Weinberg, McKeon, Diegnan: NJ Transit Audit Shows Need for Strong Reform Legislation

TRENTON — Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Assemblyman John McKeon and Senator Patrick Diegnan said today that the findings of the NJ Transit audit confirm the need for passage of comprehensive reform legislation to make NJ Transit more responsive, transparent and accountable to the hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans who ride their trains and buses every day.

Senator Weinberg (D-Bergen) and Assemblyman McKeon (D-Middlesex), the sponsors of NJ Transit reform legislation that has passed the Senate and is awaiting Assembly action, and Senator Diegnan (D-Middlesex), who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said they would work with the Governor’s Office and NJ Transit to add needed procurement reforms identified in the audit to the bill.

“The Governor’s NJ Transit audit underscores the urgent need for major structural changes at NJ Transit, starting with the creation of a stronger Board of Directors that is both representative of and responsive to the needs and interests of commuters,” said Senator Weinberg. “We need to set strict requirements for public hearings for both schedule changes and fare increases, and ensure that more NJ Transit board meeting are held in the evening when commuters can attend.”

“The audit clearly lays out the Human Resources, maintenance and management problems that have plagued NJ Transit for years and that were the subject of joint Senate-Assembly hearings in the wake of the fatal Hoboken crash,” said Assemblyman McKeon. “In addition, the audit identified critical procurement and information technology problems that need to addressed quickly.”

“Many of the recommendations in the audit should be able to be implemented quickly, and those that require legislative approval can be added to the existing reform legislation,” said Senator Diegnan. “We will work cooperatively to ensure that NJ Transit returns to its proper place as one of the nation’s leading mass transit agencies.”

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