3. The Commissioner of Transportation is hereby authorized and directed to establish and implement a program to provide motor bus and rail passenger service for senior citizens during offpeak times and to provide motor bus and rail passenger service for senior citizens age 65 and older, persons with disabilities, and all disabled veterans at all times bus or rail service is offered, on regular routes of carriers within the State or between points in this State and points in adjacent states at one-half of the regular adult rates of fare, except that the reduced fare shall not be available to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, or disabled veterans traveling on commuter railroad trains operated during peak times which have been designated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation as ineligible for round trip excursion fares. The commissioner may take any action that the commissioner deems necessary to implement this program, including contracts with carriers for the provision of transportation services under this program, purchase of regular tickets and resale to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and disabled veterans at one-half the ordinary fare, or direct payments to carriers for services provided to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and disabled veterans under this program. Where carriers may be entitled to receive or do receive funds from sources other than the Department of Transportation for the provision of service to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and disabled veterans, reimbursement payments which may be made by the Department of Transportation to the carriers may be adjusted accordingly.

L.1973, c.126, s.3; amended 1975, c.271, s.3; 1999, c.179, s.2; 2017, c.20, s.3; 2017, c.131, s.108.