Keyport senior lobbies for added bus stops

KEYPORT- Borough officials areworking to establish new bus stops for senior citizens living in themunicipality's two largest age-restricted communities, Mayor Robert Bergen said last week.

Residents of the Bethany complex, 500 Broad St., and the Legion Apartment Complex, 50 Beers St., have raised concerns over the lack of accessible public transportation in their immediate vicinity, and say additional stops are needed along the currentNJ Transit bus route.

Bergen said the Borough Council had tasked Borough Administrator Peter Valesi with discussing the project's feasibility with NJ Transit and the state Department of Transportation (DOT). Themayor said he expects a report from Valesi regarding the status of the project during the June 10 council meeting.

"We are trying to establish a permanent bus stop that would include the two complexes by havingNJ Transit come and take a look at the proposed stops," Bergen said. "[The Borough Council] is doing everything we can to make this a reality."

Morris Goldman, 74, of Bethany Manor Apartments, said the lack of an efficient public transit system has adversely affected the quality of life for residents of the age-restricted facilities, many of whom are unable to operate a motor vehicle and are reliant upon mass transit.

For residents of the Bethany complex, the closest public transportation service is theNJ Transit bus route,which travels every day between PerthAmboy andCampbell's Junction. The route has 10 stops, including one on the corner of Broad Street and Front Street, and spans the entirety of the Bayshore area.

Located in the historic district, Keyport's lone daily bus stop is over a mile from the Bethany complex (comprises BethanyManor Apartments, Bethany Annex and Bethany Towers).According toGoldman, that distance puts the stop beyond the reach of most inhabitants, who are unable to travel by foot because of either their age or physical disability. The closest train station, Matawan-Aberdeen, is also located roughly onemile away.

"Many of the seniors have oxygen tanks, making it virtually impossible to walk that distance," he said. "Cars in the parking lot have not moved for months because of the high gas prices. [Residents of Bethany Manor] do not have adequate transportation to the hospital. We are forced to pay $8 for a taxi ride to BayshoreHospital for blood work or other routine medical procedures."

RobertW. Laughlin, manager of the Keyport Legion Apartment Complex, said increased bus service would undoubtedly benefit members of the senior living community.

"The bus stop is three blocks away, but the entire trek is uphill," he said. "I believe the walk would prove difficult for a percentage of the tenants."

Valesi confirmed he had been given the task of petitioning the DOT and approaching the respective bus companies and said he looks forward to helping increase the availability of public transportation.

"I have approachedNJ Transit andwe are in the process of considering these stops near the senior high-risers in order to provide much-needed transportation for these people," he said. "The borough is going to do anything we have to do to get this done, even if it means establishing stops closer to the senior communities."

Bergen said the location of the two new bus stops would ultimately be determined by officials from the DOT.

On May 23, NJ Transit spokesman Dan Stessel saidmunicipalities have the power to authorize newbus stops through the adoption of an ordinance or resolution. The spokesman said Keyport did not need the approval of NJ Transit before adopting an ordinance establishing the bus stops.

"[NJ Transit]workswithmunicipalities to ensure sites can operate safely, working cooperatively with the community to designate where the bus stopswould be placed," he said. "There is nothing to preventNJ Transit from offering assistance to [borough officials] in the selection of an appropriate and safe determination regarding where the bus stops would be best situated."

Stessel said there have been instances where [NJ Transit officials] were told about [an ordinance creating a new bus stop] after municipal officials had voted for the adoption.

However, Bergen saw the adoption of a resolution as a step best taken after confirming the support of both NJ Transit and DOT.

"We do have the power to establish the bus stop through the adoption of a resolution," the mayor said, "but I believe it would be beneficial to approach NJ Transit before taking any action thatwould ultimately have to gain the final approval of the DOT."

According toNJSA39:4-8e, "Amunicipality or countymay, by resolution, in any street in its jurisdiction, designate stops, stations or stands for omnibuses. The designation shall be subject to guidelines that shall be issued by the commissioner of transportation. The guidelines shall be aimed at ensuring safety to both pedestrians and motorists including, but not limited to, the proper method of sign installation, dimensions, composition of material, proper placement points and maintenance."

The state statute declares the adopted resolution should be sent to the commissioner of transportation within 30 days of its adoption. The commissioner then has 90 days to exercise the right to invalidate the provisions of the ordinance or resolution if, in his or her opinion, they are inconsistentwith the guidelines established underNJSA, Title 39.

"NJ Transit would only put in a bus stop if the town desired one, but the DOT retains the power to nullify the existing resolution," Bergen asserted. "I do not know if we can mandate the bus stops without the cooperation and support of the DOT andNJ Transit, but [municipal officials] have no problem establishing a bus stop. The biggest hindrance may be the location of [Bethany complex] in the middle of the block near the entrance to a highway [Route 36]."

Both complexes are listed on federal and county documents as government-subsidized affordable housing, primarily designated for residents over the age of 62. Portions of the Bethany Manors are designated as rentals units for people with disabilities.

Goldman moved to the borough's largest senior housing facility five years ago, where he said he observed many of his neighbors marooned in their apartments because of a lack of public transportation. He declared that themajority of elderly residents are simply stranded at their housing complexes without a car or access to public transport.

Shuttle buses provided by theMonmouth County Special CitizensArea Transportation (SCAT) are insufficient in the eyes of Goldman. The shuttle bringsmembers of theKeyport Senior Center to and from lunch each weekday. The shuttle leaves at roughly 10 a.m. and returns at 1 p.m. To Goldman, this limited access amounts to the absence of true freedom.

"The shuttle only allows people to ride that aremembers of theKeyport Senior Center, a private group, to eat lunch and get shuttled directly home," Goldman asserted. "That has nothing to do with freedom. I do notwant to be amember of the senior center, even if it costs nothing to join, because the shuttle dictates when and where most residents can go, and that is not freedom."

The 74-year-old sent letters addressed to NJ Transit Executive Director Richard R. Sarles and the Borough Council.DatedApril 28, the letters relayed his desire for the expansion of the Perth Amboy-Campbell's Junction bus line to include the two senior facilities.

In his letter to Sarles, Goldman implored the official to provide relief for Keyport's elderly.

"A good part of [elderly residents] do not drive or own cars," he wrote. "The change to your bus line would only require about a mile extension to your present service, and should in all honesty increase your revenue."

The buses usually run onweekdays until roughly 1 p.m., according to officials fromthe senior center.

Goldman said weekly trips outside the borough are frequently canceled because an insufficient number of people sign up. Residents of Bethany complex desiring the bus servicemust sign up in advance at the desk, according to senior club policy.

"TheMonmouth SCAT bus does not give us the freedom of the NJ Transit bus route, which runs every hour. The borough should be offering [seniors] the absolute freedomwe deserve and are entitled to," he continued.

Laughlin said the SCAT bus systemthat operates on a daily basis runs routes that are restricted, when compared to regular mass transit.

"There have been numerous timeswhen [SCAT shuttles] are not available because there is a lack of drivers," he said. "If [increased bus routes] end up being the responsibility of SCAT, they must adequately fund the program, because without drivers, it is useless.You have a bus and a route, but you need someone to drive it."

The SCAT program was initiated to provide a supplementary means of transportation for the elderly and the disabled, according to county records.

The Bethany complex has a total of 471 apartments. When full, it has roughly 510 residents living there, Goldman said. The numberswere said to "sound about right" according to a Bethany employeewho declined to go on the record. The manager was unavailable for comment by press time. The Legion Apartment Complex has a total of 208 units. When completely full, there are approximately 240 tenants, according to Laughlin. The manager stated that about 215 tenants currently reside in the complex.

"Keyport seniors should be allowed the freedomto shop in the downtown areawithout walking over a mile," Goldman stated. "Expecting a senior citizen with a disability to cross Route 36 to go to the store is more than unfair; it's just not right."

Bergen said the borough is planning to invite officials fromNJ Transit to conduct an inspection of the proposed bus route, and he expects a full report on the status of the project to be presented during the June 10 council meeting