GOTrenton!, a transportation initiative born out of community need, has provided over 30,000 rides to date and is set to expand its services in Trenton and Mercer County. The program was created to address the lack of affordable and reliable transportation options in Trenton. “Several years ago, in partnership with the City of Trenton and several community partners, we recognized a problem – a lack of affordable and reliable transportation options within the city and to areas not serviced by traditional transit models,” said Sean Jackson, Isles CEO. “Community members reported an inability to get to jobs, access healthcare, and shop for their everyday needs.  We saw this in our own work.” New Jersey ranks 48th in the country for access to cars in city centers. In Trenton, 30% of households don’t own a private vehicle, and 21% of residents report carpooling as their main mode of transportation to work. The initiative also aims to address health disparities in Trenton. Asthma rates for Trenton children are 4 times the rate for children in the rest of Mercer County, and the average life expectancy for Trenton residents is 13 years less than in Princeton Junction, 8 miles away. GOTrenton! was developed through collaboration with the City of Trenton, ChargeEVC, Environment New Jersey, Clean Cities Coalition, and other partners. The project provides a fleet of electric cars and vans operating both on-demand and fixed-route services in Trenton and Mercer County. “The GOTrenton! initiative is truly a transformative project brought to life by Isles. Over the past year, it has not only enhanced mobility for countless Trentonians, but it has also set an example of how innovative solutions can tackle multiple community challenges,” said Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. “A few years ago, while serving as the chair of the Environment Committee at the legislature, these are the programs we envisioned. It’s great that when we receive both federal and state funding, we can implement these visionary initiatives. In Trenton, approximately 70 percent of residents have one car or none at all; GOTrenton! is essential for providing transportation, enabling people to have access to jobs, healthcare, shopping, and navigating our diverse city. This initiative goes beyond transportation; it also aims to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, lower emissions, and strengthen our community’s resilience to environmental changes.” Funding from the Mercer County Mobility Innovation Program (MCMIP) is allowing GOTrenton! to expand its services to the entire City of Trenton and provide workforce and essential services transportation for a larger part of Mercer County. In September, GOTrenton! provided nearly 3,000 rides for more than 4,000 passengers. The initiative has saved over 20 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from being released into the atmosphere. GOTrenton! recently won a 2024 Drive Electric Award from Plug In America. The success of GOTrenton! demonstrates the potential impact of innovative micro-transit models working alongside traditional rail and bus services. Future funding is projected to be statewide, potentially allowing other communities to provide similar mobility services to their residents.