Long Branch Begins Year-Round Shuttle Service

By Christopher Sheldon

Long Branch kicked off its year-round shuttle service today after months of planning and discussion.

The city offered a summer shuttle service the last two years and Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said its success lead to the city's decision to implement a year-round service.

"It worked well this summer and it's going to continue to work well," Schneider said.

The city has partnered with Monmouth University to make the West Long Branch campus a stop on shuttle route.

New Monmouth University President Paul Brown said he hopes the partnership will help ease some of the city and the university's parking problems.

"I hope it helps with the parking, we are fully aware of the parking challenges we have," Brown said. "We hope to see the shuttles inundated with students."

The shuttle will run on Monday through Friday and will cost $1 per ride, according to Long Branch Business Administrator Howard Woolley said. The first shuttle of the day will leave the Long Branch Train Station at 6:30 a.m. and the last shuttle will arrive at the station at 8:11 p.m. 

Other stops on the shuttle schedule are:

• Monmouth University

• Woodgate Avenue & Cedar Avenue (Cedar & Beeches)

• Brighton Avenue and 2nd Avenue

• Ocean Boulevard and West End Avenue

• Pier Village

• Broadway and 3rd Avenue (Brookdale Community College)

Woolley said the shuttle times could expand to include weekends in the future.

The shuttle will not run on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Memorial Day, Christmas Day and Labor Day.