(The following appeared at www.NorthJersey.com on March 25, 2010.)
WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — NJ Transit will conduct a public hearing Thursday in Paterson on its proposal to cut service and raise fares system wide.
The hearing, to take place 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the theater of Passaic County Community College, Ellison Street and Memorial Drive, will focus on proposed changes in fares and service on the transit system’s bus, light-rail and train lines.
Under the proposal, a one-zone local bus trip or one-way light-rail ticket on the Newark or River lines would rise from $1.35 to $1.70. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail tickets would increase from $1.90 to $2.40 a trip.
One-way commuter rail tickets would increase by about 25 percent, meaning a one-way rush-hour trip from Ridgewood to New York Penn Station would increase from $7.50 to about $9.35, and from Paterson go from $5.75 to about $7.20.
NJ Transit proposes to cut 32 of 725 commuter trains, and reduce trip frequency on about 50 bus routes throughout the state.
The agency faces a $300 million budget deficit for the coming fiscal year. The proposed fare hikes and service cuts would take effect May 1.
A hearing is planned also from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at NJ Transit headquarters at One Penn Plaza East, Newark.
Other hearings include:
5:30-8:30 p.m., Friday:
Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station
County Road and County Avenue, Secaucus
Morristown Town Hall
(Senior Community Center, 3rd floor)
200 South Street, Morristown
And an information session:
1 to 4 p.m. Saturday
Bergen County Freeholders
(Public meeting room, 5th floor)
One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack