Residents in Williamstown, Glassboro, Mullica Hill and Swedesboro will have more access to employment, human services and health care with an east-west transportation shuttle funded by a grant from the Pascale Sykes Foundation.

The $1.2 million grant will go toward financing a shuttle connecting passengers with NJ Transit buses that operate throughout Gloucester County, mostly in the north and south direction, county officials announced Monday.

It will bring passengers between the Pureland Industrial Park area in Logan Township, and NJ Transit bus stops as a supplementary service, according to the Gloucester County freeholder board.

Two shuttles will have a continuous loop between six stops beginning at the NJ Transit Avondale Park & Ride and will focus on serving those who work in Pureland with shifts beginning between 6 and 10 a.m.

A third shuttle will run through the industrial park to transport passengers around the area.

The county will donate three retired buses from its Transportation Division to be used for the shuttle and the United Way of Gloucester County will handle oversight and financial management of the program.

Shuttle service is expected to begin in the spring, according to Gloucester County officials, with the first month of ridership being free and a $1 fee for each one-way trip after the first month.