Essex County expands senior ride options with Montclair partnership and rides on Uber/Lyft

Essex County commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with the township of Montclair to deliver senior rides using transportation‑network companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft.

Michael Viera, director of Special Transportation Services, told the board that Montclair increased its contribution to $175,000 for two years because the program has been successful. He said the county pivoted to TNCs in part after the pandemic to reduce shared‑ride exposure and that, in practice, TNCs can be less costly than some traditional specialized vehicles.

Viera provided usage data to show scale: he said Montclair averaged about 6,000–7,000 trips before the pandemic and completed 42,000 trips in 2023 for that municipality alone. Across the county, Viera estimated the community transportation system provides roughly 100,000 trips annually. He described the service as free for eligible users and explained how residents can schedule rides through the Essex County Community Transportation Program (phone: 973‑737‑4200).

Commissioners asked about program reach and how seniors can access the service; Viera said county staff will coordinate scheduling and that Montclair maintains a separate contact line for locally funded rides. The board approved the interlocal agreement by roll call; commissioners praised the program’s expansion and the department’s coordination with municipalities.