WOODBURY — Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger,
Freeholder Heather Simmons and the United Way of Gloucester County announced Monday that the Pascale Sykes Foundation has awarded a $1.2 million grant for an east-west
transportation shuttle service to connect residents with major employment
destinations.

Freeholder Director Damminger said, “While public transportation is available north
to south, there are no options for residents who live in Williamstown, Glassboro,
Mullica Hill or Swedesboro.  This new east to west shuttle will fill the gap to
provide access to workplaces, human service locations and health care facilities.
This is an essential piece of getting our residents to work and providing our
employers with the employees they need.”

Damminger said that the shuttle would connect passengers with several NJ Transit
buses that operate throughout Gloucester County, mostly in the north and south
direction.

“The shuttle will provide direct service to major employment opportunities, medial
and social service locations to over 20,000 households located in proximity to the
route whose residents are dependent on public transportation,” said Damminger.

Major employment destinations along the route include Liscio’s Bakery, Rastelli’s,
Amazon and Pure Pak as well as opportunities to connect to the County One-Stop,
medical appointments, shopping and to the Walter Rand Transportation Center.

According to Freeholder Heather Simmons, the shuttle schedule will be based on
connecting with existing NJ Transit transportation services by providing
supplementary, not competing, service for riders.  “Two shuttles will run on a
continues loop between 6 stops that begin at the NJ Transit Avondale Park & Ride and
connect to 5 other stops throughout Gloucester County with a focus on serving
employees of the Pureland Industrial Park whose work shifts begin between 6:00 a.m.
and 10:00 a.m.,” said Simmons. A third shuttle will operate inside the Pureland
Industrial Park to provide access throughout the 3,000-acre area.  

The loop will be reversed between 2:00 and 6:00 p.m.

Damminger said that the county is donating 3 retired busses from its Transportation
Division to be used to complete the routes.  The United Way of Gloucester County
will provide oversight and financial management of the program.  The Gloucester
County Department of Human Services, Department of Economic Development, Planning
Division and One-Stop Employment Services will provide access to potential
ridership, knowledge of workforce locations and opportunities, provide employment
skills and utilize retired busses for back up shuttles.

Frances P. Sykes said, “The Pascale Sykes Foundation is pleased to support the
Pureland East-West Community Shuttle of Gloucester County.  This new bus route will
provide easy access to Pureland Industrial Park and also connect with New Jersey
Transit bus routes.  A shuttle bus within Pureland Industrial Park will take workers
to their specific worksites. We are glad to assist the men and women of greater
Gloucester County as they strive to provide for themselves and their families.”

Michael Gower, Executive Director of the United Way of Gloucester County, stated
“The United Way of Gloucester County is in a unique position where we can listen to
the needs in our community and find creative ways to bring together collaborations
and partnerships to address these key issues. This transportation initiative is a
great example of this process. Individuals in our community raised concerns
regarding the lack of transportation along the route 322 corridor. This
transportation shuttle will not just help these individuals but also the local
corporations and businesses that are key contributors to the United Way’s campaign.
This is a win-win for everyone that live and work in our community.”

Mr. Gower thanked all the individuals from the various agencies, businesses,
community volunteers, county and local government that came together to make this
shuttle service possible. “We are able to do more together than by trying to address
these issues in a vacuum.”

Freeholder Simmons said, “This collaborative effort between the United Way of
Gloucester County, many Gloucester County departments, South Jersey Transportation
Authority, Heart of Gloucester County, and Cross County Connection will help
hundreds of residents get to and from a job or an appointment that they previously
had no access to without a car.  Our goal is to help people get to work.”

A spring start-up is planned for the shuttle service.  The first month of ridership
will be free and after that the charge will be $1 for each one-way trip.  A transfer
agreement with NJ Transit is being worked out for the many connections on this
route.