NEWARK — Riders of the Morris & Essex Lines will have additional options to get into New York Penn Station starting Monday.

As the "Summer from Hell" approaches the halfway point, Express Bus Service direct to Penn Station will begin on Monday from the Morristown and Madison stations every half hour between 7 and 9 a.m. No direct service from Penn Station will be offered for the return trip.

Additional express bus service will be added in Summit and Maplewood starting Monday with two more express bus trips being added at each station. Beginning on Aug. 3, express bus service at these two stations will now depart at 6:45, 7:00, 7:20, 7:40, 8:00, 8:30 and 9:00 a.m.

The 6:00 a.m. trip from South Orange and the 6, 9:30 and 10 a.m. trips from Newark Broad Street Station will be discontinued beginning Aug. 3 due to low ridership.

NJ Transit executive director Steve Santoro said the agency has been monitoring how riders have adjusted to the summer schedule and making adjustments.

“Over the past couple of weeks we’ve been getting a picture of when and where our customers utilize our services and we are adjusting accordingly to serve as many customers as possible," Santoro said in a statement.

Rider Michael Kasdan has been riding the express bus from South Orange, which has been offered from the start of the summer schedule.

"I usually take the 9 a.m. bus, and I am at work by 10:30 a.m. It adds about 20 minutes and I am getting in much later than I otherwise would. But luckily, I can be a bit flexible. Certainly, its of no help when I have an early meeting."

Amtrak continues its infrastructure renewal project at Penn Station requiring the closure of between three and five tracks. Morris & Essex Lines were the hardest hit by the work with no direct service weekdays after 7 a.m. Riders must use buses, PATH or NY Waterway ferry into New York.

Share your “Summer of Delays” experience with New Jersey 101.5 and join our commuter panel. Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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