livingston	Service ran until May 2005 when Route 18 reconstruction predicted to slow down service. Eventually reincarnated into the current REXB by the middle of September 2005.
GG	Livingston/Douglass-Cook via Highland Park	Service ran until May 2005 when Route 18 reconstruction predicted to slow down service. Eventually reincarnated into the current REXL by the middle of September 2005.
L	College Avenue/Livingston	Originally an express variant of the D, service replaced it by the mid-1990s with the introduction of the LX. Eliminated in 2010 due to low ridership.
LXc	College Avenue/Livingston via Cedar Lane	Temporary version of the LX for the 2010-11 school year after complaints by students and staff who settled into places within the Highland Park region prior to the late-onset elimination of the L. Did not return after Spring 2011.

Newark Campus

There are currently 4 routes on weekdays and 1 night service running seven nights a week for Newark campus.^[31]

Weekday routes

Name	Stops	Hours of Operation
Campus Connect	Boyden Hall → NJIT → New Street Lot → ICPH → Bergen Building → Medical School → ECC → Washington Park → Broad St → University North → Physical Plant	7:00AM–11:30PM
Campus Connect Express	Boyden Hall → Medical School → CLJ → Washington Park	9:05AM–3:25PM
Newark Penn Station Local	Penn Station → Medical School → University Hospital → Bergen Building (after 7pm only) → Dental School → 180 W. Market St. → ICPH → Blumenthal Hall	6:45AM–12:15AM
Newark Penn Station Express	Penn Station → Medical School → University Hospital	7:00AM–10:00AM 3:00PM–7:00PM

The Newark Penn Station Midnight Express Security Shuttle operates between 12:00AM and 4:00AM every day, providing transportation between Newark Penn Station and the Rutgers Newark Campus via Boyden Hall.

Former routes

Name	Hours of Operation	Notes
Newark Kearny	3:00PM–12:00AM	Discontinued after February 26, 2021.^[32]
Newark Run Run	7:00AM–12:00AM	Intracampus shuttle that ran seven days a week (excluding holidays), stopping at Boyden Hall, Golden Dome, CLJ (Rutgers Law), 15 Washington, Broad St. Station, Physical Plant, and Newark Penn Station (morning/evening only). Discontinued since Fall 2020.
Newark Run Run Express	7:00AM–10:00AM 3:00PM–7:00PM	Express version of Newark Run Run, stopping at Boyden Hall, CLJ, Washington Park, Broad St, and Physical Plant. Discontinued since Fall 2020.

Camden Campus

Bus routes for Camden campus only operate on weekdays.

Fleet

Current Fleet

Fleet number(s)	Photo	Model Year	Manufacturer	Model	Powertrain	Campus	Notes
0126-0130		2023	ENC	Axess BRT 40'	Cummins L9 Allison B400R6	New Brunswick	Renumbered from 4126-4130 due to a numbering conflict with existing buses. Entered service on 11/20/2023.
201-205, 1001-1002, 1004, 1006-1007, 1011-1012		2010	ElDorado National	Axess 40'	Cummins ISL Allison B400R5	New Brunswick	Ex-Louisiana State University. Entered service in 2016-2020.
3255, 3260, 3265, 3278, 3282, 3367, 3370, 3372, 4907, 4909-4910, 7366		2013-2014	Freightliner Champion Defender	M2 106 35'	Cummins ISB 6.7 Allison 2000 series	New Brunswick	Ex-Auburn University Tiger Transit. Entered service in 2022.
4032-4041		2023	ENC	Axess BRT 40'	Cummins L9 Allison B400R6	New Brunswick	Entered service in February-April 2023.
4050-4053		2014	ElDorado National	Axess BRT 40'	Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R5	New Brunswick	Ex-College of Staten Island. Entered service in 2019-2022.
4127-4133		2015	ElDorado National	Axess BRT 40'	Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R5	Newark	Entered service in July 2015.
4176-4213		2011	ElDorado National	Axess BRT 40'	Cummins ISL9 Allison B400R5	New Brunswick	Entered service in July 2011.
5584, 5586, 5594		2019	Ford	E-450	Ford Modular 6.8L V10 Gasoline Ford TorqShift 6R140 6 speed with XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System	Camden	Entered service in February 2020.
8385-8386, 8388, 8391, 8401, 8415		2019	Ford	E-450	Ford Modular 6.8L V10 Gasoline Ford TorqShift 6R140 6 speed with XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System	Newark	Entered service in April 2019.

^{[34] [35]}

On Order

As of October 2021, a multi-year order of diesel ENC Axess BRT 40' buses has been placed to replace the current ElDorado and New Flyer buses. These buses will feature same paint scheme as 202-203 and 205, with all aisle-facing seating (35 seats total), 8 sets of dual USB power ports on seatings & rear deck. All buses in this order are owned by Rutgers University and operated by Transdev.

Fleet number(s)	Photo	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Powertrain	Campus	Notes
TBD (5 buses)		2024	ENC	Axess BRT 40'	Cummins L9 Allison B400R6	New Brunswick
TBD (5 buses)		2025

External links

• Rutgers Department of Transportation Services
• New Brunswick Campus Buses
• Newark Campus Buses
• Camden Shuttle
• "Steve's Bus Terminal-version 4.0" - historical information about Rutgers Bus routes. Vo, Steven (2014).

Notes and References

1. News: Bigelow. Pete. 1999-09-23. On a bus to nowhere, with no time to spare. The Central New Jersey Home News.
2. Web site: Campus bus route changes to increase service . Kypers, Neil P. . 20 August 2010 . The Daily Targum . 5 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100828114711/http://www.dailytargum.com/university/campus-bus-route-changes-to-increase-service-1.2306102 . 28 August 2010 .
3. Web site: Save the L Bus . Facebook . 7 November 2010.
4. Web site: Save the L Bus . Wordpress . 7 November 2010.
5. Web site: New LXc bus route frustrates students . Roache, Colleen . 6 September 2010 . The Daily Targum . 5 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100910110121/http://www.dailytargum.com/news/new-lxc-bus-route-frustrates-students-1.2320476 . 10 September 2010 .
6. Web site: Rutgers selects First Transit as bus operator . 15 November 2010 . Metro Magazine . 15 November 2010.
7. News: University to lower costs with new bus company . Roache, Colleen . 5 November 2010 . The Daily Targum . 6 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101109051201/http://www.dailytargum.com/news/university-to-lower-costs-with-new-bus-company-1.2395268 . November 9, 2010 .
8. Web site: First Transit Named Campus Bus Service Operator for Rutgers University . Stokes, Timothy . 2 November 2010 . First Transit . 8 November 2010.
9. News: 15 December 2010. Academy Bus of Hoboken sues Rutgers University . NJ.com . Associated Press.
10. Web site: 13 December 2010 . Malwitz . Rick . Contractor sues Rutgers over loss of bus contract . MyCentralJersey.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121003102322/http://www.mycentraljersey.com/proart/20101213/news/12130348/contractor-sues-rutgers-over-loss-bus-contract?pagerestricted=1 . 3 October 2012.
11. Web site: Department of Transportation Services. 6 September 2014. Starting Monday September 1st a new transit system will provide enhanced service while meeting the daily transportation needs of all students, faculty and staff of Rutgers University – Newark and RBHS, as well as NJIT, Essex County College (ECC) and University Hospital (UH)..
12. News: Isaacs . Uriel . August 28, 2023 . U. unveils new bus tracking app for campus fleet . . September 30, 2023.
13. Web site: March 7, 2023 . Transdev Completes Acquisition of First Transit to Become Leading Private Operator of Transportation in the U.S. . September 30, 2023 . Transdev . News release.
14. News: Godfrey, Greg J. M.. 29 September 2001. Say goodbye to the future. The Daily Targum. dead. 6 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110708221701/http://www.dailytargum.com/2.8692/say-goodbye-to-the-future-1.1526848. 8 July 2011.
15. News: Murphy, Austin. 22 November 2002. Light railway, busway no help. The Daily Targum. dead. 6 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110708221713/http://www.dailytargum.com/2.4988/light-railway-busway-no-help-1.1519417. 8 July 2011.
16. News: Roache, Colleen. 17 February 2010. U. trims back plans for greening project. The Daily Targum. dead. 6 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110708221826/http://www.dailytargum.com/news/u-trims-back-plans-for-greening-project-1.2158678. 8 July 2011.
17. Web site: May 2008. Greater New Brunswick Are Bus Rapid Transit. 2012-04-04. NJTPA.
18. Web site: January 2008. A New Face of TOD: Bus Rapid Transit. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120502131019/http://policy.rutgers.edu/vtc/tod/newsletter/vol4-num1/article_BTOD.html. 2012-05-02. 2012-04-04. Voorhees Transportation Institute.
19. Web site: Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules . Rutgers IPO . Rutgers University . 3 October 2022.
20. Web site: Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules . Rutgers IPO . Rutgers University . 3 October 2022.
21. Web site: Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules . Rutgers IPO . Rutgers University . 3 October 2022.
22. Web site: Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules . Rutgers IPO . Rutgers University . 3 October 2022.
23. Web site: Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules . Rutgers IPO . Rutgers University . 3 October 2022.
24. Web site: Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules . Rutgers IPO . Rutgers University . 3 October 2022.
25. Web site: Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules . Rutgers IPO . Rutgers University . 3 October 2022.
26. Web site: Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules . Rutgers IPO . Rutgers University . 3 October 2022.
27. Web site: Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules . Rutgers IPO . Rutgers University . 3 October 2022.
28. Web site: Bus Route Descriptions and Schedules . Rutgers IPO . Rutgers University . 3 October 2022.
29. Web site: New Brunswick Campus Buses/Shuttle Service Institutional Planning and Operations. 2021-08-05. ipo.rutgers.edu.
30. Web site: Rutgers University-New Brunswick Campus Buses | Institutional Planning and Operations .
31. Web site: Newark Campus Buses Institutional Planning and Operations.
32. Web site: Rutgers University-Newark Campus Buses | Institutional Planning and Operations.
33. Web site: Rutgers Camden Shuttle Bus | Institutional Planning and Operations .
34. Web site: Department of Transportation Services | Institutional Planning and Operations.
35. https://rutgers.transloc.com/