Public hearings on the plan to raise NJ Transit fares by 25% and cut service across the state will take place tomorrow and Friday evenings and Saturday afternoon, in locations across the state and in New York City. For New Jerseyans, these hearings will be one of the best opportunities to speak out against an unfair plan that will cause major financial pain for transit riders and make it harder to get around the state. Tri-State has pointed out that a 10-cent increase in the gas tax would cost the average household just $93 annually, while the proposed fare increases will cost transit riders much more. New Jersey’s gas tax has not been increased since 1988.
NJ Transit is also accepting public comment online through March 29.
The locations of the hearings are below, and more information is available on NJ Transit’s website.
Thursday, March 25, 5:30-8:30pm
| PATERSON Passaic County Community College – Theater Ellison Street & Memorial Drive, Paterson, NJ Get directions: Transit | Driving |
NEWARK NJ TRANSIT Headquarters – Board Room One Penn Plaza East, Newark, NJ Get directions: Transit | Driving |
| TRENTON Trenton Transit Center 72 South Clinton Avenue, Trenton, NJ Get directions: Transit | Driving |
MANALAPAN Monmouth County Library – Meeting Rooms 2 & 3 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, NJ Get directions: Transit | Driving |
Friday, March 26, 5:30-8:30pm
| SECAUCUS Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station County Road & County Avenue, Secaucus, NJ Get directions: Transit | Driving |
CAMDEN Camden City Hall – Council Chambers (2nd Fl.) 520 Market Street, Camden, NJ Get directions: Transit | Driving |
| MORRISTOWN Morristown Town Hall – Senior Community Center (3rd Fl.) 200 South Street, Morristown, NJ Get directions: Transit | Driving |
LONG BRANCH Long Branch Middle School – Auditorium 350 Indiana Avenue, Long Branch, NJ Get directions: Transit | Driving |
| NEW YORK Port Authority Bus Terminal – Times Square Hall (2nd Fl.) 625 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY Get directions: Transit | Driving |
Saturday, March 27, 1-4pm
| HACKENSACK Bergen County Freeholders – Public Meeting Room (5th Fl.) One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ Get directions: Transit | Driving |
ATLANTIC CITY Atlantic City Rail Terminal – Lobby One Atlantic City Expressway, Atlantic City, NJ Get directions: Transit | Driving |
| EAST BRUNSWICK East Brunswick Community Arts Center Theater 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, NJ Get directions: Driving |
(NJ Transit has called some of these “information sessions,” but according to transit staff, comment will be accepted at all of them.)
Image: TSTC graphic using NJ Transit fare increase proposals.
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Why is it one of the best opportunities to speak out? Will any of the politicians who have refused to raise gas taxes or tolls be listening?
[…] continue tonight and Saturday afternoon. New Jerseyans can also tell Gov. Christie and state legislators to say no to this plan via […]
Elected officials definitely use hearing turnout as a way to gauge public reaction. In addition, media coverage of the hearings means it is critical for transit riders to come out. The next day’s paper can be filled with evidence of the pain that a fare hike will cause, or it can conclude that no one really cares because no one showed up to the hearings. (Never mind that public hearings are frequently scheduled on days and times that are inconvenient to working people.) It can make a big difference to policymakers.