NJ Transit launches app to track rail ridership levels

New Jersey Transit last week launched a new feature on its DepartureVision mobile application that enables riders to see how full a train is before boarding. 

The new feature enables riders to make informed decisions and practice social distancing as they return to using the system, NJ Transit officials said in a press release.

The feature displays trains with a green, yellow or red color-coded icons that indicate light, medium or heavy ridership conditions.

On the Raritan Valley, Atlantic City and Morris & Essex lines, the data is collected automatically from NJ Transit train crews when they scan and validate tickets using their handheld devices. 

For other rail lines, the app will rely on riders voluntarily inputting data to alert fellow riders how full the train is. Crowdsourcing will be phased out gradually as train crews on additional rail lines receive new handheld ticket validation devices, NJ Transit officials said.