Statement by Senate Majority Leader Weinberg on Thursday’s Joint Legislative Hearing on NJ Transit Service Issues
Statement by Senate Majority Leader Weinberg on Thursday’s Joint Legislative Hearing on NJ Transit Service Issues
TRENTON – NJ Transit has been a broken agency for nearly a decade. Governor Christie made clear in 2010 that mass transit was not a priority when he killed the ARC tunnel that would have expanded rail capacity into New York City. So the massive service disruptions that have made this the summer of hell for commuters is not surprising.
Yet there is no excuse for not communicating in a timely manner with commuters as to why trains are cancelled or delayed or why the Atlantic City Line needs to be completely shut down while NJ Transit scurries to meet the Dec. 31 deadline from federal authorities to install positive train control throughout its system. NJ Transit must do a better job informing its customers.
And the current crisis has been compounded by the loss of too many trained personnel, particularly engineers, to higher paying jobs at other transit agencies in neighboring states.
I understand full well that the problems facing NJ Transit were not created in a day and cannot be fixed quickly. The Legislature has been and will continue to be a willing partner to return NJ Transit to its former glory.
During the Christie administration, we heard testimony that spoke of a culture inside NJ Transit that stifled critics, promoted politically connected individuals and ignored all of the many things that have brought us to this place today.
I sponsored and the Senate passed in June a comprehensive reform bill for NJ Transit– it addresses the residency requirements for critically needed NJ Transit personnel. It calls for a more expanded and inclusive board of directors. We do not have to wait for audits or more studies. The legislation is written. It should be passed by the Assembly and signed by Governor Murphy.
We cannot right all that is wrong with NJ Transit quickly, but we must start the process now.
Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) is the Senate Majority Leader and represents the 37th Legislative District.
