Lawmakers hear list of complaints as they probe New Jersey Transit woes

Fed up commuters and transit activists gave New Jersey lawmakers an earful as they expressed their concerns and frustrations with New Jersey Transit train and bus service.

News 12 Staff

Nov 14, 2019, 3:08 AM

Updated 1,632 days ago

Share:

Fed up commuters and transit activists gave New Jersey lawmakers an earful as they expressed their concerns and frustrations with New Jersey Transit train and bus service.
The lawmakers held the public hearing Wednesday at Hoboken Terminal, site of an NJ Transit train crashed in 2016 that killed one person and injured more than 100 others. Rail commuters have been plagued by train delays and cancellations in recent years as NJ Transit struggles with an engineer shortage and having to install a federally mandated emergency braking system.
State Sen. President Steve Sweeney was on the panel. He has been a big critic of the transit agency.
"Unfortunately, our first person to give testimony, his train was delayed. Symbolic, right?” Sweeney said as the hearing got underway.
Legislators sifted through over 40 written comments and in-person presentations delivering complaints about NJ Transit.
"Oftentimes the [train] doors don't open. This morning there was, actually I've never seen this before, a sticker on the door that says out of service,” said commuter Jeffrey Goldman.
Elizabeth resident Latoya said that she works non-traditional hours, so she needs more buses on her route.
“And extended operational hours. Not just for my work commute but also to get to my doctor’s appointments for my son who is also a Special Ed and has special needs,” she said.
Among the criticism lawmakers heard Wednesday was that NJ Transit’s board is one-third staffed a year after legislation mandated a 13-member board.
Sweeney noted NJ Transit still doesn’t have a dedicated source of funding and said he plans to have a proposal by February’s budget address.
"Transportation's not free. It never has been. Mass transportation's always been subsidized,” Sweeney said.
A spokesperson for Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement, "Gov. Murphy inherited an agency that had been ravaged by the Christie Administration's neglect and mismanagement...During the nearly two years he has been in office, Gov. Murphy has begun to turn the agency around to restore it as a national leader in mass transit."
Sweeney says the next people he wants to hear from are in NJ Transit management.
He wants the panel to provide funding recommendations to Murphy before the governor's budget address which is expected in March.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.


More from News 12
Officials: 1 person killed, 1 injured in house explosion in South River

Officials: 1 person killed, 1 injured in house explosion in South River

1:20
Pro-Palestinian protest that postponed final exams at Rutgers ends peacefully

Pro-Palestinian protest that postponed final exams at Rutgers ends peacefully

2:19
Mostly sunny Friday ahead with cooler temperatures; tracking weekend rain

Mostly sunny Friday ahead with cooler temperatures; tracking weekend rain

2:17
Bound Brook starts Lithium Ion Identification Program to help firefighters identify risks

Bound Brook starts Lithium Ion Identification Program to help firefighters identify risks

0:57
Funeral services held in Newark for Rep. Donald Payne, Jr.

Funeral services held in Newark for Rep. Donald Payne, Jr.

0:22
Prosecutor: 61-year-old man dies in Jersey City high-rise fire

Prosecutor: 61-year-old man dies in Jersey City high-rise fire

0:36
Jersey Proud: Police officers gather for town cleanup in memory of fallen officer

Jersey Proud: Police officers gather for town cleanup in memory of fallen officer

1:26
Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

NJ Transit teams with BetMGM to provide rail serves to MetLife Stadium concerns

NJ Transit teams with BetMGM to provide rail serves to MetLife Stadium concerns

0:46
Car crashes into Hasbrouck Heights apartment building; residents evacuate

Car crashes into Hasbrouck Heights apartment building; residents evacuate

Biden says 'order must prevail' during campus protests over Gaza

Biden says 'order must prevail' during campus protests over Gaza

2:13
Police: Explosion, fire at Old Bridge business kills 73-year-old woman, severely injures 4 others

Police: Explosion, fire at Old Bridge business kills 73-year-old woman, severely injures 4 others

0:47
Learn to make candles at Urban Glo in Union

Learn to make candles at Urban Glo in Union

3:52
I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

0:35
Prosecutors: NJ couple pleads guilty to starting illegal marijuana service and employing their son

Prosecutors: NJ couple pleads guilty to starting illegal marijuana service and employing their son

0:24
Should former inmates be allowed to serve on juries in New Jersey? Gov. Murphy says yes

Should former inmates be allowed to serve on juries in New Jersey? Gov. Murphy says yes

0:29
Unruly passenger ordered to pay over $20,000 for interfering with flight from London to Newark

Unruly passenger ordered to pay over $20,000 for interfering with flight from London to Newark

0:20
Authorities: 2 women, 1 man stabbed in altercation at Newark McDonald's

Authorities: 2 women, 1 man stabbed in altercation at Newark McDonald's

0:19
FBI offering $5,000 reward for info on Paterson bank robbery suspect

FBI offering $5,000 reward for info on Paterson bank robbery suspect

0:24
Cape May County lifeguards file lawsuit against Avalon to get pension

Cape May County lifeguards file lawsuit against Avalon to get pension