A new free shuttle service designed to connect South Jersey residents with hospitals and other essential locations is drawing concern from Shore Medical Center officials, who say its absence from the routes could leave some patients — particularly those in Cape May County seeking obstetric care — without a key transportation option.

Launched in June, SJ Connects is a network of a dozen shuttle buses that operates in seven counties, giving riders free transportation to and from hospitals, schools, job centers and NJ Transit transportation hubs. The program aims to address a longstanding grievance from South Jersey residents and their elected representatives that their part of the state lags the rest of New Jersey when it comes to public transportation options.

Officials at Shore said they have received calls from patients about the center not being included on the program's initials routes.

"There were several concerns that were shared, but the most significant one were the residents of Cape May County because Shore Medical Center is primarily utilized as their OB (obstetrics) unit," said Matthew Piskun, vice president of ambulatory and surgical services at Shore.

Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional in Cape May Court House does not have an OB unit, making Shore the closest hospital for many Cape May County residents. Shore has supported about 500 births in Cape May County in the past year and a half, Piskun said.

The $5 million shuttle pilot program will use money raised from an increase in the state's Corporation Business Tax under former Gov. Phil Murphy, who got South Jersey legislators to agree to it with the promise that their part of the state would benefit as well.

C'mon and take a free ride to schools, hospitals and jobs in South Jersey on new shuttle network

The South Jersey Transportation Authority on Monday launched SJ Connects, a network of a dozen shuttle buses that will operate in seven counties, giving riders free transportation to and from hospitals, schools, job centers and NJ Transit transportation hubs.

"The initial routes were designed to create an interconnected network that provides broad geographic coverage while making the most effective use of available resources. As the pilot continues, the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) will use ridership and operational data to evaluate overall performance and help guide future planning," according to a statement from the authority. "It would not be accurate to characterize the route development process as a decision to exclude any individual destination."

The vans run through Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties at no cost to riders. The dozen vans can each accommodate 20 riders.

Four of the six routes originate at the Vineland Transportation Center, and five of them touch a health care property operated by Inspira Health.

One of the routes runs from Vineland, stopping at Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland, McKee Street in Millville, Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing and the AtlantiCare Health Park in Egg Harbor Township before ending at the Pleasantville Bus Terminal.

The pilot program will be evaluated over the next 18 to 24 months to see how well it works, how many people use it and whether it is worth making permanent, officials said.

"The focus is on establishing consistent operations and collecting ridership information," according to a statement from the SJTA. "Route evaluations are expected after sufficient operational data has been collected, with any potential changes considered at that time."

Logan Monteleone contributed to this report.

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