© Anne-Marie Caruso/ © Kevin R. Wexler / NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Newark, NJ) – It’s been a rough summer for New Jersey Transit commuters — especially rail riders. Hundreds of trains have been delayed or cancelled throughout recent months, with most of the issues being blamed on Amtrak. Governor Phil Murphy argues that Amtrak — the agency that maintains the tracks on which NJ Transit rains run — shoulders most of the blame. But he also says NJ Transit isn’t blameless for the summer chaos.
Now, Murphy is putting his money where his mouth is. From August 26 through September 2, NJ Transit fares will be free — for trains, buses, and light rail. Commuters who buy a monthly pass will get a 25% discount to reflect the “free” week.
The summer months have been filled with problems for NJ Transit trains — sagging wires, track issues, and the fare hike have all combined to make headaches for riders and officials alike. Amtrak maintains the tracks that have experienced the most problems — along the Northeast Corridor. Murphy put out a statement in announcing the free fares week: “Understanding that our commuters have faced many disruptions this summer, we are providing a one-week fare holiday for NJ TRANSIT riders. As we work diligently with Amtrak to investigate and address the issues that have occurred this summer, especially on the Northeast Corridor, we hope this fare holiday offers our commuters some relief. We also encourage New Jerseyans to take advantage of this opportunity, and we continue to be thankful to the many New Jerseyans who depend on public transit.”
Meanwhile, the specter of Manhattan congestion pricing continues to loom for the MTA and people who drive into the city. Should that policy go into effect, it’s reasonable to expect New Jersey commuters will increasingly turn to mass transit. But the system may not be able to handle that kind of influx, as exhibited by this summer’s issues.
