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Case Study: GOTrenton! Zero-Emission Rideshare

Trenton, Mercer County

[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”10″ accent_color=”#336699″][vc_column_text css=””]OPPORTUNITY/CHALLENEGES 
Transportation is the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions in New Jersey. It also serves as a significant contributor for other air pollutants, like NOx and particulate matter, which have harmful environmental and health effects. Though 30% of Trenton households don’t own a personal vehicle, residents are faced with disproportionately high rates of air pollution. According to Isles Inc., asthma rates are 4 times higher for Trenton children than those in the rest of Mercer County.

GOTrenton! provides affordable and reliable transportation through all-electric on-demand shuttles and community service vans. With pilot funding from DEP’s eMobility Grant Program, this rideshare service offers better access to jobs, healthcare, and nutritious food options while reducing air pollution and improving overall economic revitalization.  

PARTNERS 
This project is led by Isles, Inc. with support from DEP, the City of Trenton, Equitable Cities, ChargEVC, and the New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition.

ACTION 
Isles is a community development organization based in Trenton, designed to create and support self-reliant families and communities. They were awarded funding from DEP’s eMobility Grant Program in 2021. In the fall of 2023, they launched GOTrenton! as a pilot with a fleet of 4 neighborhood electric vehicles providing an on-demand rideshare service in part of Trenton.

In April 2025, GOTrenton! announced several significant upgrades to improve accessibility and convenience for riders. These include a new fleet of 5 all-electric SUVs and 3 larger capacity EV shuttle vans, additional program operating hours, a wider coverage area that encompasses the entire city, and curb-to-curb service that picks up riders at their exact location.

FUNDING/RESOURCES
Isles, Inc. was awarded $883,000 from DEP’s eMobility Grant Program to launch and operate the GOTrenton! pilot for approximately one year. Proceeds from New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) provided this funding.  The April 2025 program upgrades were supported by funding through Mercer County. 

For eMobility grants, the criteria used to determine whether funding will be awarded include its predicted community benefit, its scalability, whether the project meets the parameters of an available funding source, and whether it’s shovel ready. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through the proposal form on the eMobility webpage. For more information on the eMobility program and to see if your project qualifies, check out: https://deptest.nj.gov/drivegreen/emobility/ 

RESULTS & BENEFITS 
GOTrenton! is one of the first fully electric, subsidized rideshare efforts in the country to serve low-income, overburdened communities. From launch through Spring 2025, it has helped avoid more than 27 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by providing emission-free rides to over 60,000 passengers. The program has also directly created 16 jobs and offers dedicated workforce development transportation to about 400 riders per month.

As transportation emissions are the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions, GOTrenton! is a key step in mitigating climate change, creating positive health outcomes, and improving quality of life for Trenton residents.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”3389″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1707943992924{border-top-width: 1px !important;border-right-width: 1px !important;border-bottom-width: 1px !important;border-left-width: 1px !important;padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;border-left-color: #999999 !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #999999 !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #999999 !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #999999 !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}”] Get started on similar project:

• eMobility Rolling Grant Program

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