NJ Transit yesterday unveiled 25-percent fare increases and elimination of the off-peak round-trip discount among systemwide service cuts, including several trains that serve Rahway. Public hearings on the proposal are scheduled for March 25-26 (this link also links to an online comment form). The new fares would take effect May 1. Here’s coverage from the Star-Ledger, CBS and Asbury Park Press.
Eliminatin
One-way fares and monthly fares would jump 25 percent, from $7 to $8.75 and from $198 to $248, respectively. The increases would be largest in the transit agency’s history. There were no fare increases from 1990 until 2002 but this would be fourth since then. NJT claims said fares would still be 3 percent lower than in 1991 — when adjusted for inflation. The hikes — along with cutting executive salaries 5 percent, reducing 401(k) contributions by a third, hiring and salary freezes — are expected to raise $140 million toward a $300-million budget deficit.
Five weekday trains on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) will be discontinued, affecting an estimated 2,700 customers in all. According to NJT, this is the only line that breaks even, with passenger fares covering the cost of operation; overall, fares cover 43 percent of operations. Only three of the five NEC trains slated for elimination serve Rahway:
* Train 3868, 5:28 p.m. from Trenton — departs Rahway, 6:16 p.m. for NYC
* Train 3171, 5:41 p.m. from NYC — arrives Rahway, 6:15 p.m. (express EWR-Rah)
* Train 3801, 12:43 a.m. from NYC — arrives Rahway, 1:21 a.m.
Four weekday trains on the North Jersey Coast (NJC) will be eliminated, affecting 1,000 customers, but only two serve Rahway:
* Train 3517, 7:42 p.m. from NYC — arrives Rahway, 8:21 p.m.
* Train 3518, 9:13 p.m. from South Amboy — departs Rahway, 9:32 p.m. for NYC
Rahway Train Station has more than 3,000 average weekday boardings, ranking about 16th among all NJ Transit stations. Will the new fares affect how you use mass transit, whether for work or play?
Thanks to all who came out to Flynn’s last week for happy hour. You can check out a few photos on our Facebook page. Congratulations to Chandler on winning two passes for The Rahway Taste of Spring on April 9.
Well, between NJT raising monthly fares by $50 and my health insurance having just gone up, there goes the entire raise I received at work 😛
I heard about this fare hike a few weeks back, since then I've been looking to move closer to work. I don't want to leave Rahway, but if my transportation is going to be what may be half of my rent, then may as well!
Elimination of the 5:28PM train from Trenton makes it virtually impossible for residents of Rahway, Linden, and Elizabeth to commute home from the Trenton and Princeton areas. This will only leave a 5:03 departure and a 6:42 departure from Trenton on the schedule–this is over a 1.5 hour gap.
Where's the government support for mass transit??? Where's the outrage over this??? Obama pledges millions for train service, where is it??? I thought we're supposed to be supporting greener transportation. I don't get it at all. My faith in government is slipping fast. A town that smacks a potential restaurant with fees to drive them away while storefronts sit empty?? Yet spends 90k on a piano??? And this is the same story across this country. Corrupt and no-good. All this stimulus spending and it didn't affect one thing in my life. Big giant scam. I'll tell you what though, I'll be a nice guy and pay my increase for the trains. You can even cut my service, make them standing only, and remove the air conditioner. I only ask for thing in return…..a train that departs and arrives on the scheduled times. That's it.
NJ Transit is one big giant FAIL. Charge more for terrible service. I am gonna guess that alot of companies have looked into a 'work from home' Friday or Monday which leads to less people taking the train. Unemployed people also take away a huge chunk of revenue. It just sounds like one big scam to make more money.
Good point, Marshall. NJ Transit is so NYC-focused, that timeline didn't occur to me. Thanks for the info.Anon, there doesn't seem to be any lack of outrage from what media coverage I've seen since the hikes were announced Friday. But you're mixing up you're governments. From my understanding, Feds are pushing high-speed rail with stimulus money, more about regional lines like Boston-D.C., SF-LA (if that's what you're referring to).But I also remember a story that said NJT had $150m from the stimulus last year. If NJT is counting that "loss" of one-time revenue in their $300m deficit, bad job on them; then it's "only" a $150m deficit as far as I'm concerned bc they knew that was only for one year.I'm not sure what the devil the $90k piano or the Irving St. restaurant have to do with NJT fare hikes. You'll have to elaborate for me on that one. I don't see what the city could do except lobby NJT and provide their input as representatives. Call your council member and tell them to help lobby NJT and do whatever they can. Whether they have any more influence on NJT than the averagte person I don't know, but it can't hurt to get another voice yelling about it.I couldn't agree more with you when it comes to "Where's the gov support for mass transit?" This plan is either trying to eliminate any incentives whatsoever to take mass transit (stunning in a state like NJ), or I'm hoping it's a classic first offer in negotiations. Present 25-percent hikes, take public input, and then "miraculously" find more cuts or changes to make it a 15-percent hike, which doesn't seem as bad.
Grate subject I have just share my views from top to bottom as I see them. I feel this is a good simply because it’s consistent with how the user is used to seeing the comment form and filling out information in general. Filling out the name and email wont take me much time, and if you really wanted to go ahead and type the comment first, you can do so, not really that big of a work around. I’m academic degree
"brett said… Grate subject I have just share my views from top to bottom as I see them. I feel this is a good simply because it’s consistent with how the user is used to seeing the comment form and filling out information in general. Filling out the name and email wont take me much time, and if you really wanted to go ahead and type the comment first, you can do so, not really that big of a work around. I’m academic degree"Brett – do you, by any chance, work for NJ Transit?
Does the increase on the price means better service?
"Does the increase on the price means better service?"Not likely. Although a side benefit of running fewer trains is a statistically lower probability of there being one broken down on the tracks ahead of whatever train you're on …
However, this does nothing to remedy the Amtrak overhead wires, signals and switch problems which chronically plague the system.
I'm not one of these people who feels they're entitled to a taxpayer-subsidized rail system, but my frustration lies in the fact that I ride the one line that actually IS self-sufficient (fares cover operating costs on the NE Corridor) and yet they're taking away the train that I ride home every day and raising my fare at the same time.
Why do some people expect train systems to be self-sufficient while road systems are not subject to the same expectation? Given the environmental factors, the sustainability of urban versus exurban living, we should reverse this expectation.
"I'm not one of these people who feels they're entitled to a taxpayer-subsidized rail system"I am; especially considering that far more of my tax dollars go toward subsidizing a highway system.Meanwhile, our gov't is investing in high-speed rail along the all0important Disneyworld-to-Miami and Los Angeles-to-Las Vegas routes (among other useless projects elsewhere in the country).
We all need our FATHER's wisdom, in order to conduct our affairs , blamelessly.http://www.holyoneofisrael-reconciliation.blogspot.comThis blog is HIS gift to all of us..please give a reading through it..God bless you.
Brett & Servant….it seems that the blog spammers are out commenting on the NJT fare hikes/service cuts too!
I just spoke to God. He's pissed the train fare is going up too.Mark, look's like you have some competition if God is gonna starting blogging too.
HAHAHAH XD