NJ Transit 15% fare hike goes into effect despite recent service disruptions

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) – Riders taking NJ Transit are paying 15% more for their fare starting Monday.

There will also be a 3% yearly increase in fare prices. The fare hike comes despite major service disruptions, where commuters were left stranded in train stations for hours.

Some pointed the finger at Amtrak, which was experiencing overhead wire issues that stalled NJ Transit trains. The two agencies are now working together, with a plan to accelerate investigations on 170 miles of tracks with overhead wires between Trenton, N.J. and New York City.

The agencies will then prioritize what repairs are needed.

"The absolute commitment to both organizations from our office and from me personally is to get stuff fixed," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy previously said.

NJ Transit said ridership is down since the pandemic, which led to a more than $100 million budget shortfall. The agency argued that raising fares would prevent reducing service.