Jersey City’s subsidized ride-share program, established four years ago to reach neighborhoods not adequately served by public transportation, has surpassed 2 million rides, the city’s mayor said Thursday.
The success of the program highlights the need for affordable and accessible transit alternatives, Mayor Steven Fulop said. The announcement came the day after New Jersey Transit proposed increasing bus and rail fares by 15%.
The program is mostly used by people of color and low-income residents, who live in areas not adequately served by the PATH, bus or light-rail lines that traverse the city. It’s run through Via, an on-demand ride-share company that works with municipal governments to address transportation gaps.
City officials touted the program as a socioeconomic benefit. Ride-share transit programs could be a key to help economic mobility, according to the National League of Cities. Transportation also takes up a large portion of low-income household budgets, underlining the need for affordable options as concerns mount over potential NJ Transit fare hikes.
Have more mobility news that we should be reading and sharing? Let us know! Reach out to Sage Kashner (kashner@ctaa.org).
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