Despite Public Outcry, NJ Transit Board Approves 15% Fare Hike Effective July 1

The NJ Transit Board of Directors unanimously voted on Wednesday morning to increase fares by 15-percent, effective July 1st, meaning commuters will dig deeper into their pockets yet again.  The NJ Transit board voted in favor of the fare increase package with no changes despite last minute protests from commuters and public officials.

Prior to the vote, Hoboken Mayor and 8th District, Democratic Congressional candidate Ravi Bhalla, spoke against the proposed increase at a media conference organized by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, stating, “I urge New Jersey Transit, in the strongest terms possible, to reject what is for residents of Hudson County, an unconscionable increase to utilize our transit system. With mass transit being the engine that drives our economic success, we must find ways to invest in this system that does not unfairly burden working-class residents.  The rate hike will result in more cars on our roads, leading to not only reduced ridership on our trains and buses, but also contributing to more greenhouse gasses and exacerbating our climate crisis. The proposed dedicated revenue stream is a good starting point, but we must do more to protect riders from these fare hikes.”

Board members were not swayed by the protests at NJ Transit’s Newark headquarters, although some did express regret.  Board member Shanti Narra stated, “I am voting yes, but it is a reluctant yes. It is a very difficult decision to do this.  Every single one of you who said New Jersey residents deserve safe, reliable, efficient and affordable public transportation are 1oo percent right. If there was a way to deliver it without these fare hikes, I’d be 100 percent on board.”

The proposed 15-percent fare increase was first revealed in January when the Board unveiled its 2025 budget.  Subsequent 3 percent increases will also be implemented on July 1st of each year.

Some commuters will see a $3 jump in a one-way ticket.  Hikes apply to trains, buses and light rail lines.

You can view the proposed fares here.

This is the first time NJ Transit has implemented fare increases since 2015.