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ABOUT THIS SITE
This website was designed to be an information resource about accessible transportation options available to people with disabilities and others in New Jersey that don't have easy, reliable access to private automobile transportation. There are a number of transportation options and services available throughout the State. The following links will help you understand different transportation options and the information you can access on this website.
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BACKGROUND
In an effort to address transportation and other barriers to work for people with disabilities wishing to work in a competitive work environment, in 2000, the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Disability Services (DDS) applied for and was awarded a Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 Medicaid Infrastructure Grant from the federal Health Care Financing Administration. The goal of the federal project is to design and implement services that support individuals with disabilities as they secure and sustain competitive employment in an integrated setting.
As part of the project, DDS contracted with the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (VTC) to develop a five-year transportation plan intended to identify and document transportation barriers to work for people with disabilities and make recommendations related to addressing the identified barriers and providing enhanced transportation services in a variety of settings throughout the state.
One of the key recommendations included in the five-year transportation plan VTC prepared and presented to DDS in 2005, entitled Meeting the Employment Transportation Needs of People with Disabilities in New Jersey, was to develop an Internet-based one-stop resource offering information on available transportation options and services for disabled persons. NJfindaride.org is that resource, designed to provide you with travel information to assist in your trip planning activities.
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TYPES OF ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION
There are many types of accessible transportation services. This section describes briefly the types of accessible transportation services available to meet the travel needs of people with disabilities and others that don't have easy access to private automobile travel:
Fixed-Route Transit Services
Bus, rail or light rail service which follows regular, "fixed" routes and schedules and does not deviate from them.
On-Call, Accessible, Fixed-Route Bus Service
On-call, accessible fixed-route bus service (also known as call-a-lift bus service) allows individuals who need to use accessible fixed-route vehicles to call in advance and request that an accessible bus be placed on a particular route at the time that they wish to travel.
Route Deviation Service
In a route deviation service, a vehicle operates along a fixed route, making scheduled stops along the way. However, upon request, vehicles will deviate from the fixed route for short distances, to pick up and drop off passengers. The vehicle then returns to the fixed route at the point at which it departed to accommodate the request. Several variations are possible, including client-specific route deviation and site-specific route deviation.
Flex-Route or Point Deviation Service
In a point deviation service system, a vehicle operates on a fixed schedule with specific stops but without a fixed route. Vehicles will accommodate requests for pick up and drop off at locations other than specified stops or 'points' as long as they can be accommodated within the fixed schedule.
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Feeder Service
Feeder Service transports people with disabilities on paratransit vehicles to and from a fixed-route bus stop or train station. The service may also occur in the reverse order, with individuals traveling on a bus or train to a point where they may transfer to a paratransit vehicle.
Service Routes and Community Shuttle Buses
These services are designed to complement and extend the reach of local fixed route transit services and to help circulate people around a neighborhood, downtown business district or to/from residential areas and transit stations/stops and other community destinations like a shopping mall or hospital. Typically, these services use smaller vehicles that travel locally on a fixed route and schedule, but some may include an option that allows the vehicle to deviate short distances from its regular route to accommodate the needs of passengers with disabilities.
Dial-a-Ride (DAR) or Demand-Response Service
Dial-a-ride or demand-response services are services provided on demand and usually include door-to-door or curb-to-curb service provided to the general public, senior citizens and/or people with disabilities. In New Jersey, most dial-a-ride and demand-response services require at least 24 hours advance reservation and have a 30-60 minute pick-up window. Every County in New Jersey, many municipal governments and NJ TRANSIT provide demand-response services for people with disabilities.
Subscription Bus Service
Subscription bus service is a pre-arranged service designed to meet specific group or individual needs. Typically, this service is provided as part of a paratransit program; however, it can also be provided as part of a system's fixed-route service using accessible buses that are available off-peak or by using accessible spare fixed-route buses.
Flag-Stop and Request-A-Stop Service
Flag-stop service allows patrons to request a bus by waving it down anywhere along a route. Request-a-stop service allows a person on a bus to request to get off at any location along a route.
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ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS IN NEW JERSEY
A range of accessible transportation services are available in New Jersey. These include traditional bus and rail services, NJ TRANSIT Access Link, community transportation services operated by counties, nongovernmental organizations (such as nonprofit) and municipal government, as well as medical transport vehicles, taxis and livery services.
NJ TRANSIT bus and regional rail services
NJ TRANSIT currently operates approximately 150 bus routes. Private companies operate an additional 24 public bus routes under contract with NJ TRANSIT. These routes are divided into two major types - local and commuter. NJ TRANSIT also operations regional rail and light-rail train service on eight regional rail lines and three light rail lines with more than 15 stations.
According to NJ TRANSIT's Guide to Accessible Services, virtually all local buses operated by NJ TRANSIT are accessible to passengers with mobility limitations. Commuter routes, which travel to New York, Philadelphia or Newark, require advance reservations for an accessible vehicle to be provided. Approximately one third of NJ TRANSIT's passenger rail stations are accessible to individuals with disabilities. In addition, NJ TRANSIT's Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line and the Riverline operating in Mercer, Burlington and Camden counties are fully accessible.
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NJ TRANSIT Access Link
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires public transportation systems to provide comparable paratransit service for passengers who cannot use traditional transit vehicles. To meet this requirement, NJ TRANSIT operates Access Link, a statewide paratransit service that operates as a "shadow" service to NJ TRANSIT's fixed-route buses. Access Link serves origins and destinations located within a ¾ mile buffer of existing bus routes. The system operates on a paid basis, with routes, hours of operation, and fares comparable to the standard bus network.
Eligibility for Access Link is restricted and requires an in-person interview at a designated "Assessment Agency" office. To be eligible for Access Link, passengers must have a disability of a nature that precludes use of the public bus network. Certification is based on the following factors:
- Impact of a disability on the passenger's ability to navigate the bus system independently;
- Availability of appropriate accessible features on the existing bus system; and
- Impact of the passenger's disability combined with the environment that prevents the passenger from getting to and from a bus stop (Palladino 2004).
Assessment also includes completion of a medical verification form. NJ TRANSIT must make a decision as to eligibility within 21 days of receipt of this information or a person is "presumed eligible." Visitors to the state who are ADA eligible must apply for a temporary 21-day Access Link pass to be able to use the system. Also eligible are personal assistants of certified passengers, who ride at no charge.
Access Link operates on an appointment basis, with reservations required at least one day in advance. Vehicles may arrive at a pick-up point as much as twenty minutes before or after the desired pick-up time, creating a forty-minute window within which the vehicle might arrive. There is no restriction or prioritization on the types of trips that can be made as long as they are within a ¾ mile radius of regular bus routes. Since the system is based on traditional bus routes, transfers between vehicles may be required. Passengers must make reservations in both directions and the pick-up time for return trip must be at least 90 minutes after initial pick-up time. Standing orders - requests made once for trips that will be repeated at least once a week, but not more that once daily - are allowed. Passengers are charged fares based on the standard local bus fare and number of fare zones traveled. Access Link services are organized into five service regions and all services are performed by third-party contractors.
If you are interested in learning more information about NJ TRANSIT accessible bus and train service you can call 973-275-5555.
If you are interested in learning more about Access Link, you can call the following:
1-800-955-ADA1 (2321)
TTY 1-800-955-6765
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County Community Transportation Services in New Jersey
Each of New Jersey's 21 counties operates its own community transportation system providing a variety of transit and/or paratransit services to passengers with disabilities. In some counties, transportation services are provided by one office or agency; in others, multiple offices, departments or agencies operate transport services. Counties use a variety of funding methods, and these monies often come with conditions as to how they can be spent. The most common source of funding is casino revenue also known as the Senior Citizen & Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (SCDRTAP), which is funded by an eight percent tax on the gross revenue generated by casino operations.
If you are interested in learning more about New Jersey's county community transportation services, you can contact the New Jersey Council on Special Transportation (NJCOST) at njcost@yahoo.com.
Other Providers in New Jersey
As mentioned earlier, other transportation providers in New Jersey include nongovernmental organizations, which provide a variety of social services that sometimes include transportation. Private Medical Access vehicles are another type of transportation service provider functioning in New Jersey. In addition, many local governments offer transportation services for senior citizens and people with disabilities living in their town.
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