Effective July, New Jersey Transit has announced a 15% fare increase across its transportation services to address a gaping hole in the agency’s budget.
The agency’s board unanimously approved the fare hike, which will affect railroads, bus routes, and light rail lines.
This decision coincides with New York’s move to implement a $15 daily congestion toll for drivers entering Manhattan from June, a measure criticized by New Jersey officials as disproportionately affecting their commuters.
The increased fares will see monthly passes, local and interstate bus fares, and one-way train tickets rising accordingly.
For example, the monthly pass for the Morris-Essex Line will now cost commuters $342, up from $298.
Local bus fares will rise from $1.60 to $1.80, interstate bus fares from Jersey City to the Port Authority Bus Terminal will increase from $3.50 to $4, and the cost of a one-way train ticket from Princeton Junction to New York Penn Station will climb from $16 to $18.40.
Kevin Corbett, CEO of NJ Transit, emphasized that such fare increases are always a last resort, recognizing the impact on commuters but reaffirming a commitment to maintaining service levels through June 2025.
This fare adjustment follows warnings from transit activists and watchdogs about NJ Transit’s precarious financial state, which has been exacerbated by a decline in ridership post-pandemic.
Despite these financial challenges, the fare hike is projected to fill a $100 million budget deficit for NJT in 2025.
However, the agency anticipates its financial woes will worsen, with deficits expected to reach nearly $780 million by 2026.
New Jersey’s state Senate Republican Leader, Senator Anthony Bucco, criticized the Murphy administration regarding the current circumstances.
Bucco noted, “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.”
He added, “From escalating gas taxes and increasing highway tolls, to raising taxes on employers and cutting funding to certain school districts, Governor Murphy and Trenton Democrats have relentlessly betrayed their promise to make New Jersey more affordable – and if that wasn’t bad enough, now they’re price gouging public transit riders. If we truly want New Jersey to be a great place to live, work, and raise a family, Republicans need to be given a seat at the table to properly address our affordability crisis.”
Governor Phil Murphy has proposed a new tax on large businesses in New Jersey to help bridge this financial gap, but this requires legislative approval.
Amid these fiscal challenges, Murphy and other state officials have launched a vigorous campaign against New York’s proposed congestion fee, engaging both in legal battles and public discourse.
Last week, a federal judge in Newark heard arguments in New Jersey’s lawsuit against the toll, with a decision expected soon.
The state argues that the toll’s environmental review was insufficient and that the fee unfairly burdens New Jersey commuters to fund New York transit projects.
The congestion toll aims to reduce Manhattan traffic and pollution by charging cars a daily fee for entering the most congested parts of the city, with different rates for peak and off-peak hours.
