Part-time college students rejoice! NJ Transit is now expanding its Student Pass to now include eligible part-time students in their new pilot program, the agency announced Tuesday (Jan. 17).
The discounted passes will be available starting in February, ahead of the 2023 Spring semester for the bus, train, and light rail riders. Students who wish to be eligible for the discount must be taking at least two courses at a participating college or university. The student pass fare gives riders a 25-percent discount off the already discounted monthly pass. The discounted fare can be purchased through the NJ Transit mobile app. Only students enrolled at participating universities and colleges can receive the discount. Take a look at the list of eligible schools here.
In addition to the newly expanded Student Pass, all qualifying students are also eligible for the “Buy 3 Months, Get 1 Month Free” promotion for college students traveling to and from campus, NJ Transit stated.
Below is the “Buy 3 Months, Get 1 Month Free” promotion information per NJ Transit:
“To qualify for the Buy 3 Months, Get 1 Month Free promotion, a student at a partner college or university must buy a student monthly pass via the NJ Transit mobile app for three consecutive months: February, March and April of 2023. When the student completes the qualifying purchases in February, March, and April, they will receive a Student Pass equal to the lowest-price purchase made in the previous three months and valid for transportation in May 2023. For a student to be eligible, a school must offer Student Pass registration via their website and verify a student’s eligibility each semester. The student must purchase their Student Pass using their school credentials on the NJ Transit Mobile App. Once verified, Student Pass will appear each month as a ticket option during NJ Transit’s customary monthly pass purchase period, beginning at the 19th of the preceding month through the 10th of the travel month. After the third qualifying purchase, a free monthly pass good for the month of May 2023 will be available for students who have purchased monthly passes for February, March, and April. This free pass is non-refundable, non-transferrable and will not include travel to/from SEPTA, Metro-North stations or Newark Liberty International Airport.”
NJ Transit also offers plans for students who need a more flexible transportation option:
Flexpass – “College students needing more flexibility in their commute may choose Flexpass as their best option. Flexpass offers customers 20 one-way trips at a 20-percent discount off full-fare tickets. Learn more at njtransit.com/flexpass.”
Student Tickets – “Full and part-time college students attending NJ Transit-accredited post-secondary schools, colleges, and universities can complete an application to purchase a rail monthly pass at a 25-percent discount from rail ticket offices. Applications must be verified by the respective school/college. This offer is available only for a rail pass.”
“As NJ Transit ridership continues to grow, we are doing everything we can in our power to continue incentivizing transit use,” president and CEO Kevin Corbett said in a statement per the NJ Patch.
“College students using transit today will hopefully become tomorrow’s commuters,” Corbett concluded.