Transportation

Transportation Assistance for Residents

Ridge Oak has access to volunteer assistance through a local church to help tenants get to non-emergency medical appointments. Tenants must have exhausted all other resources for transportation assistance before these precious volunteer resources are utilized. These other resources include:

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• Family and friends

• Somerset County Department of Transportation 908-231-7116, No fee

 

At least five business days’ notice is required to arrange for volunteer transportation assistance. Generally, volunteer transportation assistance can be arranged for appointments scheduled during weekday business hours. Volunteers are available for local appointments in town or in neighboring communities. Volunteers reserve the right to decline to aid based upon individual circumstances, availability and geography. Many volunteers are elderly themselves, so helping another resident with a mobility impairment, memory impairment or other special needs may be difficult. Tenants should follow these guidelines when requesting transportation assistance:

 

• Call the Ridge Oak office 908-221-0266 at least five business days in advance of your appointment and tell the Social Service Coordinator that you need transportation assistance.

• Give the date, time and exact location of your appointment.

• The Ridge Oak office will the local church volunteer coordinator to request assistance.

• The volunteer will then contact the tenant directly to arrange pick up/drop off times and location.

 

In case of an appointment cancellation or inclement weather it is the responsibility of the tenant to contact the volunteer to cancel or reschedule the appointment. If the volunteer cannot accommodate the rescheduled appointment the tenant must make alternate arrangements or contact the office to request assistance.

 

Ridge Oak also has an account established with GoGo Grandparent to help with resident transportation needs–medical or other.  This is helpful for residents without a smartphone or other device to schedule Lyft or Uber on their own. GoGo Grandparent bills Ridge Oak and we bill the tenant. Contact the Social Services Coordinator for details.

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Transportation Options for Ridge Oak and Basking Ridge Area*

Bernards Township Shopping

Bernards Township Parks and Recreation Department runs a weekly shopping bus trip. No charge for the ride; pick-up at Felmeth Hall or Village 12. You must preregister the day before each trip by phoning 908-204-4616. Visit the website for each month’s trips.

 

Bus

Lakeland Bus Lines operates between Bernardsville and New York Port Authority with three stops in the Basking Ridge area. The closest stop to Ridge Oak is at S. Finley Ave. & W. Henry St. approximately 12 minute walk from Felmeth Hall (1/2 mi). Call 973-366-0600 or visit the website for schedule and fare information.

 

Ridge Oak Transportation

Ridge Oak provides frequent shopping routes to Bernardsville, Lyons, Stirling, and Gillette. For routine shopping, the bus leaves from Felmeth Hall and then stops at Village 12. Return trip time is announced by the driver, approximately noon. There is no charge for this service. The bus is also available to drive residents to local church services on Sunday. Check the ACORNS newsletter for the schedule.

 

Somerset Paratransit

Somerset County Division of Transportation Paratransit Service provides curb to curb transportation to residents who are senior citizens and people aged 18 or older with functional limitations. Trips to medical appointments have a high priority. If scheduling permits, transportation for other reasons, like grocery shopping, daycare, and senior centers may be available. At least 48 hours advance notice is required for most reservations and riders must preregister before scheduling their first ride. Donations are accepted for all trip purposes not covered by a required fare. Additional information is available on the website. You may request a complete packet of information by calling 908-231-7115.

 

Taxi

There are a number of taxi companies in the area. Check the Yellow Pages for area listings or see Transportation at a Glance information below.

 

Train

NJ Transit railway operates the Gladstone Branch that connects Basking Ridge to Newark and Hoboken transportation hubs. Basking Ridge Station is located at Ridge St. and Depot Place, near Washington Ave., approximately one mile from Felmeth Hall (150 Manchester Drive). For more information and schedules, contact NJ Transit at 973-275-5555 or visit NJ Transit.

 

*Transportation information is provided as a reference only. Ridge Oak does not guarantee any provider’s current schedule or routing. Please contact the provider directly.

 

Transportation Options/New Ideas

Uber and Lyft are on-demand, car services that allow you to request a ride from a private driver through a ‘smartphone’ application. The service uses dispatch software to send the nearest available driver to your location. You need to sign up for the service and ‘download’ their application to your smartphone (iPhone, Android, etc.) These services charge your ride directly to the credit card on file with your account.

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Transportation at a Glance