By CAROL COMEGNO
Courier-Post Staff
MOUNT HOLLY

Want to ride on the new River Line light rail but don't have a car or don't want to drive?

If you live in Burlington County you can now take shuttle buses to get to rail stations.

The Burlington County Board of Freeholders is expanding its BurLink shuttle bus system to feed rail stations in six municipalities - Florence, Burlington City, Beverly, Riverside, Palmyra and Cinnaminson.

And there is a bonus for taking the shuttle for $1 each way: The rail ride will be free.

Donald Brauckmann, county transportation director, said an agreement was reached this week with NJ Transit, operator of the rail line, to accept transfers from one transportation line to the other at no extra fare. Rail riders who pay the $1.10 one-way fare will also be able to take the shuttle for free.

"We're just ecstatic about that. We think it will be great for ridership," Brauckmann said Thursday. "People will be able to go to regular stops or just stop along the route and flag the buses down."

He said the shuttle buses will take commuters to the rail station stops from the surrounding area and to connect with four NJ Transit bus routes in the county. While the bus line is designed for commuters, he said anyone can take the buses, which operate weekdays only from 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Three lines are already running to bus stops at shopping centers and elsewhere near the rail in Riverside, Burlington City and Beverly. The fourth begins service Monday in Florence.

On that route, buses will loop around Haines Industrial Park in Florence and Burlington Township to take commuters to their jobs at businesses such as Burlington Coat Factory.

Two other routes - one to Moorestown Mall and Eastgate Industrial Park and another to Cinnaminson from Route 130 - are set to start May 3 because state funding was not received in time to bid the contract, Brauckmann said.

The county also has more BurLink routes connecting Pemberton Township, Mount Holly and Willingboro.

The freeholders have supported the light rail, saying they will do everything they can to make it work. They have set aside $300,000 in county tax money to operate the 18- and 20-passenger buses, which NJ Transit is providing.

Bill Raggozine of Cross County Connection, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing traffic congestion, said the shuttle system is an effective way to feed the rail line and help people who are "short on transportation."