By CAROL COMEGNO
Courier-Post Staff
MOUNT HOLLY

As part of an effort to encourage people with jobs at businesses near the South Jersey Light Rail Line to use public transportation, Burlington County will begin a shuttle bus service in January.

"Part of our promise to businesses in the Route 130 Revitalization Corridor was that if they came, we would get their employees there," said Freeholder Theresa Brown. "And we are keeping our promise."

Employees will be able to ride two new buses that will make loops to rail stations in Florence, Burlington city and township and Riverside.

Between the morning and evening rush hour, it will follow an expanded route to area shopping centers. Riders also will be able to make connections to NJ Transit buses.

Light rail officials have projected the 34-mile line between Camden and Trenton will begin operation sometime in late fall, but no date has been set. The county plans to start its service Jan. 5.

Bus fares have not been determined, Brown said. BurLink now costs $1.

The freeholders have earmarked $300,000 in county tax money to operate the 20 passenger buses in 2004. The service is part of its Community Transportation Shuttle Program, which includes the present BurLink Shuttle. Existing buses run between Willingboro and Pemberton Township and serve the county seat in Mount Holly and the county college.

One new shuttle will run from the Florence Light Rail station to the Haines Industrial Park and to the Burlington Coat Factory on Route 130 in Burlington Township. The other will run between the Riverside rail station and the Hartford Shopping Center in Delran.

Curb service will be offered to those employers between 6:55 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. and then again from 4 p.m. to 5:55 p.m.

In between rush hours, the shuttle is to operate between the Riverside station of light rail and the new Hartford Crossing Shopping Center on Route 130 in Delran.

Brown said the present BurLink routes will be altered to give better access to light rail as well as to new shopping areas at Lumberton Plaza and Crossroads Plaza in Hainesport.

A federal grant aimed at improving job access for commuters pays for half of the annual $835,000 operating cost for the two BurLink shuttles now in service.

The county and state share the remainder of the cost, said county spokesman David Wyche.