Passenger Trains > Editorial: Stop Starving NJ Transit

New Jersey's largest newspaper has an editorial in its Sunday editions, demanding that the governor and the legislature stop starving NJ Transit.  In addition to operating rail and bus services, the agency also funds paratransit, light rail, and private commuter bus lines. It also shares in the cost of various county services. But, it is doing so with a nearly $200 million cut in its operating budget since Governor Christie took office.

The writer contends this has already produced disastrous results. Slow orders, poor repair schedules, cancelled trains and buses, proposals to cut even more. The paper demands the governor find money for transit, and raise taxes if he must. This is anathema to the governor, who hopes to run for president as a "hold the line on taxes" candidate.

The legislature, which has also played the NOT ME game with raising highway fuel taxes (which partly subsidize NJ Transit) has not pressed the governor, even as the legislature sent well connected staff and retirees to NJ Transit to fill high salaried, custom made jobs.

Editorial