The Hunterdon County LINK is a bus system in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The system offers fixed-route and demand-response services throughout the county. The system is operated by the Hunterdon County Department of Human Services, and operated by Easton Coach Company.[2][3] From 2011 to 2020, it was operated by First Transit.[3]

Hunterdon County LINK
ParentHunterdon County Department of Human Services
Founded1984
Commenced operation1984
Headquarters8 Gauntt Pl, Flemington, NJ 08822
Service areaHunterdon County, NJ
Service typeFixed Route, Demand Response
Routes8 routes
HubsFlemington LINK Bus Transfer Center
Park Av & Capner St, Flemington, NJ 08822
FleetMinibuses
Annual ridership94,765[1]
OperatorEaston Coach Company
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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The Hunterdon County LINK system started in 1984.[4] From 1984 until 2016, service consisted mainly of demand-response service. The only fixed-route buses were the Flemington Shuffles (routes 16 and 20).[5]

In March 2016, the county's bus system was redesigned. Demand response service was retained, but four new routes (routes 14 through 18), collectively branded as the "Cross County Shuffles," were introduced, replacing key demand response corridors.[5] In addition to this, a new "Out of County Shuffle" route was introduced, the route 23, running from Flemington to Somerville in Somerset County. As a part of this service redesign, the Flemington Shuffles were also modified, with the route 20 (Evening Flemington Shuffle) being removed and the route 19 being added as a reverse run of the route 16.[5] In January 2019, a bus shelter was added to the LINK Transfer Center in Flemington.[5][6][7]

Routes

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Hunterdon County LINK operates eight routes.[8]

Type of Route Route Number Termini Via Notes
Cross County Shuffle 14 Lambertville
Cherry Street
Flemington
LINK Bus Transfer Center
U.S. Route 202
15 Hampton
Hampton Manor
Route 31
17 Milford
Milford Market
Clinton
ShopRite/Walmart
Route 12, County Road 523, U. S. Route 22
18
Flemington Shuffle 16 Flemington
Hunterdon Mews
Flemington
LINK Bus Transfer Center
Flemington Loop
19 Raritan Township
Hunterdon Medical Center
21 Raritan Township
Stop & Shop
Saturday service only
Out of County Shuffle 23 Somerville
NJT Station
Flemington
LINK Bus Transfer Center
U. S. Route 22, U. S. Route 202

In addition, demand response service is operated throughout the county.

Fleet

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Hunterdon County LINK currently operates exclusively minibuses. In the past, however, full-size buses have been used.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "2022 Annual Agency Profile - County of Hunterdon" (PDF). Federal Transit Administration.
  2. ^ "Rider Inquiry | Hunterdon County, NJ". www.ridethelink.com. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Massand, Rikki N. (April 2, 2020). "County LINK Bus Service Continues with Social Distancing, New Protocols". TAPinto. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "Broadening the Perspective: Community Transportation in Hunterdon County, NJ" (PDF). March 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "Community Transportation in Hunterdon County, NJ - An Update to the Hunterdon County Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan" (PDF). 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  7. ^ "Hunterdon County Link Bus Transfer Center | Hunterdon County, NJ". ridethelink.com. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  8. ^ "Bus Routes | Hunterdon County, NJ". ridethelink.com. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  9. ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved April 9, 2024.