New Bus Route To Start When Affordable Housing Comes To Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — After the Chatham Family Apartments are built and occupied at 522 Southern Boulevard, there will be a new bus route and stop in front of it for residents who live there, as well as others throughout the township who’d like to use it.

Chatham Township’s Committee approved the bus route and stop at its most recent meeting, located at the 63-unit affordable housing complex that Walters-Cornerstone Development LLC plans to build.

The bus service will provide a mode of transportation for residents from the new development to Madison’s New Jersey Transit train station, with at least two daily pick-ups weekday mornings between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m.; and one during the afternoons from 3 to 6 p.m.

The Planning Board met on Monday night to further discuss the development’s preliminary major site plan approval and bulk variance, with the discussion planned to continue at the Board's upcoming meeting in August.

Administrator Bob Hoffmann answered questions for members of the Committee about the service when the ordinance was introduced at the committee's June 24 meeting. Hoffmann said the township will provide a 12-passenger bus, with residents likely to pay “a reasonable fixed fee” to riders.

As part of starting up the service, which Hoffmann said is expected to cost the township about $78,000 yearly, Hoffmann said it’s anticipated to begin about a month before residents move in to the complex.

The township is expected to receive a perfect score on its application for nine percent tax credits, for providing the service and stop as part of its affordable housing, Hoffmann told the committee members.

Committeeman Mark Hamilton asked during the ordinance introduction, if the service can be terminated if it’s not cost-effective or being used. He also asked what revenue the township may expect.

Hoffmann said he was still looking into all of the details about the service operation questions, but said first the township needed to put the service into place before revenue questions could be answered.

The township may set up other stops on the route if residents need them, plus Hoffman also said it’s possible down the line, New Jersey Transit may add its own bus stop.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: [email protected].