NJ TRANSIT PARTNERS WITH RIDESHARE COMPANIES TO EXPAND OPTIONS FOR ACCESS LINK CUSTOMERS
NJ TRANSIT, Uber and Lyft Introduce a Pilot Program to Supplement Access Link Services to Enhance Service Reliability, Performance and Efficiency
May 10, 2023
NEWARK, NJ – In an effort to expand options for Access Link customers while enhancing timeliness and efficiency, NJ TRANSIT is partnering with Uber and Lyft on a pilot program allowing Access Link users to
“NJ TRANSIT strives to provide efficient and reliable transportation services to all of our customers, particularly those who are the most vulnerable,” said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “The Riders’ Choice Pilot Program will improve Access Link reliability, while offering additional transportation options to customers of this crucial service.”
“This pilot program is a perfect example of how NJ TRANSIT is leveraging innovative partnerships to enhance our Access Link service,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “By adding Uber and Lyft as travel options, we will improve the Access Link travel experience for our customers while making it more cost effective for NJ TRANSIT.”
“Lyft is excited to partner with NJ TRANSIT on this innovative new program that will expand mobility options for Access Link customers,” said Zach Greenberger, Chief Business Officer at Lyft. “Through similar partnerships across the U.S., we have seen riders benefit from decreased wait times, improved reliability and convenience, which ensures they can get to and from work, school, appointments, and other activities.”
With this new partnership, Uber and Lyft drivers will now be available to supplement Access Link services as needed only if the customer opts in to utilize the pilot program. Customers who do not opt into the pilot program will continue to have all of their trips serviced by the current Access Link providers. Participation in the pilot program is strictly voluntary. Benefits of the pilot program include
- Improvement of on-time performance and productivity
- Decreased missed trips
- Improvement in retention of Access Link drivers
Prior to scheduling a trip, Access Link customers in the Riders’ Choice Pilot Program must update their profile to indicate which rideshare service, Uber or Lyft, they would like to use. Customers also have the option to indicate they have no preference and are willing to utilize both providers. Use of the Uber or Lyft app is not necessary, and customers will not be required to contact either company directly. The determination to dispatch Uber or Lyft in lieu of an Access Link vehicle will be made based upon the best available scheduling option.
The pilot program starts today in Regions 2 and 5, which include Essex, Morris, Union, Somerset, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties and parts of Cumberland County and may expand to additional counties statewide. Further details on potential expansion will be announced at a future date.
For complete details and to opt in to the program please visit njtransit.com/accessibility or visit the Riders' Choice Pilot Program brochure by clicking HERE.
Access Link is NJ TRANSIT's American with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit program established to provide public transportation to people with disabilities who are unable to utilize local bus services. The area covered by Access Link is comparable to NJ TRANSIT's Local Fixed Route bus system. The service can be used to travel to any destination – for any reason – as long as the origin and destination are within the Access Link service area. Because Access Link is a “shared ride” service, other customers may be picked up during a scheduled ride if their location is on the way to the requested destination.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 253 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.
Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 37 billion trips later, we're building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.
About LYFT
Lyft (NASDAQ: LYFT) was founded in 2012 and is one of the largest transportation networks in the United States and Canada. As the world shifts away from car ownership to transportation-as-a-service, Lyft is at the forefront of this massive societal change. Its transportation network brings together rideshare, bikes, scooters, car rentals and transit all in one app. We are singularly driven by our mission: to improve people’s lives with the world’s best transportation.
