(The Center Square) — New Jersey Republicans are demanding a special legislative hearing to investigate issues surrounding the problem that plagued the NJ Transit system.
The demands come in response to the state transit agency's 15% fare increase coupled with continuous service problems, including broken and canceled trains. They cited recent damage to the 116-year-old Raritan River Bridge from a NJ Transit train incident, which they say caused "massive disruptions and safety risks" to New Jersey commuters:
"New Jersey commuters have endured enough," state Sen. Declan O'Scanlon, R-Little Silver, said in a statement. "The continuous failures of NJ Transit are unacceptable. The recent fare hike only adds insult to injury for residents who depend on reliable transportation."
The calls for hearings come after members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation asked Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to investigate Amtrak wire issues that prevented NJ Transit trains from accessing New York’s Penn Station last month.
The GOP lawmakers said the intent of the hearings would be to bring NJ Transit officials before the Legislature to address these ongoing problems, provide concrete solutions, and outline a clear plan for improving service reliability and safety.
"The fare increase is a heavy burden on the hard-working families of New Jersey, especially when service reliability continues to decline,” Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn, R- Monmouth, said in a statement. "The latest issue with the Raritan River Bridge is not only a logistical nightmare but also a safety hazard.”
In April, New Jersey Transit's board of directors unanimously approved a 15% fare increase beginning July 1 for train, light rail and bus service to help whittle down a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall. The transit agency also approved a 3% fare hike for every subsequent year. The last fare hike was in 2015, when they rose by 9%.
Board members defended the fare hikes, arguing that they have been left with few options to close the massive revenue gaps, but acknowledged the impact on people who rely on the public transit system.
NJ Transit has received billions of dollars in federal pandemic aid, but the agency says those funds are nearly exhausted. Ridership has returned to only 80% of pre-pandemic levels, the agency says, resulting in a nearly $2 billion reduction in fare revenue.
Overall, NJ Transit faces a budget shortfall of more than $766 million starting in July 2025. The agency has projected a $119 million deficit in the upcoming year and plans to reduce that revenue shortfall with $44 million in cost reductions and $52 million in revenue enhancements. Transit officials say the fare hike is needed to close the remaining gap between expenses and revenues.
Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, pushed a new corporate transit tax through the state Legislature as part of his budget proposal to drum up $800 million annually for NJ Transit and other transportation needs.
The new tax comes after Murphy and New Jersey lawmakers allowed the state's corporate business surcharge — which levied a 2.5% surcharge on net profits above $1 million — to lapse at the end of December.
But Republicans say the public is becoming increasingly frustrated with service disruptions and what they describe as the transit agency's lack of transparency.
"Our constituents are tired of the broken promises and constant disruptions," state Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger, R-Middletown, said in a statement. "This is not just an inconvenience; it's a matter of public safety."
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