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June 12, 2009

The One's Trek Towards "600,000 Jobs Saved Or Created"...

...just got a little tougher

Olympic Airporter, an airport shuttle service that has carried thousands of Shore travelers to Newark and JFK airports for more than 30 years, will close on June 19 because of rising expenses and slowing demand, company officials said Thursday. Advertisement

Its decision devastated customers, who viewed the service as an inexpensive alternative to a taxi or parking at the airport.

"It's going to be a tragedy for me, I'll tell you that much," said Kathy Brown, 63, of Red Bank, who uses the service four times a year. "The price is right, and it's convenient."

Wall-based Olympic Airporter operates 19 trips a day, with stops in Toms River, Wall, Middletown, Keyport and Newark Liberty International Airport. It also shuttles passengers to John F. Kennedy International Airport.

...It started the airport shuttle service in 1987. It purchased the Princeton Airporter in 2006, adding service from Princeton to Newark Liberty and changing its name to the Olympic Airporter. Today, it has 128 full- and part-time employees and a fleet of 90 vehicles.

And next week it has zero. I'd love for the article to delve into the burden that Washington's and especially Trenton's regulatory mania has placed on the company.

But I ain't gonna get that from the APP.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at June 12, 2009 07:40 AM

Comments

Bingley, I'm devastated by this news. What bus can I take into the city when I arrive in July, or will you be coming to pick me up?

Posted by: Ave at June 12, 2009 08:12 AM

Here 'ya go.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 12, 2009 08:40 AM

This isn't the bus service I commute on, so sadly I can not use this as a reason to turn you away.

I'm still looking for something, though.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 12, 2009 08:42 AM

Well that's just great and they probably serve complimentary box wine too. But never fear, it appears the NYAS (New York Airport Service) bus service still runs from JFK to Manhattan so see 'ya (too) soon, Bingley!

Posted by: Ave at June 12, 2009 08:50 AM

What happened to the Precedent's emphasis on mass transit and green movement of multiple peoples? Wouldn't this qualify?

And you apologize to Ave this second.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at June 12, 2009 08:51 AM

I'll open another box wine for her.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 12, 2009 01:49 PM

Typical APP. Doesn't say how many people lost their jobs or how Big O's oil price inflation helped dig the grave. We used Olympic a lot. It's going to be missed.

Posted by: Gary from Jersey at June 12, 2009 03:15 PM

Shutting down operations sounds kind of drastic. Couldn't they have first tried cutting back the schedule and see if they could remain solvent?

Posted by: Eric at June 14, 2009 10:23 AM

Private jitney services would thrive in the suburbs if the regulators would get out of the way. However, public transportation unions and the government rentiers who hold licensing power wouldn't like that, so it won't happen. Plus, the suburbs are evil, according to the Green Gospel, so it's morally wrong to make it easier for people to live in them.

Posted by: NJ Sue at June 15, 2009 11:54 AM