On Monday, July 1, 2024, New Jersey Transit fares increased for the first time in nine years. The state transit provider has increased fares by 15% for those traveling by car or train. In addition, NJ Transit will no longer off its flex plan and one-way tickets will expire after 30 days.
NJ Transit argues the price hikes are needed to combat the loss of revenue amid falling ridership. In response, commuters and members of Congress have argued that train and bus service is too unreliable to justify the price increase. According to News 12 New Jersey, there were nine delays or suspensions of service into and out of New York Penn Station last month.
“During the past few weeks, NJ TRANSIT commuters have experienced unacceptable delays due to breakdowns on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. Now, New Jerseyans are staring down a 15 percent rate hike – all while disruptions continue. I understand the difficult budget circumstances for NJ TRANSIT, but this is a textbook example of inconsistent planning and short-term thinking that has been far too typical in Trenton and Washington,” Congresswoman Mikkie Sherrill said.
“Families deserve a break – not a fare hike, which is why I am calling on NJ TRANSIT to pause and reevaluate these plans until New Jersey commuters have the reliable service they expect and deserve.”
Now, Sherrill and other members of Congress are demanding that U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg launch an investigation into Amtrak malfunctions along the Northeast Corridor. Sherrill and company say recent breakdowns have “canceled or delayed 130 NJ TRANSIT trains and left thousands of New Jerseyans stranded without access to rail transportation.” However, this battle is long from over as NJ Transit plans to raise fares by 3% annually moving forward.
