NJ Transit announced a proposal to increase fares by 15 percent to meet their budget deficit.
According to a press release on Wednesday, Jan. 24, the ticket price adjustments would begin on July 1 of this year, and the “proposal also includes annual systemwide increases of 3%, effective July 1, 2025 and going into effect on July 1 of each subsequent year.” Though the increase of 15 percent per ticket is only a matter of a few dollars, the cost adds up quickly for individuals who regularly rely on NJ Transit for commuting and recreational transportation.
“I think the plan to increase fares is an unnecessary burden placed on NJ Transit riders,” said Michael Tribianni (‘25). “Whether from my house down the shore, or when I’m up here in Madison, I will be paying much more. I am typically in the city once a week, and three to four times over the summer. From my house, at that rate, I will be paying $135.70 every week, which I just can’t spend. A lot of my friends are in the city, so I will have to choose whether to pay the extra price weekly to visit, or stay home. For most workers, however, they will be forced to pay more, coming home with less in their pockets and for their families.”
Both Drew students and faculty depend on NJ Transit to get to and from campus. The proposed fare change will affect the campus community as a whole.
“I rely exclusively on the train to get to campus—I do not own a car,” said Jacob Soule, English professor. “NJ Transit is usually reliable enough. I’ve never been so delayed that I have had to cancel a class or a meeting. It’s not perfect by any means, but public transportation and its infrastructure in the US is far behind many other countries in the world, so this shouldn’t come as a surprise.”
An increase in fares makes public transportation less accessible to everyone, especially those who are most reliant on it.
“[Public transportation] connects campus to a much wider community beyond Madison, and it allows people to get to and from campus without necessarily needing a car,” said Soule. “It is also a vital connection to New York City and all the educational and extracurricular advantages that come with that. There are environmental and democratic stakes too. Fewer cars generally means cleaner air and less space on campus taken up by parking. It also democratizes access to education by providing a relatively affordable way to get to campus for many people without the expense of a car. Obviously this proposed fare increase is very concerning in this regard.”
Tribianni also expressed the importance of public transportation and keeping such transportation accessible. “Public transport is key for our economy and future. Trains and light rail are the most sustainable way to get around (they run on electricity), and in many places, are more affordable than driving, when incentivized by governments. In fact, many municipalities outside the US (i.e. Europe and Asia) make their public transport incredibly cheap or even free, because they recognize the need to get cars off the road, and build a sustainable future. Here in NJ, we are at the forefront of passenger rail in the nation, but we need to take major steps in enhancing our system to last and thrive in the future. This includes finding a way to reduce prices to encourage ridership to increase on our trains and buses,” said Tribianni.
NJ Transit needs to fill a budget deficit of $106.6 million. The transportation system cites several costs that have increased in recent years, including fuel, material and operational costs, increases in healthcare and “contractual wage increases related to labor collective bargaining agreements.” Furthermore, NJ Transit will no longer be able to rely on COVID relief funding after this year. Thus, NJ Transit proposed the fare increases as a way to fill the budget gap.
Tribianni claimed, “We can easily raise $100 million—and much more—through a corporate tax. If we are to make a ticket fare change, we should lower the price of tickets to help incentivize less driving and more sustainable practices.”
NJ Transit plans to hold 10 public hearings between March 4 and March 8 to share more information and hear comments and concerns before the plan is made official. Online public comments can be submitted at https://www.njtransit.com/hearing, and more information on the changes can be found at https://www.njtransit.com/press-releases/nj-transit-set-begin-public-hearings-fare-adjustment-proposal.
Katie Carmichael is a junior majoring in English creative writing and minoring in education.
