Committee hears $20 million mobility innovation pilot testimony from local pilots and tech providers

Assembly Bill 4672 was presented for discussion only. Assemblywoman Hader submitted written remarks emphasizing the need to expand transportation innovation programs to improve access, equity and public transit reliability across New Jersey. The bill would change certain mobility and transportation innovation pilot program requirements and appropriate $20,000,000 statewide.

Witnesses described on-the-ground pilot projects. Ben Hagood, director of policy at Isles, described GoTrenton, an electric micro-transit program in Trenton that provided nearly 3,000 rides in August and has logged over 20,000 rides to date; Isle's program focuses on low- and moderate-income residents with the goal of improving access to jobs and health care. Aparna Paladugu of Via Transportation described Via’s partnerships in Jersey City, Camden and Middlesex County, noting the Jersey City program has provided over 2.4 million rides and Camden’s pilot provided 55,000 rides to date. Stakeholders argued the $20 million appropriation would allow smaller and more rural municipalities to pilot on-demand and first/last-mile services.

Committee members asked about typical costs for municipal pilots; Via staff said costs vary widely by scale (examples cited: Camden pilots previously funded at $2 million–$4 million; Jersey City program costs are larger and denser). The chair said the measure will be revisited and brought back for a full vote at a future meeting.