Pilot Program in Summit with Uber Could bring relief to Montclair and other towns/Commuters

Diane Lilli
Posted

Here is a fantastic idea from Summit and Uber that may just hit our area one day.

A new pilot program between the township of Summit and Uber could be the blueprint for the commuter’s heartache in towns across the country, including Montclair and Glen Ridge. The pilot program, which is the first of its kind, allows residents of Summit to pay just $2 each way to take Uber to the train and back home again, which frees up parking lots during the day and also assists the many commuters who are on a waiting list for parking permits near trains.

Reached at Walnut Train station in Montclair, on Friday, January 6th, numerous commuters said they would welcome the idea.

A group of commuters, waiting for the train into the city, said they would be thrilled if they would not have to walk a mile or more each day to the train, and instead use a subsidized Uber share program as Summit does.

One man, who lives on Valley road which is about a 20 minute walk, said he it would be a life changer, especially in the winter.

“I am on a waiting list for the Walnut Street station, and it’s going to take about 4 more years until I get close to the top of the list,” he said.

Summit’s pilot program offers a $2 trip both to and from the train daily, and is part of a 6-month pilot.

With parking at a premium and the cost to add additional parking lots in commuter-heavy Montclair or other towns upwards of $750,000 or more than $1 million, this new idea just may make it there to town.

Summit, also a very popular commuter town, now can offer this new perk to commuters looking to buy homes in New Jersey.