NJ Transit chief explains details of fare increase

NEWARK, N.J. - NJ Transit commuters can expect a fare hike of nearly 10 percent beginning in June, with different increases for different rail and bus lines.

NJ Transit executive director George D. Warrington offered a more detailed breakdown of the proposed fare increase, the first since July 2005, at a meeting of the agency's board of directors yesterday.

Pending approval from the board in April, the increase would begin June 1 and close a budget deficit of about $60 million in the agency's proposed $1.5 billion budget.

The fare hike, the third since 1990, would mean about 9.6 percent on a systemwide average to accommodate expanded services, meet increased rider demand and keep up with inflation, Warrington said.

Among the changes:

A 9.9 percent increase for rail and interstate bus customers who ride from New Jersey to New York or Philadelphia and longer-distance buses between suburbs and urban areas.

A one-way ticket from Trenton to New York City would increase from $11.50 to $12.50, and the monthly pass would increase from $320 to $352.

Local bus routes would increase 9.9 percent; base one-zone rides would increase from $1.25 to $1.35 and base one-zone passes would increase from $45 to $49 in northern New Jersey and from $41 to $45 in southern New Jersey.

Fares for the New York-Meadowlands Sports Complex bus purchased on board would increase from $5 to $6, and fares purchased from ticket windows or vending machines would increase from $4.50 to $5.

Warrington said the increase would also pay for new and expanded service, such as new multilevel rail cars with more seating and additional parking spaces.

NJ Transit will hold more than a dozen public hearings in February and March, and written comments will be accepted through March 8.

Warrington, who is retiring at the end of March, said fares did not increase for 12 years during the 1990s and beyond.

"During that period, the underlying annual operating need to fund inflation, extraordinary cost growth and new service was masked with a steady diet of increased transfers from the capital budget to cover operating expenses," he said.

He said the agency should find other ways to fund the operating budget without "further burdening the capital program."

"The history of fare increases has been erratic and unpredictable," he said.

Fares cover about 44 percent of NJ Transit's operating expenses, and the rest is picked up mostly by the state. Warrington said he did not expect an increase from the state's contribution of $300.7 million. But as NJ Transit service continues to grow, the state needs to find new ways to fund the system, he said.

While the policy makers engage in lofty discussions about long-term funding strategies, the increase will be felt by riders in the short term.

For commuters like Ed Haas, who takes NJ Transit to his job in Manhattan from Maplewood, the increase would tack on about 90 cents to his ride each day. Because he doesn't buy a monthly pass, his ticket is $4.50 each way.

"It's a lot," Haas, 54. "It's unfortunate that driving and parking is considered as economical as riding the train for some people."

NJ Transit is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system.

NJ Transit will hold public hearings on the transportation fare increases from Feb. 28 through March 8. Those in the region are:

Wednesday, Feb. 28

Rutgers-Camden

Campus Center

Third and Penn Streets.

Tuesday, March 6

N.J. Department of Environmental Protection,

401 E. State St., Trenton.

Atlantic City Convention Center,

One Miss America Way.

For more information, or to send a comment online to the agency, go to www.njtransit.com

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