Atlantic City Rail Line riders have expressed concern over the elimination of a popular morning rush hour train.
January has been an ominous month for New Jersey’s transit riders. At the press conference where he announced his picks to lead the state’s transportation agencies, Gov. Christie reiterated his opposition to a gas tax increase, saying that ”the people of New Jersey are taking too much money out of their own pocket already for the operations of state government.” But the governor refused to rule out transit fare hikes and service cuts.
Transit riders found more cause for concern when NJ Transit cut nine train runs on the Main/Bergen, Montclair-Boonton, Atlantic City Rail and Raritan Valley Lines and made changes to 51 bus routes as part of what the agency called “adjustments” based on declining ridership and changing travel patterns.
Riders have a different vantage point. Atlantic City Rail Line riders, for example, say that cuts to morning rush hour trains will force them to arrive at work either too early or late.
In a statement, the Tri-State Campaign warned that without stable funding from Trenton, these cuts could be the first of many. The Campaign also asked NJ Transit to hold public hearings and list the number of riders affected by each cut, which the MTA did when it announced service cuts last year.
Image: Atlantic City Line train near Ashland station. Via Jeremiah Cox.
[...] The media has focused on revenue-raising ideas such as a referendum on increasing the gas tax and adding tolls to interstate highways, but so far the governor has pledged only to review the report. Earlier this month Christie ruled out raising the gas tax but said NJ Transit fare hikes and service cuts could be on the way. [...]
Way to go fatboy! May be you should cut your lunch allowance and freeloaders from Trenton to support hard working people in NJ. Useless politicians!
[...] Campaign executive director Kate Slevin told the Associated Press in response. Christie ruled out increasing the state gas tax earlier this [...]
[...] Campaign executive director Kate Slevin told the Associated Press in response. Christie ruled out increasing the state gas tax earlier this [...]