GOTrenton! All-Electric Micro-Transit Program Celebrates One Year: 30,000 Riders Served and 20 Metric Tons of GHG Saved

GOTrenton! was born out of community need. “Several years ago, in partnership with the City of Trenton and several community partners, we recognized a problem – a lack of affordable and reliable transportation options within the city and to areas not serviced by traditional transit models. Community members reported an inability to get to jobs, access healthcare, and shop for their everyday needs. We saw this in our own work.” explained Sean Jackson, Isles CEO. Over the last decade, Isles has trained and connected more than 3,500 people to good jobs but a common challenge they reported in keeping those jobs was lack of access to consistent and affordable transportation.
New Jersey is ranked 48th in the country in access to cars in city centers. In Trenton 30% of households don’t own a private vehicle, and 21% of residents report carpooling as their main mode of transportation to work. These numbers are consistent with other NJ cities which range from 30% to 40% of families lacking access to a vehicle.
Additionally, Trenton residents are at risk of increased rates of respiratory disease. Asthma rates for Trenton children are 4 times the rate for children in the rest of Mercer County, and average life expectancy for Trenton residents is 13 years less than the Princeton Junction average – just 8 miles up the road. Unfortunately, these disparities not only exist in Trenton, but remain prevalent amongst low-income communities throughout our great state.
In response to these needs, GOTrenton! was conceived through extensive collaboration with the City of Trenton, ChargeEVC, Environment New Jersey, Clean Cities Coalition, and other partners, both locally and nationally.
“The GOTrenton! initiative is truly a transformative project brought to life by Isles. Over the past year, it has not only enhanced mobility for countless Trentonians, but it has also set an example of how innovative solutions can tackle multiple community challenges,” said Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. “A few years ago, while serving as the chair of the Environment Committee at the legislature, these are the programs we envisioned. It’s great that when we receive both federal and state funding, we can implement these visionary initiatives. In Trenton, approximately 70 percent of residents have one car or none at all; GOTrenton! is essential for providing transportation, enabling people to have access to jobs, healthcare, shopping, and navigating our diverse city. This initiative goes beyond transportation; it also aims to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, lower emissions, and strengthen our community’s resilience to environmental changes.”
GOTrenton!’s launch was funded primarily by NJ Department of Environmental Protections (DEP) and is the basis for a model for future projects that will promote equitable transportation and the creation of new clean energy jobs in other parts of the state. The GOTrenton! project currently provides a fleet of electric cars and vans operating both demand and fixed route services in the City of Trenton and Mercer County. Initial funding limited the service to only certain parts of Trenton, and the workplace with small ridership. GOTrenton! Consistently reached daily capacity by the third month of operation. The pilot proved to be successful and that the service, in its limited capacity, was far from meeting the overwhelming need in Trenton and beyond.
This fall, funding from the first year of the Mercer County MATIP program, now known as the Mercer County Mobility Innovation Program (MCMIP) is paving the way to expand GOTrenton! mobility options to the entire City of Trenton and rollout workforce and essential services transportation for a larger part of Mercer County. This will allow our micro-transit model to link with existing transportation – making seamless connections for Trentonians and other mercer county residents working within the county and beyond.
In the month of September, GOTrenton! provided nearly 3,000 rides for more than 4,000 passengers. We have set a record for rides and passengers in each month of service – with over 30,000 total rides to date and are projecting these numbers to more than double with upcoming expansion. We have saved over 20 Metric Tons of Greenhouse Gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere. GOTrenton! recently won a 2024 Drive Electric Award from Plug In America, a national recognition of the important evolution of transportation happening here in our great state and the historic city of Trenton.
We have seen firsthand the impact that an innovative transportation model working in tandem with our traditional rail and bus services can have on a community. Demonstrating that innovative micro-transit models do in fact meet community needs! GOTrenton! Is a model for how environmentally responsible rideshares can have great impact on individuals and whole communities. Upcoming funding is now projected to be statewide, allowing other communities to provide their residents with the mobility and access needed to live healthy lives.
The post GOTrenton! All-Electric Micro-Transit Program Celebrates One Year: 30,000 Riders Served and 20 Metric Tons of GHG Saved first appeared on TrentonDaily.
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