Governor Murphy, Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, and Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora Announce Grant for Trenton MOVES Autonomous Vehicle-Based Urban Transit System Project

Innovative System to Promote Transportation Equity and Mobility

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, and Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora today announced a $5 million NJDOT Local Transportation Project Fund Grant for the Trenton Mobility & Opportunity: Vehicles Equity System (MOVES) Project. The grant to the City of Trenton will support the planned start up and eventual deployment of 100 Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) that will provide an on-demand automated transit system to serve the 90,000 residents of Trenton.

“The Trenton MOVES project is an innovative solution to a longstanding transit deficit in the City of Trenton,” said Governor Murphy. “Using autonomous vehicle technology to combat inequities and to provide improved transportation in urban areas is a laudable and much needed effort. I am excited to see this project moving forward with the help of NJDOT, Mayor Gusciora, and Princeton University.

“Trenton MOVES is about utilizing innovation to sustainably improve the quality of life for a mobility-constrained population,” said NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “This is about equity and access to opportunity for everyone in Trenton.”

“This innovative project has the potential to turn one of Trenton’s greatest weaknesses into one of its biggest strengths,” said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora.  “Trenton MOVES will put the latest technology at the disposal of seniors, students, state workers and thousands of other residents who will now have a low-cost solution to overcome our well-known transportation challenges. I’m incredibly grateful to Governor Murphy and the NJ Department of Transportation under Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti for this unprecedented investment in the Capital City.”

“This is a great opportunity for the residents of Trenton and students of Trenton Public Schools to increase mobility throughout the city,” said Trenton Public Schools Superintendent James Earle. “We are excited that Trenton MOVES reached out to partner with the district in an effort to include students and their families in the planning and implementation of this initiative. We look forward to the exciting work ahead and the impact that this project will have on our students.”

In Trenton, 70 percent of households only have one car or no car at all. This project will allow residents to utilize to a new form of low cost, environmentally friendly and efficient transportation. The Trenton MOVES project is being developed by the Governor’s Office, NJ Department of Transportation, the City of Trenton, and Princeton University.

NJDOT has offered a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to help gather information from firms in the design, build-out and operation of a safe, equitable, affordable, sustainable, and efficient on-demand automated vehicle shuttle system for Trenton, NJ.

The project goals and specifications of the RFEI are available by accessing this link: Copy of Request for Expression of Interest.

The deadline for the RFEI response is February 25, 2022. NJDOT may issue formal requests for Qualifications or Proposals, following the solicitation of RFEIs. However, responses to the RFEI will not necessarily impact or be connected to the call for Proposals or Qualifications.

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