A broad coalition of New Jersey labor, environmental, civil rights, and planning groups called on Governor Christie to reconsider his proposal to drastically cut NJTransit funding, saying that transit fare increases and service cuts will hurt the state's economy and environment.
According to the American Public Transportation Association, every billion invested in transit operations creates 41,000 jobs, and every billion dollars invested in transit construction projects creates 23,000 jobs.The groups warned that if the cuts to the agency are implemented, commuters will face drastically higher fares, longer waits at stations, more congestion on roadways, and more pollution in the air. The cuts were announced in a budget speech in Trenton today.
"Governor Christie is sending the wrong message for the state's transportation priorities by penalizing transit riders while refusing to consider an increase in the gas tax or other driver fees," said Kate Slevin, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a regional policy watchdog organization. "Transit fare increases are tax increases."
