(The following story by Eileen Stilwell appeared on the Courier-Post website on February 21.)
CAMDEN, N.J. — NJ Transit will conduct a public hearing Feb. 28 at Rutgers-Camden on its recommendation to raise bus and rail fares nearly 10 percent June 1.
The increase would generate another $60 million for the agency’s heavily subsidized $1.5 billion budget.
George D. Warrington, NJT’s outgoing executive director, has urged the increase to counter inflation, expanded ridership, plus rising gas, insurance and utility costs.
A mass transit advocacy group called the proposed fare hike “too much too soon.”
“While we accept the need for regular and moderate adjustments, the proposed 9.9 percent increase is well above the general inflation rate,” said Matthew Mitchell of the Delaware Valley Association of Rail Passengers. “Furthermore, the cost of maintaining roads in New Jersey has gone up too, but the state gas tax has not been increased.”
Rev. Tony Evans, Camden’s director of Health and Human Services, said price hikes on any vital service for the city’s large below-poverty population can be devastating.
“That tells us that poverty is a bigger issue than transit. Working to raise those wages is a better solution than TNJ cutting routes for everybody to control spending,” Evans said.
Evans said he would rather tax the transit users with higher fares than an across-the-board tax increase for everyone.
“One way or the other, the state will get its money. This is better than reducing routes and inconveniencing some riders to control spending,” he said.
Fares cover about 44 percent of the system’s operating expenses. The rest is picked up largely by the state. This fiscal year the state contributed $300.7 million to the system.
NJ Transit is the nation’s largest statewide public transportation system, providing more than 857,000 daily trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 162 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.
Phyllis Corbett said she is thankful for daily NJ Transit even on bitterly cold mornings when she waits for the 400 bus to transport her from her Parkside neighborhood to downtown Camden.
While not happy with an increase, at $40 a month, she said it’s still a bargain she can afford.
“I know it might hurt some people. But it’s a good service for me. I catch the bus across the street from my house and it drops me across the street from my work. No gas to pump. No wheels flying off. It’s easy,” she said.