Gov. Murphy defends NJ Transit amid strike and service collapse, says system ‘not more broken’
NEWARK, NJ — As transit workers strike and New Jersey’s commuter rail system grinds to a halt, Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday rejected growing criticism of NJ Transit’s performance under his administration, insisting the system is “not more broken” despite widespread outages, mounting delays, and public frustration.
The governor’s defense came during a press briefing where he faced pointed questions about the state of the embattled agency. “You said you would fix NJ Transit if it killed you,” one reporter noted. “It looks more broken now than when you took office. Can you talk about that?”
Murphy responded: “It’s not more broken, that’s just a false premise.”
The governor’s remarks follow years of persistent complaints about NJ Transit, including dirty and overcrowded trains, frequent cancellations, delayed schedules, and fare increases. Riders have also taken issue with recent headlines that NJ Transit spent tens of millions of dollars on newly renovated office space, while service remains unchanged or worse in the eyes of commuters.
System-wide strike deepens public frustration
The latest blow came this week when NJ Transit rail workers walked off the job, citing stalled contract negotiations and a lack of pay raises. The strike has crippled train service across the state, leaving thousands without reliable transportation and prompting state officials to activate emergency contingency plans.
Union leaders say workers have gone years without pay increases despite increased demands and rising living costs. With no resolution in sight, the shutdown is expected to continue into next week.
Funding priorities questioned as service quality stalls
Critics argue NJ Transit has failed to prioritize front-line operations. In addition to executive office renovations, the agency has been criticized for a lack of visible improvement in daily service, despite several years of budget increases and state support.
Riders report continued dissatisfaction. Common complaints include smelly and poorly maintained train cars, inconsistent scheduling, and a lack of timely communication during service interruptions.
Murphy has previously promised to overhaul NJ Transit, declaring in 2018 that fixing the agency was one of his top priorities.
