Gov. Phil Murphy’s latest executive order signed Monday targeted New Jersey Transit.
Murphy, a Democrat, signed the executive order calling for a financial and operational audit of New Jersey Transit alongside Democratic and Republican lawmakers at a rail station in Summit.
The audit will include a look at the agency's funding, leadership structure, personnel hiring and customer service.
The governor said his biggest priority is getting NJ Transit working again for the fare-paying public.
“We cannot continue with a system that has increased fares, 36 percent over the past eight years, even as customer experience eroded. We cannot with a system whose culture titled toward providing landing spots for connected individuals, instead of hiring experts steeped in transportation and infrastructure,” Murphy said. “We cannot continue with a system that lead the nation in accidents and breakdowns.”
He said the audit will also look at NJ Transit's relationship with Amtrak, as well as the implementation of positive train control. Nearly two weeks ago, NJ Transit was fined $12,000 for its slow progress of installing PTC.
Monday's order is the fourth Murphy signed since taking office.