NJ Transit riders seeing red over new ticket rule

(Trenton, NJ) — Beginning July first, one-way New Jersey Transit tickets will expire after just thirty days. The new rule begins on the same day the transit agency will raise all fares by 15%. Commuters say it’s outrageous that NJ Transit is making the tickets expire so quickly. They say it’s another cash grab by the state transit agency.

New Jersey Transit board members gave the thumbs up to an across the board 15 percent fare hike in April. It’s the first fare hike in almost a decade. It begins in July. New Jersey Transit leaders say they need to fill a 106 million dollar deficit. The transit agency says it has been struggling post pandemic with so many former commuters now working from home. Federal COVID dollars were covering some of the deficits, but that money has now run out.

Hundreds of riders spoke out against the fare hikes during hearings in March, but board members approved the plan anyway.