New Jersey Town Offering Uber Rides To Trains In Effort To Save Millions

SUMMIT, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A town in New Jersey is looking to save millions of dollars with a unique ride-sharing program for commuters.

Summit is rolling out the new pilot program offering affordable Uber rides to railways so commuters don't have to worry about parking.

Under the program, residents with prepaid parking permits are eligible for free Uber rides to and from the station during commuting hours on weekdays.

Residents without prepaid permits will be eligible for $2 Uber rides, the same as an all-day parking pass.

"It's $4 a day for a parking permit, a daily parking spot, and it's $4 for the round-trip Uber fare," Mayor Nora Radest said.

CBS2's Meg Baker reports Jonathan Kurowski was the first to try out the new deal by using the Uber app from his front steps as he requested a ride to the NJ TRANSIT station a mile from his house.

"This was super easy. I've got no strings attached. I come here and request an Uber to come home and it's easy," Kurowski said.

Kurowski said he often wastes time in the morning circling the parking lot and streets for a spot.

"This is an opportunity for us to rethink how we handle our parking over-capacity problem in Summit," said City Council President Michael McTernan.

Radest said the pilot program should open up 100 parking spaces and save the city $5 million over 20 years because the city will no longer have an immediate need to build a new parking lot, WCBS 880's Kelly Waldron reported.

The pilot program will start with 100 riders and will last about six months. If successful, the town plans to expand it.

Uber Pool is not yet available in Summit, but if someone were participating in the pilot program and had a neighbor in need of a ride, they could hop in.

For more information or to apply, click here.

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