Starting from July 1st, commuters in New Jersey will face a 15% increase in ticket prices. This decision was unanimously approved by the board of directors of New Jersey Transit, aiming to offset a budget shortfall of around $119 million in 2025.
In response to this, the city council of Middletown, New Jersey proposed a measure to alleviate the economic pressure on passengers. Mayor Tony Perry stated that if the council’s new ordinance is approved at a public hearing on May 6th, Middletown will reduce the daytime parking fees in the city from $6 to $5, and the annual fee will also decrease from $375 to $315.
Mayor Perry expressed strong dissatisfaction with the fare increase, seeing it as an economic burden for residents and criticizing the mismanagement by the state government. He argued that raising fares would not improve the quality or speed of services provided by New Jersey Transit.
Mayor Perry told “New Jersey 101.5” that he is tired of the poor management across various departments of the state government – regardless of the economic situation, increasing fees and imposing costs on residents.
New Jersey Transit and Governor Phil Murphy hold a different opinion, believing that without raising fares, services will face cuts. However, Perry remains skeptical, questioning the rationale behind the fare increase and expressing concerns about whether this measure will truly be effective in improving service quality.
Editor: Chen Wenyi