Mercer Towns Get Vehicles For Seniors, Disabled From County

MERCER COUNTY, NJ - Mercer County has provided several municipalities with new 20-seat buses to enhance local transportation services for seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, County Executive Dan Benson said.

“These vehicles reflect our unwavering commitment to improving the independence and quality-of-life for our seniors and disabled residents,” Benson said. “By working in collaboration with our County Commissioners, mayors, and local leaders, we’re ensuring that everyone in Mercer can access the critical services they need, whether that’s a medical appointment, a community center, or a food pantry.”

East Windsor, Ewing, Trenton, and West Windsor each submitted requests to Mercer County for new ADA-compliant, handicapped-accessible buses designed to serve residents with mobility challenges.

Trenton received two vehicles and each of the other municipalities received one.

“The award of these new buses to our municipalities reflects once again Mercer County stepping up and working as an important partner to help support the important needs of our communities,” East Windsor Mayor Janice S. Mironov said.

“We are grateful to Mercer County for the continued support that allows us to prioritize and enhance the transportation services available to our senior citizens

The new vehicles were funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant COVID-19 (CDBG-CV2) program. The purchases align with HUD’s National Objectives by directly supporting low-to-moderate-income seniors, veterans, and disabled individuals through community-based transportation programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic placed increased strain on municipal transportation fleets and on senior services. By replacing aging municipal assets with new and upgraded models, the new vehicles fill an important need for municipalities, officials said.

“Transportation remains a major barrier to healthcare and socialization for many of our seniors, who still live independently but may no longer drive,” Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann said. “We greatly appreciate the partnership with the county to provide us with vehicles to serve our older residents.”

The new buses are now in service and represent a significant step forward in Mercer County’s efforts to strengthen transportation infrastructure, increase equity, and support the needs of every resident.

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