Montclair is exploring bringing back a local shuttle bus. Before the idea goes much further, the town wants more input from residents about what the service should actually look like.
A township committee has been investigating the possibility of a local shuttle bus program since January 2025, and now it’s putting that work in front of the public. The Shuttle Bus Subcommittee will host a community meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, in the council chambers at Town Hall, 205 Claremont Avenue.
The committee will share an interim report covering its research, results from a town-wide survey and potential shuttle bus concepts. Residents can ask questions and weigh in, with that feedback expected to help shape the committee’s next steps and eventual recommendations to the Township Council.
Why Montclair’s Last Shuttle Service Disappeared
Montclair has done this before. The township previously operated a jitney connecting neighborhoods with Bay Street Station, but the commuter shuttle ended several years ago after ridership declined.
This time, Deputy Mayor Susan Shin Andersen says the goal is different. “We are reimagining a shuttle service that will be cost-effective while creating a stronger foundation and broader use for residents and local businesses,” Shin Andersen told Patch.
That broader use could matter given some of the gaps in Montclair’s current transportation network. Weekend rail service on the Montclair-Boonton Line is limited to Bay Street within Montclair, leaving the town’s other five train stations without weekend service.
And Montclair-based DeCamp Bus Lines, founded in 1870, ended its commuter routes into Manhattan in April 2023. The company continued operating charter and other services before closing entirely in February 2025 after 155 years in business.
A local shuttle wouldn’t solve all of those transportation gaps, but the survey suggests there is substantial interest in another way to get around town and connect to existing transit.
What Residents Told the Town They Actually Need
The town didn’t float this idea blind. More than 2,000 people responded to a survey on the initiative, 93 percent of them Montclair residents.
Nearly 99 percent of respondents who said they already use NJ Transit buses around Montclair often — daily, weekly or monthly — said they would use a local jitney. Overall, 89.1 percent of respondents rated themselves as likely to use one. Most respondents also indicated they would be willing to pay $1 or $2 for a one-way ride.
Among the needs identified in the survey: connections to NJ Transit stations, local businesses and events; better mobility for seniors and residents with disabilities; transportation for students going to school and after-school activities; and better connections between Montclair and Montclair State University.
What Happens After September 30
At the September 30 meeting, the committee is expected to present its interim report and potential shuttle concepts before gathering more community feedback.
The township has outlined a rough planning timeline that calls for defining routes and operations, identifying funding sources and partners and seeking approvals during 2026. A shuttle could potentially launch in 2027, followed by a review of its performance in 2028.
None of that is locked in. The township says community feedback will help shape the committee’s next steps and future recommendations to the Council.
The meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 30, at Town Hall, 205 Claremont Avenue.
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