Just one day after NJ Transit’s service cuts went into effect, NJ Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff announced that the state needed to make additional cuts to close a $325 million budget gap by June 30, the end of the fiscal year. The nonpartisan Office of Legislative Service estimates that the gap is even larger — a $402 million gap in the current fiscal year budget, and an additional $365 million next year.

This means transit riders could once again find their mobility on the chopping block. Having already raised fares and cut service across the system to close a $300 million gap,  NJ Transit could be forced to cut service again if faced with a new deficit even a tenth of that size.  Any further service reductions or fare increases would devastate NJ’s seniors, students, and working families, and hurt the many municipalities that rely on transit-centered downtowns.

The bad budget news underscores the need for emergency federal legislation that could bolster NJ Transit’s operating budget — and for Gov. Christie to honor his notion of “shared sacrifice” by not picking on riders again.

Photo: Zoe Baldwin/TSTC.