Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips has voiced strong opposition to NJ Transit’s proposed 15% fare increase, arguing that it effectively negates Governor Phil Murphy’s no-fare-hike achievement. DePhillips, a Republican member of the Assembly Transportation Committee and the GOP conference leader, highlighted the significant impact of the fare hike on New Jersey commuters.
DePhillips (R-Bergen) pointed out that the fare increase is not just a one-time adjustment but sets the stage for perpetual 3% increases. This policy, he contends, undermines what had been a key talking point for the Murphy administration regarding NJ Transit.
The fare hike is poised to substantially raise costs for commuters. For instance, a one-way ticket on the Northeast Corridor Line from Hamilton Station to New York Penn Station would jump from $16.25 to $18.69 immediately, representing a $2.44 increase. Over a decade, this fare would escalate to $25.11. Similarly, on NJ Transit’s Mainline, the fare from Mahwah to NYC would increase by $2.10 initially, from $14 to $16.10, and would reach $21.63 in ten years. Both scenarios reflect a 55% fare hike over the decade.
DePhillips criticized the Murphy administration’s approach, arguing that the government should prioritize restructuring the agency for cost savings before resorting to fare hikes. He accused the administration of minor, ineffective adjustments, citing the leasing of a costly new NJ Transit headquarters and the consequent increase in ticket prices as examples of mismanagement. DePhillips emphasized that such decisions unfairly burden commuters and represent a wrong approach to handling transit issues.