Identifying Travel Needs for South Jersey and Shore Customers

Status: Completed August 2026

Funding Agency: New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)

Abstract: 

Bus ridership has fallen over the past decade nationally and in New Jersey, with a sharper drop during the COVID-19 pandemic as travel and commuting patterns changed. Ridership has recovered in recent years but remains below pre-pandemic levels in many regions. NJ TRANSIT operates a large bus network serving South Jersey and the Shore region, yet post-COVID travel patterns, seasonal demand, and workforce travel needs in that region are not well characterized, which limits the design of targeted service improvements. This study evaluated travel behavior and transit needs across fourteen NJ TRANSIT bus routes using onboard rider surveys and field based employee and employer surveys. The analysis identified travel patterns, service gaps, and unmet mobility needs across weekday, weekend, and seasonal conditions, including origin and destination patterns, rider characteristics, and the factors behind transit use and non-use. Reliability, frequency, accessibility, competition with private vehicles, and workforce commuting needs emerged as the main service challenges. The findings support targeted strategies for improving bus service in South Jersey and the Shore region.

Investigators: Dr. Mohammad Jalayer, PhD., Dr. Peter J. Jin, PhD. (Rutgers University), Rebecca Garvin DeJoseph, Patricia A. Ott, P.E.

Links to Publications: 

https://njdottechtransfer.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/FHWA-NJ-2026-002.pdf