(The following story by Tom Davis appeared at NorthJersey.com on May 3, 2010.)
WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — North Jersey commuters had to dig for extra change Monday as they endured their first day of paying between 10 to 25 percent more to ride the rails or buses to work.
Two days after the new rates went into effect, thousands of commuters to New York City, Hoboken and elsewhere got their first taste of fare hikes that will help plug a $300 million hole in NJ Transit’s budget.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Lauren Santos of Paterson, who commutes by train weekdays to Ramsey. “It takes a big cut out of my paycheck.”
Although some winced as they purchased tickets at NJ Transit vending machines, others viewed paying $47 more for a monthly Ridgewood-to-Hoboken rail pass as a “necessary evil” that commuters have to face.
Indeed, NJ Transit officials say they had “normal” ridership Monday as commuters paid 25 percent more for train service, and 10 percent more for in-state bus and light-rail lines.
Out-of-state bus fares jumped 25 percent.
“I think it’s OK,” said Zhe Tang of Glen Rock, who commuted by train to Hoboken on Monday. “I think it’s still cheap. It’s much better than driving.”
Those who don’t commute early in the morning to New York City lamented the loss of off-peak round-trip discounts that were used by about 17 percent of rail users.
Santos said she told her grandmother in Rockland County that she could no longer afford to see her. “I told her she’s going to have to come to see me,” she said.
Because of the loss of the round-trip fare, she’s paying $8 to ride to New York State and back, up from $5.75.
“I always thought the train was the best — I just don’t like cars,” she said. “But on top of the rent, this is just too much money.”
Others worry about having to pay 10 to 25 percent more for bus fares while having to wait 5 to 10 minutes longer to be picked up because service cuts are part of the rate-hike plan.
James Walsh of Tenafly said the round-trip bus fare to midtown Manhattan increased by only 30 cents. “The only thing that will affect me is if they do reduce the service,” he said. “Today, they picked me right up.”
As for the future, some commuters say they’re ready to absorb the extra cost; they’ll just have to cut something out of their budget. “I’ll have to pack a lunch,” said Kelsey Breining of Ridgewood.
Ken LaGuardia of Franklin Lakes, who commutes into New York City, believes that New Jersey has no choice but to ask mass transit users to pay more for services that are getting too expensive to run.
LaGuardia said he supports Governor Christie’s call to cut waste from NJ Transit’s budget, and hold the line on the income and gas taxes as a way to address the state’s fiscal problems.
“I’m not happy [about the hikes], but what are you going to do?” he said. “If it’s not that, it’s going to come from something else.”
Others — particularly rail riders — say they may switch to a bus or take their car to work, saying it may be cheaper to park in a paid lot or deck in Hoboken or New York than to pay a monthly rail pass.
“It’s really annoying,” said Mary Beth Nyhuis of Ringwood, who commutes to Hoboken. “I’m paying another $50 a month. I might start driving in at this point. There is a garage in Hoboken that has a special rate.”
Walter Weglein of Fair Lawn, however, said people who commute to New York City or Hoboken to work or go to school — as he does — will ultimately have no choice but to continue riding.
“Do I have a choice,” he said. “Do I drive to New York and pay $25 to park?”