700 NJ Transit Employees Test Positive For COVID: What's The Impact On Service?

NEW JERSEY — The recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the state is beginning to make an impact on NJ Transit and its services with about 700 of its 12,000 employees testing positive.

Despite the increase in cases, spokesman Jim Smith said NJ Transit is still operating at about 97 percent of full weekday scheduled rail service.

"While we recognize the impact that just one cancellation has on our customers depending on that train, the cancellations are a fraction of the approximately 700 scheduled weekday trains. Similarly, bus is still operating approximately 94 percent of its full weekday scheduled bus service," said Smith.

Smith said NJ Transit is doing its best to juggle the increase in positive cases and quarantines among its workforce while working to minimize the impact to customers by continuing to operate its regular weekday and weekend schedules.

If services are impacted, NJ Transit will communicate through all of its available channels including e-mail and text alerts, push notifications on the mobile app, website and line-specific Twitter feeds.

"The health and safety of our employees and customers continues to be our highest priority as it has been throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our enhanced cleaning, including daily disinfecting of rail, bus and light rail vehicles, remains in effect along with mask requirements onboard vehicles and inside stations," said Smith.

On Wednesday, New Jersey reported 31,391 positive cases and 58 deaths for that day alone. This is almost 29,000 cases higher than one month ago, according to the state department of health's dashboard.

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