HAPPY 'FARE HOLIDAY!' Week of free NJ Transit service begins

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Take a holiday! A week of free rides on NJ Transit began Monday after a rough summer for commuters.

The “fare holiday” was announced earlier this month by Gov. Phil Murphy, who said it’s a “thank you” to the hundreds of thousands of riders who rely on public transit.

Fares are being waived on all modes of transportation across the NJ Transit network through Monday, Sept. 2. That includes all bus routes, trains, light rail and Access Link, as well as Metro-North trains operated by NJ Transit.

PATH and PATCO trains are not part of the holiday, nor is the AirTrain at Newark Liberty Airport or privately-operated buses that accept NJ Transit tickets. More information can be found at NJTransit.com .

Riders who’ve already purchased a monthly pass through August will automatically receive a 25% discount on their September monthly pass purchase through the mobile app, ticket vending machines or ticket windows.

Despite a social media campaign by NJ Transit, not everyone was aware of the holiday on Monday morning. "This is a complete surprise," said a rider named Chander as he arrived at the Ridgewood station. "I think it's a great exercise to sort of reestablish and pay thanks to the guys and girls who work on the railways and also to say to the consumer, 'Look it's here, it's a service that we can all use.' I think it's a win-win all around."

The fare holiday comes during one of the quieter weeks of the year, when many people are away on summer vacation at the end of August. Rep. Frank Pallone urged travelers to use NJ Transit to get to the shore for the upcoming holiday weekend.

"Perfect timing for a Labor Day getaway—whether you’re heading to the Jersey Shore or the mountains, leave the car and the fare behind," Pallone wrote on X.

It also follows widespread and prolonged service issues across the transit system this summer, a factor Murphy acknowledged in his announcement.

“Understanding that our commuters have faced many disruptions this summer, we are providing a one-week fare holiday for NJ Transit riders,” Murphy said.

Not only has the system been plagued by train delays and cancellations, but those issues came during a 15% fare hike took effect on July 1, as the agency works to close a more than $100 million budget gap.

NJ Transit said many of the service disruptions have happened along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, which is the busiest rail corridor in the country.

Murphy met with NJ Transit and Amtrak leadership in late June to hash out a plan to improve service on the line. As that effort continues, Amtrak has stepped up efforts to inspect and repair overhead wire, track signal systems and substations along the NEC, officials said.