Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop and Via announced new weekend service for New Jersey’s first publicly subsidized on-demand transit system. This week marks the one-year anniversary of the system’s launch with the system exceeding every goal of connecting transit deserts and providing a low-cost alternative option for residents.

Since the February 2020 launch, Via has provided over 216,000 rides, most of which originated from the West and South areas of Jersey City, with top destinations being key transportation hubs and shopping/business districts. Despite the pandemic, the service is exceeding every goal and has been more resilient than traditional public transit in Jersey City, proving to be a critical transportation offering, especially for the underserved communities who need it most.

Via Jersey City serves as a model for cities across the U.S. to meet the changing transit needs with access to affordable, efficient, and sustainable public transit offerings. The year of outstanding successes is being expanded upon with the addition of Saturday services (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and the introduction of a new advertising platform to further enhance connectivity to commercial, medical, and professional opportunities across the city. The advertising displays on Via vehicles will also help to generate revenue to support the citywide program.

The service was launched at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 to complement and extend Jersey City’s existing public transit infrastructure, specifically to fill the existing gaps in public transportation access in the North and South regions of the city. The Journal Square Transit Hub, Newport Mall, Hudson Mall, and Metro Plaza (Shoprite downtown) continue to be the most popular destinations.

Via Jersey City has provided more than 1,600 rides per day, with continued growth week over week. In fact, 70% of these rides are shared between multiple riders, and 62% of riders use the service most often to commute to work.