Just cut the crap and figure something else out, something that doesn’t involve raising taxes (and no, Zoe, raising fares is not raising taxes because fares are collected from commuters who choose to utilize NJ Transit services and are exclusively used by NJ Transit and do not ever leave their coffers – taxes are forcibly levied and collected by the state for the operation of government and government services).

Here’s a thought: privatize NJ Transit’s bus operations division and let anyone who wants to run a bus service run it however they want – prices will drop like a rock with competition and people will have more incentives to use methods of transportation aside from automobiles. Not only that, but the state will be spared the costs associated with owning and operating every bus in New Jersey, and will be able to focus their money and time on other more pressing issues, such as our out of date and crumbling rail and road infrastructure and expansion of our limited rail system.