As commuter ridership to and from work lags due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a new trend has emerged for public transit — more people are riding trains and buses during weekends and non-commuting rush hours.
NJ Transit officials announced four new ticket discount promotions and an extension of Family Super Saver fares on Tuesday to lure some of the discretionary riders and commuters back to weekday rides.
The promotions include discounted fares to Newark airport and to NFL games at MetLife Stadium. There are also buy one, get one free fares and free round trip tickets for new NJ Transit smartphone app accounts.
The promotions come as NJ Transit officials said they are adapting to how ridership has changed due to the coronavirus pandemic and changing commuter schedules as employees divide time between remote work at home, and returns to the workplace.
“Travel patterns are different as we emerge from the pandemic. While we see ridership is 50% of pre-pandemic levels on weekdays … we see quicker growth in off-peak and weekend ridership,” said Jim Sincaglia, acting rail operations general manager.
Average rail ridership on weekends is at about 80% of pre-COVID levels on recent weekends, while at or approaching 100% of pre-COVID levels on some trains, said Jim Smith, an NJ Transit spokesman.
Intrastate bus service is approaching 75% of pre-pandemic levels, with ridership into New York at about 65%, he said. Light rail ridership has increased to more than 70% of pre-COVID numbers.
NJ Transit added 50 more weekend trains during last month’s fall schedule change, restoring 39 Gladstone branch trains and adding 14 new main Bergen line trains, Sincaglia said.
The fare promotions build on NJ Transit’s “While You’ve Been Away” campaign to acquaint riders with improvements done during the pandemic and to encourage them to come back, Smith said.
“This is the first time we have offered these types of promotions on the mobile app and we are pleased to offer these great savings to customers during the holiday season,” he said.
Riders who open a new NJ Transit smartphone app account or those who haven’t used the app in six months or more who use it to purchase tickets will get a free round-trip tickets. The offer is redeemable with the code TRYNJT and 5,000 round-trips will be offered each week, with a new batch offered each Monday.
Want to take a friend along? There’s a “Buy One, Get One” round trip ticket offer for that during the weeks of Dec.13 - 19 and Dec. 27 – Jan. 2 between the same origin and destination points. For Dec. 13 – 19, use the code GIVING, for Dec. 27 – Jan.2, use the code FRIEND to redeem the offer. All tickets expire on the Monday after the promotional week.
Football fans can get a 50% discount on round-trip train tickets from any origin to MetLife Stadium (Meadowlands) for every December and January NFL game. There is a four-round trip ticket limit and different codes apply for each Giants and Jets home game between Dec. 5 and Jan. 2, which can be found online here. All tickets expire on January 10.
Catching a flight out of town? Use code FLYNJT for a 20% discount on round-trip rail fares to Newark airport now through Jan. 4. There is a limit of four tickets or two round trips per account and the code can only be used once per account.
NJ Transit also is offering 20% discounts off train fares to the Dec. 11 Army-Navy game at MetLife stadium to riders who buy advance tickets through Dec. 5. Enter code ARMY20 or NAVY20 when buying a ticket through the app.
Family Super Saver fares for children ages 5 to 11 will be expanded from 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17 through 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 3. Up to two kids ages 5 to 11 can ride free with a customer paying any valid fare between 7 p.m. Friday or the day before a holiday until 6 a.m. Monday or the day after a holiday under the promotion.
While other commuter agencies haven’t announced holiday fares, some are using other discounts to encourage ridership. MTA commuter railroads including MetroNorth and Long Island Rail Road are charging off peak fares at all times until Dec. 31. SEPTA has offered free rides home from Eagles games, which are underwritten by corporate sponsors.
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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
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