To Be Attributed to Sean Hughes, President Bus Association of New Jersey

The Bus Association of New Jersey would like to thank the Governor, Senate President,
Assembly Speaker, both Senate and Assembly Transportation Chairs and both Senate and
Assembly Budget Chairs for their leadership and forward thinking by making sure the private
bus companies that serve commuters and transit-dependent New Jerseyans were include in the
budget as COVID relief.

The private bus industry, which has historically been a key component of New Jersey's
transportation sector, has been devastated by the pandemic. We, like NJ Transit, are major
providers of public transportation, have union employees and offer a safe, environmentally
friendly way to travel. Private bus companies account for about one-third of scheduled bus
service in the state, based on passenger miles prior to the pandemic. While some private carrier
routes are operated under contract with NJ Transit, many are operated on an at-risk basis by the
private companies under their own authority. Private carriers operate routes in 15 New Jersey
counties.

The budget legislation’s anticipated Commuter and Transit Bus Private Carrier Pandemic Relief
and Jobs Program, once in place, will allow our members to be part of the New Jersey comeback
by bringing back employees, and serving passengers on routes that without this relief have had to
be eliminated or cut back.