Trenton, NJ – NJ Transit said damaged and unsafe bus shelters are the responsibility of local governments, not the state agency, after criticism erupted online over a broken shelter in South Jersey.
The dispute surfaced after a photo circulated on social media showing a bus shelter with missing glass panels covered by plywood. The image was posted by the account NJ Transit Rude Zone, which accused the agency of forcing riders to wait in unsafe conditions while ignoring complaints.
In a public response on X, NJ Transit said it installs bus shelters at the request of municipalities and at no cost to them, but maintenance obligations fall on the towns once the shelters are in place. The agency said the arrangement requires municipalities to maintain the shelters after installation.
Bus shelters across the state are commonly owned and maintained by local governments under agreements that allow NJ Transit to install the structures without charging municipalities. NJ Transit oversees bus operations but does not routinely inspect or repair shelters once they are turned over to local control.