By MADDY VITALE
There are times when Sea Isle City resident Rodney Greco, who lives on 90th Street, picks up his son from work at 4 a.m.
His son, Nicolas, is employed as a bartender at the Ocean Drive Bar and Restaurant.
And while Nicolas is an avid runner, jogging home to 90th Street from the OD at 40th Street and Landis Avenue is a bit of an inconvenience after work, Rodney Greco told City Council at a meeting Tuesday.
But expanding jitney service hours could help not only Nicolas get home safely, but also benefit other people, he said.
This is the third year that Greco has appealed to Council for more jitney service. His hope is that the city could negotiate with the Sea Isle City Jitney Association to extend the hours.
Greco told Council that other workers who do overnight shifts might utilize the service if there were longer hours.
“It’s the only form of mass transportation you have control over in this city,” he told Council.
The hours of operation for the jitney drivers in the summer are from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Greco told Council that he would like see the hours extended to earlier in the day and later overnight because he feels people could ride the jitneys to go to work, on errands, to church, have lunch or shop in town.
Jitney service begins for the season in May on the weekends through the third week in June. After that time, the Jitney Association provides rides seven days a week.
While the city does not subsidize the jitney service, Greco believes the city and the Jitney Association could collaborate to lengthen the hours.
He believes if there were more hours, it would be a “win-win” for everyone in town.
Council President J.B. Feeley told Greco that Council would look into his suggestions.
Greco said in an interview after the meeting that perhaps the city could subsidize the jitney service.
He added that he has had conversations with Dave Berry, president of the Jitney Association.
“I know they are willing to listen,” Greco said. “I’ve talked to them.”
Berry explained in a phone interview Thursday that there are reasons why the Jitney Association offers rides at the times it does.
Earlier in the day, people are on the beach and the jitney rides are not needed as much then as during the late afternoon and night hours.
There is also another reason.
“It is not feasible because we run on compressed natural gas. It is limited how far and how long I can go,” Berry explained.
He noted that the association is comprised of 32 jitney drivers.
For a fare of $2, drivers transport riders anywhere on the island from 94th Street to 29th Street.
“You can park your car and never see your car again until you are done for the day. It is the most cost-effective transportation,” he said of the convenience of the jitney service.
For more information about the Sea Isle City Jitney Association visit http://bookmyjitney.com/ or call (609) 513-0312.
