Jersey City’s Via program has reached two million rides after about four years, with 80 percent of those rides serving minorities last year.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We are already shattering records and exceeding our goals of providing an affordable transit option that is proven to encourage more people onto mass transit and significantly expands mobility, especially for low-income and minority populations,” Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement.
“With Via Jersey City, we have created a blueprint for how public transportation should look across New Jersey, further establishing Jersey City as a coveted place to live, work, and play.”
Half of riders report using Via to connect with other forms of public transit regularly, proving its effectiveness in extending the reach of NJ Transit, PATH, and ferry lines and, in turn, reducing congestion and traffic.
The tech-based program averages over 14,000 rides per week.
Additional service metrics from 2023 validate that Via is achieving exactly what it set out to do in terms of providing a highly efficient and equitable transit connection to the community, including:
60% of all rides serving low-income residents, with nearly six million miles of driving avoided with the rideshare since 2020. Additionally, one third of riders say they travel more often with Via.
Furthermore, about two thirds of riders do not have access to a personal car, and therefore, 85 percent of riders use the service for essential needs.
As a “microtransit” service, Via Jersey City uses intelligent software from Via, the global leader in TransitTech, to match multiple riders headed in the same direction into one shared minivan at just $2 per ride (or free for trips to and from the newly-reopened Port Liberte ferry terminal).
The result is a convenient, highly flexible model that can provide transportation in areas where traditional mass transit cannot efficiently reach, meaning that residents in Jersey City now have nearly universal transportation coverage.
“Via is proud of Jersey City for achieving two million on-demand transit rides in just under four years. This incredible feat is a testament to Jersey City’s leadership in using technology to solve transit inequities and truly imagine a greater future for its community – we look forward to seeing the program continue to meet its goals in 2024,” added Via Vice President Mike Vaccarino.
There should have VIA for people’s who get off of work a little bit late because some people don’t got no way to get home or go to work at night time it would be great if they could do that