Garden State Times

New Jersey State Senator Declan O'Scanlon, Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger, and Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn (Monmouth – R’s) are advocating for an immediate special hearing by the State Legislature to address persistent issues with New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit).

The call follows a 15% fare increase and ongoing service disruptions, including broken and canceled trains. A recent incident involving damage to the Raritan River Bridge has caused significant commuter disruptions and raised safety concerns.

"New Jersey commuters have endured enough," said Senator Declan O'Scanlon. "The continuous failures of NJ Transit are unacceptable. The recent fare hike only adds insult to injury for residents who depend on reliable transportation. The Raritan River Bridge malfunction is just the latest in a series of systemic issues that need immediate and thorough investigation. We demand answers on when this will be fixed and how NJ Transit plans to prevent such incidents in the future. We also have to question why the federal government seems less than concerned with the overwhelming issues along the busiest corridor in the nation – it’s unacceptable."

Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger expressed his frustration over repeated disruptions and the lack of accountability from NJ Transit. "Our constituents are tired of the broken promises and constant disruptions. This is not just an inconvenience; it's a matter of public safety. Perhaps the $99 million recently allocated by the Biden-Harris administration to build electric bus charging stations could be redirected to actually fixing New Jersey’s railway problems instead. We need to get to the bottom of these issues and ensure that NJ Transit is held accountable for the continued failures that are impacting thousands of New Jersey residents daily."

Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn highlighted the economic and personal toll these issues take on commuters. "The fare increase is a heavy burden on the hard-working families of New Jersey, especially when service reliability continues to decline. The latest issue with the Raritan River Bridge is not only a logistical nightmare but also a safety hazard. We must hold a special legislative hearing to get the answers our commuters deserve and implement solutions that will provide safe, reliable, and affordable transportation."

The legislators urge their colleagues in the State Legislature to support this initiative promptly, aiming to bring NJ Transit officials before them to address ongoing problems, provide concrete solutions, and outline a clear plan for improving service reliability and safety.