Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association (GMTMA) announced routing changes for the NJ Transit 655 bus route that serves Princeton and Plainsboro as of Monday, June 23.

As an incentive to try the revised route, GMTMA and the 655 Partners have arranged for the public to try the service for free on Wednesday, June 25 and Thursday, June 26.

The bus route changes were made to provide more direct access to destinations in Princeton and Plainsboro. “The No. 655 route is a vital connection between Plainsboro and neighboring Princeton which will provide direct access to employment, recreation, and shopping opportunities for residents and visitors,” said N.J. Transit Executive Director Veronique “Ronnie” Hakim. “We encourage community members and visitors alike to travel on the No. 655 and make public transportation a regular part of their day-to-day routine.”

In Princeton the route has been streamlined by having the bus travel on Witherspoon from Nassau to Terhune in both directions to and from the Princeton Shopping Center rather than looping on Harrison Street. “We listened to a number of residents, who felt the bus line was not as effective as it could be in meeting their needs,” said Cheryl Kastrenakes, executive director of GMTMA. “We then communicated their concerns to the 655 Partners and NJ TRANSIT and recommended the route changes.”

“When we evaluated the service in Plainsboro, we determined that passengers would be better served by routing the bus through the heart of Plainsboro, the Village Center and along Plainsboro Road to Enterprise,” said Ms. Kastrenakes. The new routing in Plainsboro will still serve the UMCPP, Novo Nordisk, Bristol Myers — Squibb and Plainsboro apartment complexes.

NJ TRANSIT’s 655 bus route first began providing service in May 2012 between the communities of Princeton and Plainsboro, with service to the new University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. The route is a Public–Private Partnership with funding being provided by Princeton University, UMCPP, Greater Mercer TMA, Middlesex County, and DVRPC. Ms. Kastrenakes believes the revised routing and free fare days will help to increase ridership on the route. “We want to encourage area residents to ride the 655 bus route to discover where they can go in Princeton and Plainsboro. The free fare days are “an excellent opportunity to try it out.”

For more information, call GMTMA Commuter Services at (609) 452-1491, or visit: 655route.com.