Hoboken's Director of Transportation Ian Sacs spent more than two hours Wednesday night, attempting to calm residents' concerns over transportation issues within the Mile Square. 

Sacs began the community meeting, hosted at the Jubilee Center, by explaining the Hop shuttle routes. The crosstown service will be expanded to incorporate three intertwining routes.

"You will be able to go anywhere in Hoboken by only switching buses once," he assured the 35 residents in attendance. "It will be the most convenient bus system you've ever had," Sacs promised.

 Mayor Dawn Zimmer joined Sacs for the final half hour.

He went on to say senior citizens and children younger than 12 will ride free; students will ride at a discounted rate; monthly passes will be available and individual rides will cost $1. There will be 10 or 12 locations where the routes overlap, Sacs said.

The Hop will feature several technological advances. Residents can track its location on the City website between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., or text "The Hop" to 41411 to receive a text telling its exact location. The City was expecting to receive about 400 texts per month, but exceeded that expectation in the first three days of the month when the system was introduced. 

The next order of business was the new car sharing program in the city. Fifty street parking spaces will soon be designated for the car sharing cars, because of the city's partnership with Connect by Hertz. The Corner Car program will work as a revenue stream for the city, without costing any taxpayer dollars, said Sacs.

Hoboken was the first city in the state to introduce car sharing when Zip cars came to the Mile Square seven years ago. There are currently 23 Zip cars in Hoboken. Sacs said he is hoping to see many residents give up their cars once car sharing expands.

David Dening, 33,  said he gave up his car three years ago. After his car was stolen, and later recovered with heavy damage, he did the math and realized it was more cost effective to join Zip car. Sacs added that participating in car sharing, rather than owning a vehicle, can save residents $3,000 to $5,000 a year.

Sacs is hoping that more people will lead by Dening's example. He said that per car, 17 households will give up their cars, which would—according to Sacs' calculations—potentially remove 750 cars from the overcrowded streets of Hoboken.

In order to persuade people to give up their cars, the Department of Transportation and Parking is offering the "Surrender Your Permit" campaign. If residents give up their car, they will receive a gift basket including an extra $25 towards car sharing, reduced NJ Transit fares, bicycle helmets, Sacs said.  

Not everyone was convinced and the discussion turned into a heated debate about the lack of parking in Hoboken. Several said that there are handicapped spaces that are being used by non-handicapped residents. The group almost unanimously asked for a review of the spots before any are renewed.