NEW JERSEY (PIX11) – NJ Transit has proposed a hike up NJ Transit fares and has scheduled several forums for the public to voice comments or opinions on the fare hikes.
The ridership on NJ Transit is back to around 80% of its pre-pandemic levels, according to the agency. The dip in riders over the past four going on five years has resulted in a loss of close to $2 billion in revenue that would come from fares. To maintain full-service levels, the agency said they have been using a federal COVID relief fund that is expected to run dry during the fiscal year 2025, between July 1 and June 30, 2025.
An estimate that NJ Transit said was “very preliminary” had the agent at a budget deficit of $119 million for fiscal year 2025. However, the agency said after $44 million in cost reductions and another $52 million in “revenue enhancements,” they were able to cut the deficit to around $106.6 million.
To close the $106.6 million gap, NJ Transit said they are proposing a systemwide fare increase of 15% to go into effect on July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
*Access Link fares are based on comparable bus fares
(Credit: NJ Transit)For example, the current local bus fare for one zone is $1.60; under the new proposal, that fare would become $1.80. The fare hikes are more noticeable for the interstate bus to New York, with the Toms River to PABT route costing $21.25 and currently going up to $24.40, according to examples provided by NJ Transit.
It does not stop there, however. Mixed into the proposal is an additional 3% systemwide increase that would add fare increases every year on July 1.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop voiced his frustration on his X account. He said in part:
“There is a major problem with Transit policy in NJ overall and it is unacceptable for NJTransit to push a large fare increase on regular residents within months of a massive tax break on the largest corporations (CBT). It is just wrong…Honestly, it’s frustrating and this type of politics makes it hard for me to be positive on the Murphy Administration,” Fulop posted in a series of posts.
NJ Transit has scheduled 10 public hearings in 10 counties throughout the Garden State, with morning and night sessions to ensure maximum participation.
Here is a full list of all the public hearings and locations:
| Date | Time | Location |
| March 4 | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Cherry Hill Public Library – Conference Center 1100 Kings Hwy N, Cherry Hill, N.J. |
| March 4 | 6 p.m to 8 p.m. | Atlantic City Convention Center – Meeting Room 3091 Convention Blvd, Atlantic City, N.J. |
| March 5 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Passaic County Community College – Paterson Room 1 College Blvd, Paterson, N.J. |
| March 5 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Bergen County Administration Building – Conference Center 2 Bergen County Plaza – 1st Floor, Hackensack, N.J. |
| March 6 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Trenton Transit Center 72 S Clinton Ave, Trenton, N.J. |
| March 6 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Belmar Municipal Building – Council Chambers 601 Main St, Belmar, N.J. |
| March 7 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Berkeley College Woodbridge Campus Student Center 430 Rahway Ave, Woodbridge Township, N.J. |
| March 7 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Kean University – North Avenue Academic Building – Conference Center, Room 6061000 Morris Ave – 6th Floor, Union, N.J. |
| March 8 | 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station – Long Hallway County Road & County Avenue, Secaucus, N.J. |
| March 8 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | NJ TRANSIT Headquarters – Board Room – 9th Floor 1 Penn Plaza East, Newark, N.J. |
If you are unable to make it to an in-person hearing, you can also send in a comment online at www.njtransit.com/hearing, by sending an email to [email protected] and by mail by addressing your comment to the Hearing office – fare proposal comments, One Penn Plaza East, Newark, N.J. 07105.
Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in the New York City and Washington D.C. areas. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.
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