Commuters 'Furious' At NJ Transit, Christie After 3 Days Of Delays

Commuters have been looking for someone to blame this week after three days of delays caused by electrical problems in 100-old rail tunnels under the Hudson River.

The problems came just a week after NJ Transit approved a budget that will have rail and bus users pay an average 9 percent increase in fares - a $2.1 billion operating plan that supports continued investments in infrastructure, the agency said.

But the problems also raised new questions about Gov. Chris Christie’s 2010 decision to halt construction of a new rail tunnel - a project that could have nearly doubled the transit capacity heading in and out of New York City.

Federal Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx called the lack of action to repair the “shoddy” tunnels “almost criminal,” according to a New York Times report. NJ Transit, meanwhile, took to Twitter to blame Amtrak for not doing enough to maintain the transportation route.

Trains in and out of New York City, and virtually everywhere else in New Jersey, were running 30 to 60 minutes late - or longer - this week because of overhead wire problems and other issues, according to NJTransit.

Trains in and out of New York Penn Station were experiencing up to 30-minute delays because of earlier Amtrak overhead wire problems, according to NJ Transit. Northeast Corridor trains were subject to 60-minute delays between Trenton and New York because of Amtrak signal problems.

NJ Transit blamed Amtrak, saying in a release that the agency pays Amtrak “approximately $100 million annual towards keeping the Northeast Corridor running. We have requested of Amtrak to know if our money is truly going towards reliable rail service for our customers.”

Amtrak released its own statement, apologizing to commuters for the delays.

Wendi Glassman, a lawyer who has been riding the 13 miles from her home in Elizabeth, to Manhattan on NJ Transit for 30 years, said her 26-minute commute took about three hours on Wednesday, according to the New York Times report.

Glassman told the Times that the service used to be “amazing.” But she now believes she could have walked to New York City faster on Wednesday.

“People are furious, and there’s been no response,” she told the Times, adding: “I think Governor Christie is to blame. Until he starts devoting more money to transit, this is going to keep happening.”

Christie, who is running for president, ended the plan to add tunnels in 2010, saying it would have cost taxpayers too much money, despite an independent federal report saying he exaggerated the costs, according to the Times.

Sen. Cory Booker also joined in the fray when people took to Twitter to respond to NJ Transit’s announcements.

• Alexandra Capotorto @itsmealexandra: @NJTRANSIT It’s going to take us commuters rioting to get you to see things clearly, isn’t it? Should we push the trains over? #njtransit
• Bryan @CelebInterviewr: @NJTRANSIT your service is horrendous. Undependable and expensive. Can’t wait to pay 9% more in October.
• patrickdaly @patrickdaly: @NJTRANSIT @CoryBooker Senator, the state of our rail system costs the NJ economy hundreds of millions a year. It is a national disgrace.
• Cory Booker @CoryBooker: @patrickdaly I agree we have a profound crisis. Cost estimates for individual tax payers are as high as 2K a year.
• Cory Booker @CoryBooker: @patrickdaly My team is fighting on this issue in Washington. If you’d like to know what we are doing & what others need to do please call: George Helmy in my office: 973 639 8700

The New York Post predicted “tunnel-mageddon” unless construction starts soon on new rail tunnels:

The clock’s ticking on tunnel-mageddon.

Unless construction starts soon on new rail tunnels under the Hudson, Jersey commuters headed for Penn Station could lose (better sit down) 80 percent of service at some point in the years ahead.

Think commutes are hellish now? Just wait.

And it won’t be just New Jersey train riders who’d suffer — but the whole region.

The problem: The 105-year-old twin tunnels that handle train traffic under the river need vital repairs, especially after the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. And no other tracks can pick up the load.

Photo: DearEdward from New York - Penn Station Departures, via Wikimedia Commons