NJ TRANSIT launched a new comprehensive communications initiative aimed at improving the customer experience. The effort, entitled "Engage. Inform. Improve." focuses on addressing customer needs, providing more timely information, and improving all customer touchpoints, including announcements, station and facility conditions, and the onboard experience.

"These three ideals of Engage. Inform. Improve. will be the foundation upon which we continue to transform and improve NJ TRANSIT," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Kevin Corbett. "These will be the guiding principles to ensure that everything we do moving forward supports the customer at the forefront."

The initiative will roll out in three phases:

• Engage: NJ TRANSIT will actively engage customers for their input and listen to customer needs to identify areas in need of improvement. This includes proactive survey engagement and greater social media engagement.

• Inform: Customers will receive more proactive and effective communications from NJ TRANSIT in real time during service disruptions, will provide easier access to critical information, and inform customers of efforts to improve operations.

• Improve: NJ TRANSIT will continue to implement new ideas to improve the customer experience as part of a continuous feedback loop and develop and deploy new technology to strengthen operations and improve service.

NJ TRANSIT has actively and aggressively been taking action to improve service and communications since Gov. Murphy signed an executive order examining NJ TRANSIT operations in January. These efforts include:

• A procurement is currently underway for the purchase of 113 new multi-level railcars.

• 182 new 45-foot cruiser buses continue to arrive this year as part of a five-year delivery contract.

• An upgraded mobile app, which features customized transit alerts sent to customers via push notifications. Additionally, customers can access Apple Pay and Google Pay to make purchases through the app.

• The upcoming creation of a Customer Experience unit, which will be responsible for monitoring and assessing all facets of the customer experience from the time a customer enters a station until they leave their destination point, including PA announcements, conditions onboard, and at facilities.

• The installation of new touch-screen interactive information kiosks at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal, and at Harborside and Pavonia stations along the HBLR as part of a pilot program.

• Successful recruiting efforts to attract additional bus operators and locomotive engineers. Since Jan. 1, more than 300 new bus operators have been hired and more than 5,000 applications for locomotive engineers have been received.

• Four new locomotive engineer training classes are underway with 13 engineers anticipated to graduate in May 2019, and three additional classes graduating before the end of 2019.

• The average cycle time on procurements has been reduced by 30%, compared to 2017 and by 40% when compared to 2016.

• In the process of upgrading smartphone devices for train crews, which will provide real-time service information to share onboard with customers.