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Interesting. This is exactly what I was expecting. I will definitely look into this. Any more information about the commutes? Are these NJ transit buses? Any place where I can find stops/information on times etc. Thanks!
My experience with buses in Bergen county had been very unpleasant. If you have to be at work by 9:00 am, I would not rely on a bus as they can easily get stick in traffic. PABT is a big nightmare, just read up some reviews about it. Buses themselves are old and cramped and very crowded. And god forbid there is rain, snow, bright sun or a game/concert in the Meadowlands arena. Your commute will take forever...
This is basically why we ended up in Cranford, the house is a five minute walk to the train. After we moved here I found out we had an express bus too, which means when the train goes down I take the bus. If I need to go to Times Square in the morning I take the bus.
Having both adds so much flexibility to getting to and from the city, but the housing stock isn't new and some people think the town is too far out for them. It's not right for everyone but it's certainly right for us right now.
No argument, Cranford is very nice. We looked there also. I sometimes regret not buying there, but we were under a bit of time pressure and really didn't see a house we liked in our price range there. If I worked midtown I might have just rented until we found something.
My experience with buses in Bergen county had been very unpleasant. If you have to be at work by 9:00 am, I would not rely on a bus as they can easily get stick in traffic. PABT is a big nightmare, just read up some reviews about it. Buses themselves are old and cramped and very crowded. And god forbid there is rain, snow, bright sun or a game/concert in the Meadowlands arena. Your commute will take forever...
If you have to be at work by 9, it's awful. If you have to be at work by 8, it's fine. Traffic at the helix to 495 picks up right around 7:15. It is true that bad weather destroys the commute, moreso than with the train. Any snow and the express bus lane into PABT is closed. Commute home is usually fine except around the holidays when traffic picks up (I've never quite figure out why). The busses are certainly a bit less comfortable than the train, but not by that much. Crowds depend on what line you take. If you take a bus line that isn't overcapacity (ie minimal lines at night) I don't really get the complaint about port authority. I literally spend less than 10 minutes a day in the terminal, 2 walking out, and a few walking in and occasionally waiting for my bus. Especially if you work within walking distance, you can figure out the exact time you need to get to your gate to get a seat on the bus you want.
Yes, the bus can take a little tweaking to get right, but overall it’s very reliable. Lakeland Bus Lines has routes on 46 and 80, including park & ride lots with free parking at places like the Rockaway Mall. If you can adjust your workday a little (8-4, for example) to make an early bus work for you, you’re good. Bad weather is a problem (for everyone!) so it’s great to be able to work at home when needed. I’ve taken the bus from Dover and Parsippany on and off for 20 years and no question, my train-riding colleagues from NJ and other suburbs complain a lot more than I ever have cause to.
Look at Fair Lawn. I moved in here for the very reasons you have mentioned. Now that I live in Fair Lawn, may be I am biased but this town is worth a look - 2 train station (<40 mins to penn with a hop at Secaucus), multiple express busses, safe, good schools, raising property value. if you need any specifics on which area is nicer etc, I will gladly help - not a real estate agent - don't be scared
new town homes are coming up (530k+ for 1950 sqft), steps away from radburn station but seems expensive to me .
good luck with your search.
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