NJ Transit proposes 15% fare hike — first increase in almost 10 years (2024)

NJ Transit is proposing a fare hike -- the first in almost 10 years -- with a number of scheduled public hearings before the proposal comes to a vote, the transportation agency announced Wednesday.

The proposed increase comes after NJ Transit's preliminary estimates for Fiscal Year 2025 found a budget deficit of $119 million. The proposed hike is to the tune of 15% starting July 1 of this year, and then a 3% annual increase indefinitely after that taking effect July 1, 2025.

If this proposal passes, it would mark the first time in almost a decade in which NJ Transit increases its fares. According to the agency, since 2015 "NJ Transit has held the line on fare increases" while adding additional service on more than 100 bus routes. Since then, according to the agency, inflation has increased over 30%, which has impacted the operational cost, contracted services, contractual wage increases of around 10,000 of the agency's employees and healthcare costs -- the latter increasing 47% during this time.

On top of the inflation, the agency said costs to run bus and rail service have gone up as well.

The proposal calls to preserve service at current levels for the next fiscal year, but offered no guarantees for the following years — meaning there could be cuts to service in the future.

Here is an example of proposed fare increase:

NJ Transit also said that it has undergone enhancements since 2018, including restoring the ranks of locomotive engineers, an updated app, new fare payment technologies, improvements to its Access Link paratransit service and graduated more than 2,300 new bus operators.

Officials have known for a couple years that they would run into this fiscal dead end. Even though NJ Transit ridership has reached to about 80% of its pre-COVID levels, the agency is entering its 5th consecutive year of ridership below pre-pandemic levels. This low ridership has resulted in the loss of nearly $2 billion in fares, according to NJ Transit.

Despite NJ Transit using federal COVID relief funds over a few years to offset the loss, the funding will be exhausted in Fiscal Year 2025, the agency said.

Critics blasted the state for not acting sooner to prevent passing on the cost to riders.

NJ Transit will hold 10 scheduled in-person public meetings in 10 New Jersey counties -- including morning and evening sessions -- beginning Monday, March 4 through Friday, March 8 to allow for public comments before the plan is up for vote by the NJ Transit Board of Directors.

If you can not make it to the meetings, you will be able to send in comments for the record at www.njtransit.com/hearing, via postal mail to: PUBLIC HEARING OFFICE – FARE PROPOSAL COMMENTS, ONE PENN PLAZA EAST, NEWARK, NJ 07105, or via email at hearing@njtransit.com.The public comment period will be open until 11:59 p.m., Friday, March 8.

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE

Monday, March 4, 202411:00am- 1:00pm
CHERRY HILL (Camden County)
Cherry Hill Public Library
1100 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

Monday, March 4, 20246:00pm - 8:00 pm
ATLANTIC CITY (Atlantic County)
Atlantic City Convention Center – Meeting Room 309
1 Convention Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 10:00am - 12:00pm
TRENTON (Mercer County)
Trenton Transit Center
72 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08609

Wednesday,March6, 20246:00pm - 8:00pm
BELMAR(Monmouth County)
Belmar Municipal Building – Council Chambers
601 Main St., Belmar, NJ 07719

Thursday, March7, 202410:00am- 12:00pm
WOODBRIDGE (Middlesex County)
Berkely College Woodbridge CampusStudent Center
430 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge, NJ 07095

Friday,March 8, 20246:00pm - 8:00pm
NEWARK (Essex County)
NJ TRANSIT Headquarters – Board Room
One Penn Plaza East, Newark, NJ 07105

For more information on the meetings, or the proposed fare hike, click here.