Rutgers Campus Buses are a zero-fare bus service used by students at Rutgers University campuses. It is the second-largest bus service in New Jersey after NJ Transit, and one of the largest university bus systems in the United States. The service is provided by Academy Bus Lines year-round, including weekends, breaks, holidays, and events. Late night shuttle service for students is provided by Rutgers Department of Transportation Services (known as the "Knight Mover") when the New Brunswick campus transit system is not in service. Academy Bus Lines took over Newark service on January 20, 2026, and began operation at New Brunswick and Camden Campus on July 1, 2026. The contract will remain until June 30, 2046.
History
From July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2011, Rutgers New Brunswick Campus bus service was provided by Academy Bus Lines. Prior to that, Suburban Transit was the operator.
Rutgers began to install new bus shelters in the summer of 2010. The new shelters incorporate red roofs to cast a red tone on the sidewalk, showcasing university colors.
Director Jack Molenaar announced that the L route would be discontinued due to budget cuts, effective 28 August 2010. Molenaar called the bus a "relic" and said it was "slowest and most underutilized" of the bus routes. There was significant opposition to the move, especially from graduate students and Highland Park residents who had already made housing arrangements expecting the bus to be there. After 600 people signed an online petition calling for its reinstitution, a temporary LXc route was created for the 2010–11 school year, stopping at Cedar Lane every 30 minutes. A second bus was later added to shorten wait times to 15 minutes. In addition, the three weekend buses (A, EE, L) were reorganized into two all campus loop buses (Weekend 1 and Weekend 2).
On October 21, 2010, First Transit was awarded a 5-year contract with an option to extend up to 15 years for the operation of New Brunswick Campus shuttle system. The main reason cited for the switch is cost. First Transit will refurbish existing buses and supply new ones for a total of 50 buses featured automatic stop announcements, whereas now drivers may or may not announce stops.
On December 10, 2010, Academy filed a lawsuit against the university over the loss of the contract. Despite the loss of shuttle operations, the company continues to provide the chartered bus operations used for tours and football games.
First Transit expanded their bus service to the Newark Campus beginning September 1, 2014; to Camden Campus since September 1, 2019. The new Rutgers-logo fleet of buses utilize the NextBus system and real-time status is available via the official Rutgers app. In 2018, Rutgers replaced the NextBus system with TransLoc. After Transdev completed the acquisition of First Transit on March 7, 2023, all current First Transit contracts were transferred to Transdev. Starting August 2, 2023, Rutgers replaced TransLoc with Passio Go! as the new tracker for Rutgers buses. This app includes features such as bus capacity, how long the bus will take at each stop, dwelling features, the bus number, while tracking each bus.
On January 20, 2026, Academy Bus Lines began operations at Newark campus, providing some new and refurbished vehicles for use. On July 1, 2026, they began operations for the New Brunswick/Piscataway and Camden Campuses, providing more vehicles and purchasing some of the former fleet from Transdev.
Alternative plans Several times over the past decade, it has been suggested that the bus system be partially or fully replaced with bus rapid transit (BRT), monorail, or light rail. Closing College Avenue to non-bus motor vehicle traffic was also proposed, but indefinitely canceled in February 2010, due to excessive costs. Current plans are for incorporating the Rutgers bus system into the proposed New Brunswick Bus Rapid Transit, which would be centered on the New Brunswick Station near the intersection of Route 18 and Route 27.
Routes
New Brunswick Campus There are currently 12 routes on weekdays, 2 routes on weekends and winter/spring/summer breaks, and 1 route on holidays for the New Brunswick Campus.
Weekday routes
As of May 3, 2026. NameRouteStopsHours of OperationNotesACollege Avenue/BuschCollege Avenue Student Center → The Yard → Student Activities Center → Stadium West Lot → Hill Center (North) → Science Buildings → Busch Student Center → Werblin Recreation Center 7:00AM–9:20PM (Mon-Fri)BLivingston/BuschLivingston Student Center → Quads → Hill Center (North) → Science Buildings → Busch Student Center → Livingston Plaza 7:00AM–10:40PM (Mon-Fri)B/LLivingston/BuschJersey Mike's Arena → Livingston Student Center → Quads → Busch Student Center → Rodkin Academic Center → Stadium West Lot → Hill Center (North) → Science Buildings 6:00AM–2:30AM (Mon-Fri)CBusch Commuter LoopStadium West Lot → Hill Center (North) → Allison Road Classroom Building → Hill Center (South)7:30AM–10:00PM (Mon-Thurs) 7:30AM–7:30PM (Fri)EECollege Avenue/Douglass-Cookvia George StreetCollege Avenue Student Center → The Yard → SoCam Apartments (SB) → Red Oak Lane → Lipman Hall → Biel Road → Henderson Apartments → Gibbons → College Hall → SoCam Apartments (NB) → Student Activities Center 6:00AM–2:54AM (Mon-Wed) 6:00AM–3:41AM (Thurs-Fri)FCollege Avenue/Douglass Express via Route 18Red Oak Lane → Lipman Hall → College Hall → Student Activities Center → The Yard 7:00AM–9:24PM (Mon-Fri)HCollege Avenue/BuschCollege Avenue Student Center → The Yard → Student Activities Center → Werblin Recreation Center → Busch Student Center → Allison Road Classroom Building → Hill Center (South) → Stadium West Lot 6:00AM–3:16AM (Mon-Wed) 6:00AM–4:00AM (Thurs-Fri)HELIXHelix Shuttle (RBHS/HELIX)RBHS → HELIX H-17:00AM–6:00PM (Mon-Fri)A pilot program which began on July 20, 2026.KBKnightbridge Shuttle (College Avenue/Knightsbridge Road)The Yard → 33 Knightsbridge Road7:00AM–7:00PM (Mon-Fri)A pilot program which began on Feb 20, 2026.LXCollege Avenue/Livingston ExpressCollege Avenue Student Center → The Yard → Student Activities Center → Livingston Plaza → Livingston Student Center → Quads 6:00AM–2:46AM (Mon-Wed) 6:00AM–3:46AM (Thurs-Fri)REXBDouglass/BuschRed Oak Lane → Lipman Hall → College Hall → Hill Center (North) → Allison Road Classroom Building → Hill Center (South)7:00AM–11:18PM (Mon-Fri)REXLDouglass/LivingstonRed Oak Lane → Lipman Hall → College Hall → Livingston Plaza → Livingston Student Center 7:00AM–11:22PM (Mon-Fri)
The Knight Mover operates when weekday buses stop running; it runs Monday through Thursday from 3:00AM to 6:00AM.
Weekends and breaks
In spring 2021, a variation of the weekend routes was introduced. They are essentially an express version of the regular weekend routes, stopping only at the stops served by the color routes on each campus. In fall 2021, a revised version of previous letter routes with redundant stops eliminated was introduced. Weekend routes were also based on revised letter routes. NameRouteHours of OperationNotesWeekend 1College Ave → Busch → Livingston → Douglass-Cook4:00AM–6:00AM (FRI) 4:00AM (SAT)-3:00AM (MON) Known as Summer 1 during summer break, Winter Break 1 during winter break, and Spring Break 1 during spring break.Weekend 2College Ave → Douglass-Cook → Livingston → Busch4:00AM–6:00AM (FRI) 4:00AM (SAT)-3:00AM (MON) Known as Summer 2 during summer break, Winter Break 2 during winter break, and Spring Break 2 during spring break.All CampusesCollege Ave → Busch → Livingston → Douglass-Cook10:00AM–7:00PMIdentical to the Weekend 1 route, operates on weekends during breaks and during holidays (Thanksgiving, Holiday Recess, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Fourth of July).
Special event shuttles Buses for the following routes are not trackable. NameRouteNotesCampus TourVisitor Center → Werblin Recreation Center → Livingston Student Center → College Avenue Student Center → Biel Road → Gibbons Operated by Academy ExpressCommencement ShuttleJersey Mike's Arena → Busch Practice Bubble Operated by Academy ExpressCollege Avenue Student Center → New Brunswick Train Station (Albany St) → Lot 48 (Busch Campus) Operated by Academy ExpressConvocation ShuttleBusch Campus pickup: Busch Student Center → Green Lot; Busch Campus return: Lot 101 → Busch Student Center Operated by Academy College Avenue Campus pickup: College Avenue Student Center → Green Lot; College Avenue Campus return: Lot 101 → College Avenue Student CenterDouglass/Cook Campuses pickup: Biel Road → Green Lot; Douglass/Cook Campuses return: Livingston Student Center → Biel RoadFootball ShuttleJersey Mike's Arena → Busch Practice Bubble Operated by Academy Express & Rutgers Department of TransportationCollege Avenue Student Center → New Brunswick Train Station (Albany St) → Johnson Park Operated by Academy ExpressRed Oak Lane → Biel Road → Johnson Park Operated by Academy ExpressNew Student OrientationLivingston Student Center → College Avenue Student Center → Gibbons → Werblin Recreation Center Operated by Academy Open House Day ShuttleVisitor Center → Livingston Student Center → College Avenue Student Center → Gibbons Operated by Academy Rutgers Day ShuttleBusch Student Center → Lot 48 Far → Student Activities Center SB → Zimmerli Art Museum SB → SoCam Apt SB → Douglass Student Center → George Street Northbound at Liberty Street → Zimmerli Art Museum NB → Student Activities Center NB → Lot 48 Near Operated by Academy Shopping ShuttleBevier Road (Busch Campus) → ShopRite → Walmart → Kam Man Food Operated by Rutgers Department of Transportation Open to students with slightly different routes on select dates throughout the semesterSocial Security ShuttleCollege Avenue Student Center → Social Security Administration (550 Jersey Ave #200) Operated by Academy Available by appointment via Rutgers Global
Former routes B-He B-He began as a set of B buses specifically designated to stop at the Busch/Livingston Health Center before going to Busch. B-He was first introduced as a separate route in the Fall 2022 semester as a route serving stops in opposite sequence from the B route. B-He was discontinued after the Fall 2024 semester and was replaced with B/L Loop. NameRouteStopsHours of OperationB-HeLivingston/BuschLivingston Student Center → Quads → Busch-Livingston Health Center → Busch Student Center → Allison Road Classroom Building → Hill Center (South) → Livingston Plaza 6:00AM–2:25AM (Mon-Fri)
Color Routes In fall 2020, 6 Color Routes were introduced to help with social distancing on Rutgers buses due to COVID-19. They were based on regular intercampus routes, but featured less stops to reduce students traveling time on bus. These routes were implemented on August 26, 2020. However, due to low ridership, these routes were discontinued after October 2, 2020, and weekend routes were used until the end of Spring 2021 semester. In early 2021, Color Routes were planned to continue in fall 2021. However, this plan was scrapped in summer 2021, and Letter Routes were brought back for Fall 2021 with slight modifications.
NameRouteNotesPurple (PRL)College Avenue/BuschBlue (BLU)Livingston/BuschOne bus designated as Blue-He (BLU/H) stops at the Busch-Livingston Health Center.Scarlet (SCR)College Avenue/Douglassvia George StreetOrange (ORG)College Avenue/LivingstonGreen (GRN)Douglass/LivingstonYellow (YLW)Douglass/Busch
Shuttles NameRouteHours of OperationNotesBusch Library ShuttleLibrary of Science & Medicine to residence halls and parking lots on Busch Campus7:30PM–2:00AM, 7 nights per weekDeparts every 30 min, operates during class and exam periods. Operated by Rutgers Department of Transportation. Discontinued after March 11, 2020.Douglass Library ShuttleDouglass Library to residence halls on Cook/Douglass Campus7:30PM–2:00AM, 7 nights per weekDeparts every 30 min, operates during class and exam periods. Operated by Rutgers Department of Transportation.