(The following appeared on the Cherry Hill Courier Post website on February 16, 2010.)
CHERRY HILL, N.J. — NJ Transit train and bus riders could face a 20 percent to 30 percent fare hike and service cuts, according to communications between transit officials and union leaders.
The proposals were outlined by NJ Transit officials to union leaders Friday and contained in an e-mail sent to members of the union that represents train conductors.
The Feb. 14 e-mail from the United Transportation Union Patrick Reilly detailed a meeting Friday between NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein, NJ Transit’s rail operations director William Duggan and officials of the UTU and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
In the meeting, Weinstein outlined Gov. Chris Christie’s cost-saving plan for NJ Transit, which consists of fare hikes between 20 percent and 30 percent and service reductions that could take effect in June, the e-mail said.
Details would be available in about two weeks and would be presented in several public hearings, according to the e-mail. Workers could face additional furloughs, it warned.
Reilly said in a phone interview today that the e-mail was meant for UTU members to keep them apprised of the situation.
“I just wanted to let my members know that we met and this was discussed,” he said. “This is preliminary information and details are to follow. It was a very quick meeting.”
While not confirming the contents of the e-mail, NJ Transit officials said Weinstein is expected to address the situation at an NJ Transit board of directors meeting Wednesday.
“We expect the executive director to talk in detail about NJ Transit’s budget challenges for fiscal year 2010 and 2011,” said Penny Bassett-Hackett, NJ Transit spokesman. “The budget plans have not been finalized and there will be a process for public input on how to balance the budget.”
The union meeting took place one day after Christie announced he was declaring a fiscal emergency to close a $2 billion gap in the current year state budget. The steps he ordered include cuts to schools and higher education aid payments and holding back $32.7 million in state subsidies to NJ Transit.
Christie’s announcement was criticized by transit advocates who called the potential fare increase a tax increase.
“Governor Christie needs to rethink the cuts to NJ Transit, and the agency needs to minimize the severity of cuts and fare increases. If NJ Transit raises fares 30 percent, it represents a 75 percent increase in transit fares since 2000,” said Zoe Baldwin, Tri-State Transportation Campaign New Jersey Advocate.
A possible fare increase was on the table because NJ Transit faces a $200 million gap in the fiscal year 2011 budget, due to loss of state subsidy cut last year, and federal funds, which are not available for the coming budget.
The Assembly Transportation Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday about the subsidy cut and the effect on riders.