PASCACK VALLEY—The first trip of Emerson and Westwood’s shared senior bus service commenced from Emerson Borough Hall to the ShopRite of Emerson on Aug. 4, with Westwood Council President Beth Dell, Emerson Mayor Danielle DiPaola, Westwood bus driver Oliver Burrel, and Emerson resident Virginia Moran on board.
The program, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in August, picks up senior residents and adults with special needs from their home and drops them off at destinations in any municipality adjacent to Emerson or Westwood.
The hours of the program might change to start at 9 a.m. in September, according to Dell. To schedule a ride, Emerson residents can call their Borough Hall at (201) 262-6086. Westwood riders can call (201) 664-7100, ext. 170, at least three days in advance if possible to make an appointment. For Westwood, a message can be left at any time and the resident will receive a call to confirm their appointment.
Park Ridge and Montvale also share a senior bus service. Township of Washington, Hillsdale, and River Vale offer their own senior ride services. Bergen County has its own service, which is reduced amid the pandemic.
Partnering for residents
“We’re very excited and enthusiastic about the service,” Dell said. “I’m hoping that it is well-utilized and appreciated. At some point, our goal is to have regularly scheduled trips to the mall, ShopRite, Stop & Shop and provide personal doctor visits.”
Westwood originally had its own senior bus service, operating on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with two senior vans that ran through the borough’s recreation department. Another bus driver was hired to drive on Wednesdays in order to expand the time frame per week of the new program.
“Our towns are somewhat similar in demographics, and I feel like they complement each other well,” DiPaola said. “Westwood has a lot of great programs, and I think they’re a little bit larger of a community. They already had the two buses, so instead of us going out and trying to purchase a brand new bus, it was a no-brainer to reach out to the town right next door and see if we can get a shared service together.”
Dell said that the shared bus service was an opportunity to provide assistance to Westwood’s neighboring town, especially since DiPaola has said she’s wanted to provide the service to Emerson residents for 12 years.
“I’ve just always felt that the senior community, although they have a beautiful Senior Center, that the borough could always offer them more services,” DiPaola said. “We have many services for our young residents or athletics and different programs. But I felt like with our aging community, we want to make them feel that they are still independent and that they can get out and take care of the necessities.”
After Emerson borough administrator Robert Hermansen, Dell, DiPaola, and Westwood Councilman Chris Montana met on Zoom to discuss the hopes for the program, the service was then approved at Emerson’s July 15 meeting of the governing body.
“We wanted to be of assistance, utilize what we had and share our wealth in a way that would not impact our taxpayers,” Dell said. “Emerson is providing a fee for the service to simply cover our costs — the intent is to not profit at all. The value of a shared service is reaching a larger group of constituents, outside our municipal border, who can utilize the service provided. All users and, where the service is subsidized, taxpayers, then benefit from a reduced expense due to cost sharing.”
Dell, who manages an apartment complex in Glen Rock, said that Glen Rock provides a daily shuttle bus service, making her familiar with the program. She hopes that Emerson and Westwood senior residents take advantage of the program rather than driving their own vehicles.
“One of the most difficult things for senior citizens to do is to give up their driver’s license, and so this offers them the mobility that they need when they sacrifice their license,” Dell said. “It’s a great way to give people a little freedom and independence that some desperately want.”
Westwood For All Ages is a terrific portal on all things senior. Created through a grant provided by The Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation, the initiative is a partnership of Meals on Wheels North Jersey; Westwood’s mayor, council, and municipal departments; local businesses; and health and social service providers. Information can be found on westwoodforallages.org.
Dell added that a senior services program manager position, which was introduced at Westwood’s town council meeting on July 20, will be advertised after the ordinance is adopted at the next meeting on Aug. 17. The manager will be responsible for coordinating with Emerson.
Township of Washington
The Township of Washington’s 16-passenger senior bus returned to action recently. Driver Walter Plant shuttles seniors to meetings, shopping, and doctor’s appointments in the Pascack Valley — he’s even taken folks to medical appointments in Oradell and Hackensack — and makes runs to ShopRite in Hillsdale on Mondays. (The township says Plant begins picking up residents at 10 a.m. for an 11 o’clock drop-off at the store.) To schedule a ride or for more information, call the Department of Public Works at (201) 664-3268.
Hillsdale
The Borough of Hilldale’s senior van operates Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call the borough at (201) 666-4800, ext. 3, and leave your name, address, phone number, time to be picked up and destination. There’s a maximum of six passengers at any one time, and all riders must wear protective face coverings.
Park Ridge and Montvale
Park Ridge and Montvale have teamed up on Senior Ride, a free transportation service for residents 55 and older. Your driver is Jeffrey Forrest, who will be happy to get you to medical and shopping destinations in the Pascack Valley area. The new van is handicapped accessible and air conditioned. Park Ridge’s website says the destination must be within eight miles of Montvale; Montvale’s website says the destination must be within 15 miles of Montvale. Days of operation are Monday and Tuesday: Park Ridge residents; Thursday (1st and 3rd) Montvale residents; and Thursday (2nd and 4th) Park Ridge residents. The van runs from 8 a.m. to a final drop off at 2 p.m.
To register and schedule a ride, contact the Borough of Park Ridge receptionist at (201) 573-1800 ext. 500, or the Borough of Montvale receptionist at (201) 391-5700, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (You must speak with the receptionist; don’t leave a message on voicemail.) Schedule your ride at least a week prior to your appointment.
For more information, call the receptionist or visit parkridgeboro.com/residents/public-transportation or https://montvale.org/resident/links#senior.
River Vale
The Township of River Vale’s free senior citizen van is listed as available every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for residents needing a ride to an appointment within the Pascack Valley area or for weekly shopping. Fill out the request form available on the town website (rivervalenj.org). For more information call (201) 664-2346, ext. 1006 or write jallgor@rivervalenj.org.
Bergen County
Bergen County’s Division of Community Transportation says it was created “to provide a safe, trouble-free, scheduled transportation system for persons with disabilities, seniors, and frail residents of Bergen County.” As of Nov. 15, 2020, it has been operating with limited service. For more information visit co.bergen.nj.us/community-transportation.