Jitney

Getting around Hudson County

Hudson County Jitney Guide

Jitneys are privately run minibuses that carry riders along Hudson County's main roads and into Manhattan. They have no printed schedules and take cash only. The current fare is posted inside the van, usually taped behind the driver or on a poster over the front cabin. This guide explains how to ride them, where they go, and what they cost today.

Local rides
About $2 to $3 inside Hudson County
To New York
About $3 to $4 to New York, most trips about $3.50
Payment
Cash only, paid when you get off
Schedule
No timetable. Flag one down.

Where jitneys run

Loading the map...

Lines show the streets each corridor uses, drawn by HudPost from rider reports. Dashed lines are branches or return routes. Tap a line to jump to its details.

The corridors

Kennedy Boulevard (Journal Square to Nungessers)

Local jitneys run the length of Kennedy Boulevard between Journal Square and Nungessers. Signs read "Kennedy Blvd." or "Kennedy Journal Square". At Journal Square, board on the northbound side of Kennedy Boulevard outside the Transportation Center.

Towns
Jersey City, Union City, West New York, North Bergen
Route
Journal Square, Jersey City to Nungessers, North Bergen
When
Rider reports: about every 10 minutes on weekdays, 15 to 20 minutes on weekends. HudPost: much less frequent after midnight.

Kennedy Boulevard (Bayonne to Journal Square)

Jitneys run up Kennedy Boulevard from Bayonne to Journal Square. Signs may read "Journal Square Bayonne". At Journal Square, southbound buses board on Kennedy Boulevard just west of the Transportation Center, between Bergen and Tonnelle Avenues. A few morning trips continue to New York by way of Central Avenue, signed "Bayonne/New York".

Towns
Bayonne, Jersey City
Route
2nd Street, Bayonne to Journal Square, Jersey City
When
Rider reports: about 5 am to 9 or 10 pm. About every 10 minutes at weekday rush hour, 20 minutes midday, 30 minutes on weekends.

Kennedy Boulevard to New York (Community Lines)

Community Lines runs larger buses from Journal Square up Kennedy Boulevard into Union City, then through the Lincoln Tunnel into the Port Authority terminal. The Port Authority lists Community Lines as a jitney carrier at the terminal, phone 201-309-0006. Unlike the Bergenline and Boulevard East jitneys, these board inside the terminal.

Towns
Jersey City, Union City
Route
Journal Square Transportation Center (lane B2) to Port Authority Midtown Bus Terminal
In New York
Inside the Port Authority Midtown Bus Terminal, gate 51 (40th Street side)
When
Rider reports: every 2 to 4 minutes at rush hour, 5 to 15 minutes otherwise. Port Authority signage has shown a last bus from New York at 10:30 pm.

Bergenline Avenue to New York

The heart of North Hudson. Jitneys run the length of Bergenline Avenue through North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York and Union City, then through the Lincoln Tunnel. Northbound buses use New York Avenue and 48th Street to reach Bergenline. Signs read "New York 42nd Street". They are known for being fast and crowded.

Towns
North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York, Union City
Route
Nungessers, North Bergen to Midtown Manhattan
In New York
Street pickup on the north side of West 42nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues; drop-offs along 40th Street
When
HudPost: nearly 24/7, every 2 to 5 minutes at busy times. Rider reports agree: 24 hours, about every 10 to 20 minutes after midnight.

Bergenline Avenue local (Fort Lee and Nungessers to Journal Square)

Local jitneys run south on Anderson Avenue, Bergenline Avenue and Palisade Avenue, then west to Journal Square. Northbound they use New York Avenue in Union City, from about 2nd Street up to 48th Street, then Bergenline Avenue. Signs read "Bergenline Journal Square" or "Bergenline". Spanish Transportation buses use platform D4 inside the Journal Square Transportation Center. A branch to Newport Mall and downtown Jersey City was reported cut back around 2023 to 2024.

Towns
North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York, Union City, Jersey City
Route
Fort Lee (Anderson Avenue) and Nungessers to Journal Square, Jersey City
In New York
Status unclear: the Port Authority still lists Bergenline jitneys at George Washington Bridge Bus Station gates 9 and 10, but rider reports say the bridge crossing ended around 2023 to 2024.
When
Rider reports: every 2 to 3 minutes in the daytime. Service from the platforms inside Journal Square runs about 6:30 am to 9 pm.

Boulevard East to New York

Jitneys run along Boulevard East on top of the Palisades through North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York and Weehawken, with views of the Manhattan skyline, then enter the Lincoln Tunnel. Some use Park Avenue and Highwood Terrace near the tunnel. Signs read "New York Blvd East".

Towns
North Bergen, Guttenberg, West New York, Weehawken
Route
Nungessers, North Bergen to Midtown Manhattan
In New York
Street pickup on the north side of West 42nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues (same spot as Bergenline); drop-offs along 40th Street
When
HudPost: much less frequent after midnight. Rider reports: about every 4 to 5 minutes in the daytime; last departure from 42nd Street around 3 am Sunday to Thursday, all night Friday and Saturday.

Central Avenue to New York (mornings only)

Morning jitneys run along Central Avenue, Congress Street and Paterson Plank Road, down the 14th Street Viaduct into Hoboken, north on Willow Avenue and through the Lincoln Tunnel. Some start in Bayonne.

Towns
Jersey City, Union City, Hoboken, Weehawken
Route
Central Avenue, Jersey City Heights to Midtown Manhattan
In New York
Drop-offs along 40th Street; no trips back from New York
When
Rider reports: weekday mornings only, about every 15 minutes from 7 to 8:30 am, last trip around 9:45 am.

Palisade Avenue to New York (rush hour only)

A small rush hour route from the Jersey City Heights down the 14th Street Viaduct, along Willow Avenue in Hoboken and into the Lincoln Tunnel.

Towns
Jersey City, Union City, Hoboken, Weehawken
Route
Christ Hospital, Palisade Avenue, Jersey City to Midtown Manhattan
In New York
Drop-offs along 40th Street; two evening trips leave West 41st Street between 7th and 8th Avenues
When
Rider reports: mornings until just before 9 am; evening trips from New York at 5:15 and 5:55 pm.

60th Street and River Road to Fort Lee and the George Washington Bridge

A thin route down Hillside Road and along River Road through Edgewater to Fort Lee. Signs read "River Road Edgewater W.N.Y.". Rider reports describe one bus about once an hour. Current status not confirmed.

Towns
West New York, Guttenberg, North Bergen
Route
60th Street and Kennedy Boulevard, West New York to Bridge Plaza, Fort Lee; a few morning trips to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station
In New York
George Washington Bridge Bus Station (early morning trips only)
When
Rider reports: 7:30 am to 7 pm, Monday to Saturday, no Sunday service.

Paterson jitneys with Union City stops

Paterson jitneys leave the highway in Union City to make stops on 30th and 31st Streets. Some trips skip Union City. Rider-reported fare from 8th Avenue to Union City: $4 (November 2025).

Towns
Union City, North Bergen
Route
Paterson, Clifton and Passaic to Midtown Manhattan
In New York
8th Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets, and gate 56 inside the Port Authority terminal
When
Rider reports: 24 hours, every few minutes at rush hour.

Main stops

Journal Square Transportation Center

A Port Authority bus station and PATH station on Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City. Kennedy Boulevard buses to New York leave from lane B2 inside, Spanish Transportation Bergenline buses use platform D4, and Kennedy Boulevard and Bayonne jitneys stop on Kennedy Boulevard just outside.

Nungessers, North Bergen

Where Bergenline Avenue, Kennedy Boulevard, Boulevard East and Woodcliff Avenue meet at the North Bergen and Fairview line. The Bergenline, Kennedy Boulevard and Boulevard East jitneys all end here, so it is a transfer point.

How to ride

  1. Find a bus stop. Go to a regular bus stop on a jitney street like Kennedy Boulevard, Bergenline Avenue or Boulevard East. Jitneys pick up at the regular bus stops along the road.
  2. Check the sign. Look at the small sign in the front passenger window. It shows where the bus is going, like "New York 42nd Street", "New York Blvd East", "Bergenline Journal Square" or "Kennedy Blvd." Different companies use different signs, so ask the driver if you are not sure.
  3. Wave the bus down. Even at a bus stop, wave your hand so the driver knows you want this bus.
  4. Take a seat. Board and sit down. You do not pay when you get on.
  5. Call your stop. About one block before your stop, call out "Next stop!" Some buses have a pull rope along the windows that rings a bell. Locals call out "¡La próxima!" or "¡La parada!"
  6. Pay cash when you get off. Hand your cash to the driver as you leave by the front door. Bring exact change or small bills.

Going to New York and back

Jitneys from Hudson County go to one of two places in Manhattan. Lincoln Tunnel buses drop off around the Port Authority Midtown Bus Terminal, which sits on 8th Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets; most let riders off along 40th Street at 8th and 7th Avenues. Buses that cross the George Washington Bridge use the George Washington Bridge Bus Station at Broadway and 178th Street in Washington Heights.

  • North side of West 42nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues, across from the Port Authority terminal. Do not go inside the terminal gates. Look for the line of vans and check the window sign: Bergenline and Boulevard East buses share this spot.
  • Inside the Port Authority Midtown Bus Terminal, gate 51 (easiest from the 40th Street side)
  • 8th Avenue between 41st and 42nd Streets, or gate 56 inside the terminal (Paterson jitneys; check that the bus stops in Union City)
  • George Washington Bridge Bus Station, Bus Pavilion on Level 3: Bergenline gates 9 and 10 (service may have ended), Paterson gates 20 and 21
  • West 41st Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, two evening trips only (5:15 and 5:55 pm)

Jitney or NJ TRANSIT?

NJ TRANSIT is New Jersey's public transportation corporation. Its buses run on published schedules and take cash, the NJ TRANSIT app, passes, and credit cards through Tap & Ride. Jitneys are private, run without schedules, and take cash only.

NJ TRANSIT bus fares since July 1, 2026: $1.90 for one zone inside New Jersey, $3.00 for two zones. Trips to New York: $2.20 for one zone, $4.20 for two zones. Check the app for your exact trip.

For short local trips, NJ TRANSIT's $1.90 fare is now about the same as or lower than a $2 to $3 jitney fare. Any savings on a jitney now come mostly on trips to New York.

Why riders pick a jitney

  • Speed: jitneys weave through traffic and skip stops when no one is waiting.
  • Frequency: on the main corridors you can just stand outside and one will come.

When NJ TRANSIT is better

  • Published schedules and live bus times.
  • Passes, the app, and credit card payment.
  • A smoother, quieter ride.

Tips

  • Always bring cash. Jitneys do not take credit cards, Apple Pay or transit apps.
  • Skip the $20 bill. Drivers hate breaking large bills. Carry $1 and $5 bills.
  • Hold on tight. Drivers are known for driving fast and stopping quickly.
  • Ask if you are unsure. Before you sit down, ask the driver, "Do you go to Journal Square?"
  • If something goes wrong, note the company name and USDOT number painted on the side of the bus, and call the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs at 973-504-6200 or 1-800-242-5846 (toll free in New Jersey). Every privately owned bus that carries up to 40 paying riders must post this complaint number inside and outside.

What people call them

Jitney
What everyone calls them. State law calls these privately owned buses "autobuses" and notes they are often called jitneys.
Dollar Vans / Dollar Buses
From when the fare was a single dollar.
Bergenline Vans
Named for the Bergenline Avenue corridor through Union City, West New York, Guttenberg and North Bergen.
Immy Vans
A name reflecting the immigrant and working-class communities who both run and ride them every day.
Wawa
A Spanish and Caribbean word for bus used by locals across Hudson County (how many people say guagua).

Rules and safety

New Jersey's main jitney safety law is Angelie's Law (P.L.2013, c.224), signed January 17, 2014. It is named for Angelie Paredes, an infant killed in July 2013 in a crash caused by a jitney driver who was using a cell phone. It covers privately owned buses that carry up to 40 paying riders. Owners may not let anyone drive without a valid commercial driver license (fines of $1,500 to $5,000). Police must take a blood sample from a driver in a crash that kills or seriously injures someone, unless the driver did not contribute. The law's rider bill of rights, in force since January 1, 2015, bars drivers from smoking or using a cell phone while driving, bars overloading, requires clean and well kept buses and trained drivers, and requires the owner to post the Division of Consumer Affairs complaint number inside and outside the bus. Violations cost $1,000 to $5,000, and each day counts as a new violation. To complain, call 973-504-6200 or 1-800-242-5846 (toll free in New Jersey). Route buses must also be registered with the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission and pass its safety inspections. Jitneys that cross into New York are interstate carriers under federal rules: they need at least $1.5 million in liability insurance for vehicles with 15 or fewer seats ($5 million for 16 or more), and must show the company name and USDOT number on both sides. You can look up that number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Questions and answers

What is a jitney bus in New Jersey?

A privately run minibus or small bus that carries paying riders along set roads without a published schedule. Riders flag them down at regular bus stops and pay cash when they get off. In Hudson County they run mainly on Kennedy Boulevard, Bergenline Avenue and Boulevard East, and into Manhattan. State law calls them autobuses.

How much does a jitney cost in NJ?

Local rides in Hudson County usually cost $2 to $3. Rides to New York usually cost $3 to $4, most about $3.50. Check the fare notice inside the van, usually taped behind the driver's seat.

Do jitney buses take credit cards?

No. Pay with cash. Bring small bills, since drivers often cannot break a $20.

Is there a schedule for the jitney?

No. Jitneys do not run on a fixed schedule. In the daytime on Bergenline Avenue, buses usually come every 2 to 5 minutes. After midnight, service gets thinner on every route except Bergenline Avenue.

Are jitney buses safe?

Thousands of New Jersey residents ride them, and state law sets rules to protect riders. Since Angelie's Law (2014), every driver must hold a commercial driver license and may not smoke or use a cell phone while driving. Owners may not overload buses, must keep them clean and in good repair, and must post the state complaint phone number inside and outside. Buses that cross into New York must carry at least $1.5 million in liability insurance (vehicles with 15 or fewer seats) and show a USDOT number on both sides. Hold on firmly, since buses stop and start quickly.

How late do jitneys run?

Bergenline Avenue buses often run past midnight and at times nearly around the clock. Kennedy Boulevard and Boulevard East buses get much less frequent after midnight. Because jitneys are private, later hours always mean fewer buses.

Do jitneys run in Bayonne, NJ?

Yes. Jitneys run up Kennedy Boulevard from Bayonne to Journal Square in Jersey City, where you can change to PATH or to other jitneys heading north. A local ride usually costs $2 to $3. Rider reports put service at about 5 am to 9 or 10 pm.

Where do Hudson County jitneys drop off in New York City?

Lincoln Tunnel jitneys drop off around the Port Authority Midtown Bus Terminal, mostly along 40th Street at 8th and 7th Avenues. Jitneys that cross the George Washington Bridge use the George Washington Bridge Bus Station in Washington Heights.

How do I catch a jitney back to NJ from New York City?

For Bergenline Avenue and Boulevard East, do not go inside the Port Authority terminal. Jitneys line up outside on the north side of 42nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Both routes use this spot, so check the window sign before boarding. For Kennedy Boulevard to Journal Square, board inside the terminal at gate 51.

What is the difference between a jitney and NJ Transit?

NJ TRANSIT is New Jersey's public transportation corporation. Its buses keep schedules and take cash, passes, the app and credit cards. Jitneys are private, run without schedules, take cash only, and often come more often on their corridors. Jitney fares do not transfer to NJ TRANSIT or PATH.

Who do I call about a bad jitney ride?

Call the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs at 973-504-6200 or 1-800-242-5846 (toll free in New Jersey). Every jitney must post this number inside and outside the bus. Note the company name and the USDOT number painted on the side.