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LSNJLAW > Community Resources

Transportation Resources for NJ Residents with Disabilities

 

​The following programs may assist you in your search for appropriate paratransit transportation. Each explanation below provides links to more detailed information that will help guide you through the process of understanding the right programs and services to choose based on your needs and concerns.

  • Reduced Fare Program (from NJ Transit)

    New Jersey provides reduced fares to seniors age 62 and older and people with disabilities. If a participant requires a personal assistant, he or she may ride for free if proper identification is provided. The reduced fare program can be used on any NJ TRANSIT bus, train, or light rail vehicle. Some private companies within the state also participate in the program. Any person with a disability who is eligible for reduced fare must have certification by a licensed physician. If you would like to see the application and requirements, please visit the Reduced Fare Program link.

  • Access Link – ADA Paratransit (from NJ Transit)

    For passengers who cannot use traditional transportation services because of a disability, the State of New Jersey is required to provide comparable transportation. Access Link provides curb-to-curb transportation services for residents with eligible disabilities. Access Link “shadows” fixed-bus routes. Its origins and destinations are generally located within 3/4 mile of the routes. The routes, hours of operation, and fares are comparable to the regular NJ TRANSIT bus network.

    Access Link eligibility requires an in-person interview at a designated office. A passenger must have a disability that prevents the regular use of the public bus network. Qualifying reasons include impact of the disability on the ability to navigate the bus system independently, “lack of appropriate features on existing bus system, and the impact of the disability and the environment on the passenger’s ability to access the bus stop.” For further information, please visit the Access Link-ADA Paratransit link.

  • Community Paratransit (from NJ Transit)

    All 21 counties provide services for passengers with disabilities separate from the other programs. Services may vary by county, and you may be able to apply to more than one. The Community Paratransit link contains information on the paratransit systems in every county in New Jersey.

  • NJ FamilyCare and Medicaid Transportation

    New Jersey provides non-emergency medical transportation services for some NJ FamilyCare and Medicaid recipients. Some examples include vehicle transportation, non-emergency air services, and non-emergency basic life support ground ambulance transportation. Further information can be obtained from the NJ Department of Human Services' Medical Assistance Customer Centers page. If you have a true medical emergency, call 911.

  • Private Transportation Resources

    Several sites offer useful assistance in planning rides from private providers. Ride United Transportation Access (RUTA) (from NJ 211) provides you with a list of transportation service providers that can bring you to and from places that you select. Major transit services also provide accessibility information and services to customers with disabilities, such as Amtrak (Accessible Travel Services) and Greyhound (Customers With Disabilities).

  • Additional Resources

    • New Jersey Guide to Accessible Parking (from the NJ Division of Disability Services) - Disabled parking permit rules and applications are posted for eligible New Jersey residents.

    • New Jersey Transit Passenger Rail System Map - Details its accessible rail stations.

    • ADA Paratransit Eligibility: How to Make Your Case (from Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund)

    • Americans with Disabilities Act (from the Federal Transportation Administration) - Find out more about the Americans with Disabilities Act and its requirements of non-discrimination in transit services.

    • Back In Action (from Disability Rights New Jersey) - a database of products for sale in New Jersey, including modified vehicles.

    • Additional programs that aid residents of New Jersey traveling to and from neighboring locations:

      • Accessible SEPTA (from SEPTA) - Provides information on vehicle accessibility, station accessibility, and reduced fares for people traveling to Pennsylvania.
      • Accessibility (from the MTA) - Provides accessibility information for people traveling to New York.

    • New Jersey 211 - You can use New Jersey’s “211” system to locate accessible transportation services.

    • Abilities Expo - Yearly New Jersey event that allows people with disabilities a chance to see and test many new accessible transportation products.

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