PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED FY25 FARE ADJUSTMENT

Public Hearing Presentation (Video) - Public Hearing Presentation (PDF) - Adjusted Fare Tables
FY25 Fare Adjustment Proposal Public Comment Summary & Responses
 

Background

Since 2015, NJ TRANSIT has held the line on fare increases while not only improving service performance, but adding additional service on more than 100 bus routes and absorbing the ongoing costs to operate service that replaced private carrier bus services abandoned by DeCamp, Coach USA and A&C, which represents more than $30 million alone.

In addition, NJ TRANSIT has improved the customer experience through a variety of enhancements, including fully restoring the ranks of locomotive engineers, delivering a highly rated and completely redesigned NJ TRANSIT Mobile App, introducing new fare payment technologies, and graduating more than 2,300 bus operators, along with numerous other improvements.  NJ TRANSIT has also introduced several improvements for its Access Link paratransit service customers, including the launch of Access Link Online, a new Access Link mobile app, and the introduction of the popular Access Link Riders’ Choice Pilot Program – a partnership with Uber and Lyft to expand options for Access Link customers. And all of this while operating the system with the highest standards of safety and security, including the full implementation of Positive Train Control in 2020 and expanding the presence of New Jersey Transit Police Department officers throughout the system.

Since the onset of the pandemic, NJ TRANSIT ridership has returned to approximately 80% of pre-COVID levels, with many peak period trips at or exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, NJ TRANSIT is entering the fifth consecutive year of ridership that will be below pre-COVID levels, which has resulted in a reduction of nearly $2 billion in farebox revenue for the agency. NJ TRANSIT responsibly used federal COVID relief funding over a multi-year period to maintain full service levels, however that funding will be exhausted in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), which runs from July, 1 2024 through June 30, 2025. The COVID pandemic exacerbated the agency’s structural funding deficit that has existed since NJ TRANSIT was created more than 40 years ago.

In July 2023, NJ TRANSIT’s very preliminary estimates for FY25 identified a budget deficit of $119 million. As the budget projections have continued to be refined since that time, and as the federal COVID-relief funding will be exhausted in FY25, cost drivers have increased substantially. In addition to an increase in inflation of over 30% since 2015, affecting things such as fuel costs and materials, other costs have also risen significantly:

• Operational costs of more than $30 million associated with operating emergency bus service to replace multiple abandoned private carrier bus routes.
• NJ TRANSIT’s contracted services, such as our Access Link paratransit service, the River LINE and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail systems, and private bus carriers.
• Contractual wage increases related to labor collective bargaining agreements covering approximately 10,000 of the 12,000+ NJ TRANSIT employees.
• Healthcare costs, which have risen nearly 47% during this period.

As NJ TRANSIT began the preparations for the FY25 budget process, the agency underwent an intensive internal assessment to identify and maximize cost reductions and revenue enhancements.

Through a combination of $44 million in cost reductions, along with an additional $52 million in revenue enhancements, NJ TRANSIT is reducing the originally projected FY25 deficit and offsetting some mandatory, non-discretionary cost escalations. Included in the FY25 revenue enhancements are the proposed conclusion of the FLEXPASS pilot and the implementation of 30-day expiration dates on all one-way tickets. Internal savings and revenue enhancements alone, however, are not sufficient to eliminate this budget gap. 

In order to close the remaining budget gap of $106.6 million, NJ TRANSIT is proposing a systemwide fare adjustment of 15 percent taking effect on July 1, 2024. This proposed fare adjustment, along with NJ TRANSIT’s internal efficiencies, savings and revenue enhancements would allow for a fully funded FY25 operating budget that avoids reducing service levels.

This fare adjustment proposal also includes annual systemwide increases of 3%, effective July 1, 2025 and going into effect on July 1st of each subsequent year – no fare would increase more than 3% annually.

Examples of Proposed New Fares

* Access Link fares are based on comparable bus fares

To view proposed fare tables, click here.

Public Participation & Public Hearings

To ensure maximum public participation in the process, NJ TRANSIT held 10 public hearings in 10 New Jersey counties, including both morning and evening sessions, beginning Monday, March 4, 2024, through Friday, March 8, 2024, to allow the public the opportunity to learn more about the proposed fare adjustment and offer comments prior to the plan being considered by the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors.
 
In addition to appearing in person, members of the public were also able to submit comments for the record online at www.njtransit.com/hearing, via postal mail, or via email. The public comment period closed at 11:59 p.m., Friday, March 8, 2024. 

All public hearings locations were accessible for persons with disabilities, and individuals were able to request a sign language interpreter, language assistance or other accommodations to participate in a public hearing.

 

Public Hearings Schedule & Locations

Monday, March 4, 2024 11:00am - 1:00pm
CHERRY HILL (Camden County)
Cherry Hill Public Library
1100 Kings Highway North, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 

Monday, March 4, 2024 6:00pm - 8:00 pm
ATLANTIC CITY (Atlantic County)
Atlantic City Convention Center – Meeting Room 309
1 Convention Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ 08401

Tuesday, March 5, 2024 10:00am - 12:00pm
PATERSON (Passaic County)
Passaic County Community College – Paterson room
1 College Blvd, Paterson, NJ 07505

Tuesday, March 5, 2024 6:00pm - 8:00 pm
HACKENSACK (Bergen County)
Bergen County Administration Building – Conference Center
2 Bergen County Plaza 1st Floor, Hackensack, NJ 07601

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

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 6:00pm - 8:00pm
BELMAR (Monmouth County)
Belmar Municipal Building – Council Chambers
601 Main St., Belmar, NJ 07719

Thursday, March 7, 2024 10:00am - 12:00pm
WOODBRIDGE (Middlesex County)
Berkeley College Woodbridge Campus Student Center
430 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge, NJ 07095 

Thursday, March 7, 2024 6:00pm - 8:00pm
UNION (Union County)
Kean University – North Avenue Academic Building
Conference Center, Room 606, 6th Floor, 1000 Morris Ave., Union, NJ 07083

Friday, March 8, 2024 10:00am - 12:00pm
SECAUCUS (Hudson County)
Frank R. Lautenberg Station at Secaucus Junction – Long Hallway
County Road & County Avenue, Secaucus, NJ 07094

Friday, March 8, 2024 6:00pm - 8:00pm
NEWARK (Essex County)
NJ TRANSIT Headquarters – Board Room
One Penn Plaza East, Newark, NJ 07105