A protest in front of NJ Transit’s Newark headquarters and last-minute comments from dozens of people did not sway the agency’s board from approving a 15% fare increase starting July 1, and a perpetual 3% annual fare hike starting in 2025.
The board listened to riders and advocates make their final pleas to vote no on the fare hike or, barring that, at least spare low income and working poor local bus riders from the full brunt of a 15% increase in a one zone bus fare.
The board voted unanimously for the fare increase package with no changes. Two board members explained why they voted for it.
“I’m voting yes, but it’s a reluctant yes and a difficult decision,” said board member Shanti Narra. “I have heard everyone at two hearings and read the comments of the others.
“Everyone who said they deserve safe, reliable public transportation are right. If there was a way to deliver it without fare hikes, I’d be on board.”
Advocates said the battle now goes to the state legislature to get action on Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed corporate transit fee that is part of his latest state budget proposal but requires legislation to happen.
“The battle doesn’t end today,” John Reichman, of Empower NJ, said at a rally before the board meeting about the need for dedicated funding. “We need to hold the legislature accountable. It’s time for them to walk the walk.”
Reichman was among several speakers who challenged board members to prove they aren’t a “rubber stamp” for Murphy and to justify their vote and what alternatives they favor to fund NJ Transit.
Vice Chairwoman Kiabi D. Carson said her vote isn’t a rubber stamp.
“It’s a yes considering all the factors. It’s important for the public to understand that,” she said.
Those factors included avoiding service cuts that could have put the agency in to a “death spiral” of declining ridership and further service reductions, Kevin Corbett, NJ Transit CEO, said after the meeting.
“I understand the emotion. No one likes to have a fare increase,” he said. “This gets us to next year.”
The fare hike that is expected to raise $947 million in “farebox revenue” to support the agencies $3 billion operating budget. Unlike New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which has several dedicated sources of funding, NJ Transit doesn’t have “that many tools in the tool box,” Corbett said.
“It’s cut services or raise fares,” he said.
The coming years budget counts on the agency earning $131 million in other revenue, a $145 million operating subsidy from the state, using $70 million in federal clean air funds, $455 million from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and a $334 million transfer of capital funds. It would use the remaining $749 million in federal COVID aid.
NJ Transit found internal efficiencies to save costs and will realize additional saving by eliminating the Flex Pass discount and making tickets good for 30-days.
While similar to other transit systems in the nation that haven’t seen ridership return to 2019 pre-pandemic levels, NJ Transit has done better than most with weekday ridership close to pre pandemic levels except on Mondays and Fridays, reflecting workplaces with hybrid work schedules, Corbett said.
Riders interviewed at Newark Penn Station had mixed feelings about the increase.
“Now it’s okay, I pay $9,” said Bheeras Gad of Edison who commutes to college in Brooklyn by train. “Increase it 15%, its too hard.”
Another rider said it will have little effect because he works from home.
“I probably only take the train once a week, I go in to the city once a week for a meeting,” said Deshawn Winslow of Newark. If I drive in, I have to pay for parking which is more.”
Hoboken mayor and congressional candidate Ravi Bhalla was among those making an passionate plea for the board to vote no.
“It is a back door tax on working families, I want you to vote your conscious,” Bhalla said.
Others cited the paradox of NJ Transit offering spring fare discounts at the same time it is considering a fare increase.
Christina Kata, Regional Plan Association New Jersey policy associate, said increases of this magnitude should be a last resort.
“The 15% and 3% increases are higher than peer transit agencies. Riders deserve better,” she said. “Fare hikes will cause unnecessary pain for families struggling with the high cost of living.”
She and other advocates said fare hikes won’t fix the agency’s larger financial issues.
“Fare hikes will barely make a dent on the deficit,” she said.
Republicans in the Democratic-controlled state Legislature criticized the fare increase for making the state less affordable for working families.
“The Murphy administration’s approval of a 15% public transit rate fare hike is an affront to every New Jerseyan struggling to make ends meet. While Governor Murphy preaches affordability, unfortunately his actions don’t match his words,” state Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco, R-Morris, said of the Democratic governor.
Starting July 1, local bus fares would increase from $1.60 to $1.80 for a one zone trip, which advocates criticized because is would be paid by transit dependent, working poor and other economically disadvantaged riders. That increases to $1.85 on July 1, 2025, under the ongoing annual 3% increase.
“A vote for a fare hike is a vote against working families who are struggling with rent hikes and the rising cost of everyday items,” said Yadira Alvarez of Passaic, a bus rider and Make The Road New Jersey member at the rally. “We need NJ Transit to stand with working people.”
Light rail fares also increase from $1.60 to $1.80 on Newark and RiverLine light rail. That increases to $1.85 on July 1, 2025. Hudson Bergen Light rail fares would rise from $2.25 to $2.55, which increase to $2.60 on July 1, 2025.
Interstate bus fares would increase from $3.50 to $4 for a one way trip between Jersey City and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York, which increases to $4.10 on July 1, 2025. A longer trip to New York from Tom River would increase from $21.25 to $24.40. That increases 3% in 2025 to $25.10.
Rail fares would rise from $16 to $18.40 for a one-way trip between New York and Princeton Junction, with increases by 3% on July 1, 2025 to $18.95. Rail fare from Pennsauken to Philadelphia goes from $4.25 to $4.85. That increases 3% in 2025 to $4.95.
Stories by Larry Higgs
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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @CommutingLarry