NJ TRANSIT OFFERS OZONE PASS PROGRAM TO SAVE ENVIRONMENT, MONEY

$2.50 roundtrip fares for program participants on high ozone days

May 12, 2006
NJT-06-059
Contact: Dan Stessel (973) 491-7078

NEWARK ¿ New Jersey employees will have the opportunity to ride NJ TRANSIT buses, trains and light rail vehicles at a reduced fare on days when high levels of ozone pollution are predicted this summer.

NJ TRANSIT¿s OzonePass program gives New Jersey‑based employers the opportunity to offer their employees a $2.50-round-trip commute within the state on any NJ TRANSIT service on designated high ozone days. This year¿s ozone season runs from May 15 through September 8.

¿The OzonePass program gives New Jersey residents yet another reason to leave their cars at home, saving gas, money and the environment in the process,¿ said Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri. ¿I encourage all New Jersey employers to consider offering OzonePass to their employees.¿

¿Encouraging commuters to use public transportation on high ozone days, along with our efforts to reduce particulate emissions on our buses, are key elements of our commitment to support cleaner air,¿ said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director George D. Warrington.

NJ TRANSIT was the first commuter system to introduce the OzonePass concept in 1999. Since the program¿s inception, NJ TRANSIT has sold more than 60,000 OzonePasses to New Jersey employers.

OzonePasses are sold in bulk quantities to New Jersey employers who can either sell or give the passes to their employees. Employers are notified in advance via fax or e‑mail whenever a high ozone day is predicted, enabling them to advise their employees to use OzonePass on NJ TRANSIT instead of driving to work.

OzonePass is available to members of the Air Quality Partnership, an organization of more than 500 businesses and organizations. To register, employers may call (973) 491-7600 or send an email to [email protected].

OzonePass is valid for commuting to and from workplaces in New Jersey, where participating employers must be located. The discount is not valid for trips to New York City or Philadelphia.

Ground‑level ozone pollution forms when car exhaust, fuel vapors and emissions from industrial sources are ¿baked¿ by the sun on hot summer days. Though New Jersey¿s air quality has improved greatly over the last few years, ground‑level ozone pollution continues to be a problem.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 827,000 daily trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 162 rail stations, 55 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.