New Jersey Travel Independence Program (NJTIP)
973-533-1662
New Brunswick
NJ TIP and NJ TIP @ Rutgers
What is NJTIP?
The mission of the New Jersey Travel Independence Program (NJTIP) is to increase the independence and self-sufficiency of people with disabilities, older adults and others by empowering them to use the public transit system safely and independently. In 2013 NJTIP merged with the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC), a national leader in transportation research and education and the nucleus of transportation-related policy research, training and education at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. To learn more about the merger, click here.
Since 2005, NJTIP has worked with a variety of government agencies, community organizations and schools to teach travel skills to more than 900 individuals.
What is Travel Instruction?
Travel Instruction is a spectrum of services meant to teach safe independent travel skills on public transit: the bus, train, light rail, county and private systems. NJTIP customers learn how to read bus and train schedules; plan their trips; pay their fares; and take safety precautions.
After finishing training, our customers enjoy traveling on their own to go to work, school and medical appointments and to visit family and friends.
NJTIP Travel Instructors are seasoned professionals with experience in teaching, special education and assisting individuals with special needs.
Travel Instruction Services Offered by NJTIP:
One-on-One Travel Instruction
NJTIP One-on-One travel pairs each customer with a Travel Instructor. The instructor teaches travel skills by riding on the bus or train with the customer until the customer is ready to travel independently.
The only cost to customers during training is paying their own fares. Each graduate receives a free one-month bus pass.
One-on-One services are available to customers who have applied to Access Link and live in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, and Union Counties, except for those with visual impairments.
Group Travel Instruction
Our Small Group Travel Instruction Familiarization & Orientation programs benefit senior citizens and people with disabilities who do not need intensive one-on-one training and enjoy the camaraderie of learning in a group setting.
Each group participates in two classes and takes two escorted trips to popular local destinations such as a shopping mall or supermarket.
Train-the-Trainer & Connect-to-Transit Seminars
NJTIP offers seminars to teach interested professionals and volunteers from social service agencies, schools and senior residences to learn about travel instruction, or to become more familiar with public transportation.
In-School Travel Instruction
NJTIP has developed classroom curriculum for students in high school transition programs. NJTIP Travel Instructors teach weekly classes at each school and lead monthly field trips for practical experience.
We also teach traffic safety skills and bus familiarization for students who are not ready for independent travel.
How to get started?
If you are already an Access Link rider or are applying for Access Link, you are ready to begin.
NJ TIP does not affect you Access Link eligibility so you can participate in both Access Link and NJ TIP. To arrange an NJ TIP interview, call 1-800-955-8921, Option #1 and ask to be referred for NJ TIP Travel Instruction.
If yo are not an Access Link rider, call 1-973-533-1662, ext. 22 to learn mor about how we may be able to provide you with travel instruction.
For more information about NJTIP @ Rutgers:
Phone: 848-932-4499
Email: [email protected]
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Last Updated: 11/25/16