All's fare in NJ gov and war
NJ Transit wants to hike fares an eye-popping 15% but may still face a massive budget hole in a year — a dire situation that has the head of the MTA mocking the Garden State’s governor.
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber roasted Gov. Phil Murphy Wednesday over Murphy’s transit budgeting chaos, taking a dig at one of the most vocal critics of the planned Manhattan congestion toll.
“Phil Murphy [inset] said he was gonna fix New Jersey Transit if it kills him,” Lieber told New York lawmakers at an Albany budget hearing. “I’m not sure. He’s not dying, and I’m not even sure if he’s trying.
“It is disappointing that a governor that prided himself on Al Gore’s endorsement has left New Jersey Transit unfunded for reasons we don’t fully understand,” Lieber later added.
NJ Transit also plans to ax its pandemic-era discount program — FlexPass — that provides a 20% discount on purchases of packs of 20 train tickets as it seeks to fill its budget hole.
The changes, which could take effect as soon as July, would up the price of a monthly pass for a commuter on the Morris-Essex line coming into Penn Station from Summit to $342, up from $298.
Additionally, there would be 3% fare hikes every subsequent year. The last fare hike was in 2015. But even the massive increase in ticket prices would buy Murphy only a year of breathing room as budget documents show that NJ Transit will face budget deficits estimated at $767 million again next year. That’s roughly one-quarter of its total $3 billion budget.
‘Congestion $$’ suit
Murphy has sued the federal government and MTA in a bid to halt New York’s congestion toll program, which the MTA hopes to launch as soon as May.
The once-a-day toll is expected to be $15 for cars that drive south of 60th Street in Manhattan.
New York officials hope the charge will get 120,000 vehicles off jam-packed local streets and avenues while raising $15 billion for upgrades to the MTA’s network of buses, subways and railroads.
Drivers coming in via the tolled East River and Hudson River tunnels would get a $5 discount; delivery-sized trucks would pay $24 per day and container trucks would shell out $36.
Murphy’s lawyers have offered a bevy of arguments against the new toll including: that the 4,000-page environmental review was insufficient; it’s unconstitutional because it would disproportionately hit New Jersey residents; and that using toll revenues for transit projects violates federal statute.
Despite those arguments, the Garden State itself tolls New York drivers using the Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway and regularly uses toll revenues for other purposes, including NJ Transit.
“These budget challenges are not unique to NJ Transit,” said the agency’s top boss, Kevin Corbett. “Transit agencies across the country are facing similar deficits due to continued lagging ridership compared to pre-pandemic levels . . .”
Murphy’s office did not return a request for comment.