NJ Transit and Via partner to provide microtransit. Here's where. NorthJersey.com Updated April 2, 2026, 7:25 p.m. ET NJ Transit is launching a new - free - microtransit shuttle in Bergen and Monmouth counties. Via will operate the service, known as MicroLink, in partnership with NJ Transit during the two-year pilot program that launches Monday, April 6. "By offering flexible, on-demand service, we are helping customers more easily connect to our bus network while also expanding access to the broader transit system for a more seamless trip," NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said in a statement announcing the program. The pilot program will be partly funded using a $7 million federal grant from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. During the pilot, NJ Transit will monitor ridership demand, customer feedback and service efficiency to determine whether similar microtransit zones could work in other areas around the state. "MicroLink powered by NJ Transit is a smart, customer-focused investment that is part of building a more connected, reliable, and rider-focused NJ Transit," Gov. Mikie Sherrill said in a statement. What is microtransit? Microtransit programs, such as this one, are designed to provide "first-mile/last-mile" solutions, which means getting people a short distance to or from bus stops and train stations. Via, a New York City-based microtransit company, launched in Jersey City in 2020 to provide subsidized on-demand rides for residents. The program was hugely successful and is heavily used, with more than 2,000 rides daily, according to a presentation given in January 2023 by Eric Gardiner, Via's then-director of East Coast partnerships. Nearly 50% of trips booked by riders in Jersey City involved a connection to a transit station, which helped close those critical gaps to get people to public transportation, Gardiner said. Via will fill that same gap in NJ Transit's pilot program by helping customers get to or from bus stops within the Knickerbocker Road corridor in Bergen County, and in Monmouth County it will do the same for the Union Hill Park & Ride in Marlboro and Freehold Mall Park & Ride. The MicroLink program could also help reduce the strain on NJ Transit's challenging AccessLink service, which provides van service for seniors and those with disabilities. AccessLink has come under scrutiny over the years for long wait times, poor and unreliable service, and difficulties booking trips. The service is dictated by federal law and has strict and byzantine rules about who is eligible for rides and where they can be driven. NJ Transit launched and expanded another pilot program that augmented AccessLink service by offering on-demand rides through partnerships with private companies, such as Uber, Lyft and UZURV. Where will MicroLink operate? The Bergen microtransit zone used for this pilot will include sections of Bergenfield, Tenafly, Englewood and Teaneck. It is centered on fixed-route bus service and includes destinations such as the Teaneck Armory and Englewood Health. In Monmouth, there will be two microtransit zones used for this pilot. * Zone 1 encompasses sections of Manalapan and Marlboro to connect customers with the Union Hill Park & Ride in Marlboro. * Zone 2 covers sections of Freehold Township and Freehold Borough to connect customers with the Freehold Mall Park & Ride. * Note: Bus route No. 139 will no longer divert off Route 9 during certain peak period trips through the Covered Bridge and Yorktown areas of Manalapan and the Stonehurst and Raintree areas of Freehold Township. Customers in those areas should use MicroLink to connect to the 139. How will it work? There are a couple of ways to book a MicroLink trip. Here are a few steps and tips: * Download the "MicroLink powered by NJ Transit" app and create an account. * Enter the pickup and drop-off addresses, choose the ride that works best and tap Book this Ride. * Customers without access to a smartphone can reserve a ride by calling 973-233-4047. * Customers will be provided a "meet-up" spot to meet the driver. * All trips must have an NJ Transit bus stop as an origin or destination point. * Customers are recommended to book rides 20 to 30 minutes before the departure time. * The program will operate on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. * MicroLink's fleet is a mix of electric and gas-powered vans that seat six, including one wheelchair-accessible seat in each vehicle. Additional information about specific pickup locations, maps of the service zones and how to use the service can be found at njtransit.com/microlink.

UZURV has been contracted by the Met Council to be a POD program provider.