NJ TRANSIT Announces Fare Cut ... And Service Cuts
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — There's good news and bad news for rail commuters who use NJ TRANSIT.
The good news: fares will be cut 10 percent from November through January.
The bad news: the fare cuts are to make up for additional service disruptions as NJ TRANSIT seeks to meet a federal safety deadline.
"Our customers will always be our first priority, and their experience must be safe and consistent. We thoughtfully reviewed all trains that are part of this adjustment and found the most reasonable alternatives," NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Kevin Corbett said.
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Many trains have been cancelled in the past few months to accommodate the installation of an emergency braking system called positive train control.
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Additional service disruptions are needed so the work is finished by the Dec. 31 deadline. Those changes are scheduled to go into effect in mid-October. They will impact customers along the following lines: Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast, Morris & Essex, Montclair-Boonton, and Main and Bergen County.
NJ TRANSIT said other trains throughout the system will have schedule and/or station stop adjustments, adding the schedule adjustments are temporary. The agency said it anticipates regular service beginning to be restored in mid-January 2019.
"As a daily rail commuter myself, I fully understand the impact this has on people's lives," Corbett said. "That's why I thought it was so important to offer the 10 percent discount to our loyal rail customers. I'm pleased to report that we have made substantial progress on PTC, having gone from just 12 percent complete to more than 66 percent complete in the last seven months alone. Further adjustments are necessary as we continue to accelerate the installation schedule. Failure to meet the federal requirements by Dec. 31 is not an option."
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
