NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit adopted a $1.22 billion operating budget this week that provides for more seats on its trains and buses, a wire service reported.
The transit agency will receive the same $260 million state subsidy as last year.
It raised its fares by an average of 10 percent in April, the first increase in 11 years. No additional fare increases are included in the new budget.
The budget “demonstrates our promise to work harder and smarter with our funding,” said state Transportation Commissioner Jamie Fox, who also serves as chairman of NJ Transit’s board of directors.
It enables the agency to move forward with long-planned projects including the Montclair Connection, extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system to Hoboken, and opening the east end concourse at Penn Station New York.
In May, NJ Transit officials and Gov. James E. McGreevey unveiled a plan to add more trains to the schedule and lengthen existing ones in an effort to eliminate the need for passengers to stand during peak periods by September.
In May, when McGreevey made his announcement, about 4,000 riders could not find seats during peak periods each weekday. The agency said that number has been reduced by about half.
Beginning Aug. 3, NJ Transit plans to provide 7,300 more seats on its Northeast Corridor Line, 1,840 more on the Princeton Branch, and 800 more on the North Jersey Coast Line.
Changes and additions to bus routes should also add 4,500 seats on weekdays, NJ Transit Executive Director George Warrington said.
The agency also adopted a $1.19 billion capital spending budget to help pay for increasing rail capacity and expanding commuter parking.
The capital plan is funded largely by $529 million from the state’s Transportation Trust Funds, $497 million in federal aid.
About $260 million of the capital budget will be used toward paying for operating expenses. Debt service for the fiscal year 2003 budget will be $214 million, and commitments to ongoing light rail projects will cost $159 million.
NJ Transit is the third largest transit system in the country.