FLEMINGTON, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — The Hunterdon County Board of County Commissioners this month marked the 40th anniversary of the Hunterdon County LINK Transportation System, recognizing its four decades of service as a vital community lifeline.
During its July 15 meeting, the Board honored the LINK for its evolution from a grassroots operation with ten borrowed vans and a breadbox truck in 1985 to a nationally recognized model of accessible and innovative public transportation.
“For 40 years, the LINK has been more than a transportation service—it’s been a lifeline for thousands of Hunterdon County residents,” said Commissioner Director John E. Lanza. “What began as a grassroots effort with borrowed vehicles has grown into a nationally recognized model for community transportation.”
Originally created to serve senior citizens and residents with disabilities, the LINK now connects individuals throughout the county with employment, healthcare, shopping, recreation, and social services.
The system has also pioneered several firsts in the public transit space:
- First fully consolidated transportation system in the U.S.
- First paratransit system to integrate public ridership
- First in New Jersey to deploy wheelchair lift-equipped vehicles
- First nationally to implement 100% radio and later 100% cellular communication
The LINK currently operates seven weekday routes, including one out-of-county line, and one Saturday route.
The system’s success has garnered national and state-level recognition, with transportation programs in Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, and Florida citing LINK as a model, as well as multiple New Jersey counties and NJ TRANSIT.
As the LINK marks its 40th year, the Commissioners expressed appreciation for the drivers, staff, and community partners who helped build a system that reflects Hunterdon County’s values of inclusion, service, and innovation.
