Union Members, Officials Protest Proposed NJ Transit Fare Hike In Glen Rock

Several elected officials and union members gathered at a Glen Rock train station to protest NJ Transit’s proposed 9 percent fare hike.

The protesters said the fare increase is really a tax increase, NorthJersey.com reported.

“I don’t care what you call it, it’s a tax,” said Assemblyman Joseph Lagana, D-Paramus. “And it’s not fair.”

The proposal also called for service to be cut on six bus routes and eliminate the last evening train on the Pascack Valley and Montclair-Boonton lines in order to fill a $56-million budget gap, NJ Transit has said.

Public hearings on the proposed fee increases and changes have been held. The public’s response has been overwhelmingly negative.

“There’s been hearings on this issue, but there hasn’t been a lot of listening,” Bergen County Freeholder Tracy Zur told the website.

(Pictured: Patch file photo)