The Township of Nutley has been selected as a recipient of an 18 passenger mini bus leased at no charge, from New Jersey Transit. The bus will be utilized as a commuter shuttle to the Dellawanna Train Station during peak hours, beginning in 2007.

Mayor Cocchiola applied for a grant in 2004 to obtain the shuttle. The community shuttle program has been made available through funding secured by Congressmen William Pascrell, Jr. and Donald Payne. Mayor Cocchiola was Notified that the Township of Nutley was awarded the shuttle several months ago. A ceremony took place in South Orange on November 14, 2005, attended by mayors from each of the towns awarded shuttles and grant money.

“This is a first for Nutley, said Mayor Cocchiola.” I hope that this shuttle will aid commuters by providing enhanced access to public transportation. I am grateful to NJ Transit and Congressmen Pascrell and Payne for providing our township with this opportunity.”

The jitney bus will arrive in 2007. The vehicle includes a wheelchair lift, heating, air conditioning, reading lamps, and overhead package rails. Start up costs will be funded for the first three years of service. During off peak hours, the Township may use the vehicle for other community based transportation services.

MAY 2007: JITNEY UPDATE
NJ TRANSIT has recently been informed that Ford Motor Corporation has stopped production of Ford E Series Chassis vehicles that utilize the 6.0 – liter diesel engine as of February 21, 2007. This is the underlying design for the various paratransit minibus vehicles that NJ TRANSIT has been purchasing for use by local agencies and non-profit service providers. The vehicle that is to be purchased by NJ TRANSIT for the grant to Nutley was this type of Ford. NJ TRANSIT is currently working toward a solution for this problem and a strategy for supporting vehicle acquisitions. Due to this delay, Nutley is now scheduled to receive a Jitney bus sometime in 2008.