Gottheimer helps Sussex County get $500,000 for new buses for Skylands Ride

NEWTON — Sussex County's transit system, Skylands Ride, will be getting $500,000 for as many as five new buses for its scheduled and on-call ridership.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-5) made the announcement Tuesday as part of his effort to "claw back" federal funds for his district which stretches across the northern tier of New Jersey counties. The congressman said his effort is to help counties and towns get back some of the money which otherwise would go to "moocher" states which get more in federal funds than their residents pay in federal taxes.

His office said that in 2021, the federal tax dollars clawed back amount to an average savings of more than $750 for each household in the Fifth District.

Gottheimer was joined in the news conference by new County Administrator Ron Tappan, Christine Florio, administrator of the Department of Health and Social Services, which operates Skylands Ride, and Newton Councilman Matthew Dickson.

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Skylands Ride provides public transportation for seniors, veterans, disabled residents, residents looking for work, or residents trying to get to and from jobs, post-secondary education, or career and technical training.

Florio said the county has a fleet of 25 buses, some of which have more than 250,000 miles on them and are becoming dated and unreliable.

The $500,000 federal grant will provide five new extended cutaway buses, each of which includes space for sixteen passengers plus two wheelchairs.

The Office of Transit provides more than 65,000 rides each year to Sussex residents through both public transportation and paratransit services. The available services include assisted transportation and employment transportation, to transportation for disabled residents, veterans, and senior citizens to get to shopping, medical appointments and other needed services.

There is also a scheduled bus route from the Sussex Borough area through Hamburg, Franklin, Ogdensburg, Sparta and into Newton.

Gottheimer said, “Unfortunately, here in Sussex County, many residents — including seniors, veterans, disabled residents, and those looking for work — have trouble getting to and from job opportunities, grocery and retail stores, doctors’ appointments, and more.”

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He said he worked with county officials on what their needs are and was able to get the direct federal aid for the buses.

"There is nothing more important in this job than my responsibility to have the backs of those who have served our great country and our seniors who have made invaluable contributions to our community," the congressman said.

In addition to the regular bus route and in-county rides for services, Skylands Ride also provides as-needed transportation for seniors, veterans and other eligible residents, such as veterans services to out-of-county VA facilities in East Orange, Morristown and Lyons and Castle Point, N.Y.

This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Skylands Ride to get $500K in funding for new buses