New Jersey city pays for Uber rides to NJ Transit station

City officials in Summit, N.J., have introduced a pilot program that allows commuters to use the ride service known as Uber to the local New Jersey Transit train station, according to news media reports.

Under the program, commuters who have purchased a $4-per-day parking permit can use Uber to get to the station for free. Those without the pass can purchase an Uber trip for $2.

The initiative is aimed at freeing up parking spaces in the crowded station lot. The program also means the city won't have to pay millions of dollars to build a new parking lot. The six-month pilot is limited to 100 riders.

The program is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation to use a ride-sharing service as a parking solution, said Summit Mayor Nora Radest in an article posted on the technology news site The Verge.