'I Adamantly Oppose' NJ Transit Hike: Hoboken Officials Weigh In

HOBOKEN, NJ — So your housing, health, and transportation costs are going up — but your salary's not? Lots of people are in the same boat, or on the same train.

NJ Transit announced this week that its fares will rise 15 percent starting July 1. To some, the costs will increase $3 per weekday. For others, it'll be a little more.

Officials around New Jersey have spoken out against the increases, which reportedly still won't close a NJ Transit budget gap.

On Thursday, Mayor Ravi Bhalla said, "We must encourage the use of mass transportation, not discourage it. That’s why I adamantly oppose the 15 percent NJ Transit rate hike."

He added, "It will hit commuters—particularly working-class commuters — hard, and put more cars back on our roads, making traffic even worse. I strongly urge all involved to prioritize alternative funding sources for NJ Transit, which is a key to meeting our climate change goals and an engine of economic growth for all throughout New Jersey."

Assemblyman John Allen, who lives in Hoboken, said, "Countless residents depend on NJ Transit each and every day to get to and from work, especially in urban cities like Hoboken and Jersey City. While I understand the need to generate additional revenues, it can't be at the expense of those who depend on an affordable transportation system. I am committed to working with NJ Transit to examine other funding to balance their books, so we aren't continuing to kick the can down the road.”

Read more about the proposed increase here: NJ Transit To Raise Fares 15 Percent On July 1