#NoPayMay protest against New Jersey Transit fails to launch
<p>A protest against New Jersey Transit dubbed #NoPayMay seems to have been a dud. Fliers were circulated around NJ Transit train stations last week urging commuters not to pay for May monthly passes as a form of protest against the rail agency for continued delays and service interruptions.</p>
News 12 Staff
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May 2, 2017, 3:02 AM
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Updated 2,550 days ago
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A protest against New Jersey Transit dubbed #NoPayMay seems to have been a dud.
Fliers were circulated around NJ Transit train stations last week urging commuters not to pay for May monthly passes as a form of protest against the rail agency for continued delays and service interruptions. Commuters were told to use their April passes instead.
But News 12 New Jersey spoke to many commuters who said that not only did they pay for their train trips Monday, but they saw others doing the same.
Some commuters said that would have considered skipping the payment if riders were acting together in a united front.
“I feel like the conductors will just single you out,” says Westfield resident Eric Pettinelli. “If you’re not going to pay, get off the train.”
Although most, if not all riders chose to pay their train fare Monday, many said that they are still unhappy with NJ Transit service.
“I’ve been late very day to work. I have been on a train sometimes 2.5 hours to get into the city,” says Jac Maher.
“This morning was absolutely horrendous,” says another commuter. “It was half-hour delayed. It was standing room only.”
The planned protest comes as Amtrak announces plans to improve its rail system on the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak and NJ Transit say that the work will cause delays for the duration of the summer.
“We appreciate our customers for their patients and understanding while we continue to work with Amtrak to improve service and the quality of their commute,” an NJ Transit spokesperson says in a statement.
Some riders tell News 12 that they won’t take the train in May and will opt for bus, ferry or car service until conditions improve.
