NJ Transit votes to increase commuter fares 15% in face of public outcry against it

The NJ Transit Board of Directors voted to increase commuter fares by 15 percent in the next fiscal year, with a 3 percent increase in perpetuity, despite over 900 comments against the move, which included around two dozen during today’s meeting.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

“I come here today to ardently speak in opposition to the 15% proposed fare hikes for New Jersey Transit commuters. My ask of you is to vote no on this increase … In my view, this increase is a backdoor tax on working families,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, a Democratic candidate for Congress in the 8th District.

” … This also disproportionately impacts Black and brown communities since they rely on mass transit than other communities … They say this board is a rubber stamp of the governor’s policy, prove that you’re not just a rubber stamp of the governor’s policy [today].”

Bhalla also spoke at NJ Transit’s public hearing in Secaucus to discuss the fare hikes last month, with Assemblyman John Allen (D-32), Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2), a declared candidate for mayor, and Ward E Councilman James Solomon previously denouncing the proposal.

The 15 percent fare hike will take effect on July 1st of this year, with the three percent implemented in perpetuity in subsequent years.

This is the first fare hike the board approved since 2015, with NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett stating before public comment that the hike was necessary due to a $106.6 million budget deficit, which is after reducing costs by $44 million and identifying another $52 million in savings.

The fare hike is projected to raise $947 million in “farebox revenue,” which is needed to offset the agency’s projected deficit – set to hit $780 million by 2026.

Nearly every speaker at today’s meeting, which started at 10 a.m. and saw the unanimous vote (13-0) come around noon, echoed Bhalla’s sentiment that this was the time for the board to show their independence.

“This fare increase is anything but fair, as all of the other speakers have articulately advised you, but I think you know this and I think you’ve heard it. So I have a few questions for you that every New Jersey Transit rider and every New Jersey resident would appreciate you answering before you vote today,” began John Reichman, the environmental chair for Blue Wave NJ and also the steering chair for Empower NJ.

“Are you a rubber stamp or will you basically be using your independent judgement to determine whether this fare increase is in the best interest of New Jersey and transit riders? Are you actually going to explain your vote? I hope so. I hope you explain why this vote should go forward today and what alternatives you looked at.”

Board member Shanti Marra said that while she doesn’t consider herself a rubber stamp, who understands the communities that will be impacted, but there were not other realistic options available.

” … I know there are many, many of our residents who are gonna be digging deep into pockets that are nearly empty. And this is so hard to do this,” she said.

“We’ve had really intense conversations amongst ourselves, but this is a process I know a lot of you are talking about us waiting on this vote, but the problem is there’s financial consequences to waiting on the vote. And quite frankly, I don’t know what’s gonna happen, I don’t think any of us know what’s going to happen in July and beyond.”

Marra continued that she was voting yes reluctantly, recognizing the hardship involved before also noting that the board had not been presented with options beyond fare hikes or cutting services.