BELLEVILLE - New Jersey Transit intends to reduce round trip costs from New York Penn Station to MetLife Stadium for World Cup events to $105, down from $150 earlier in the week. Governor Mikie Sherrill is hoping for more cost reductions for travelers coming here from New York - but she's certain those reductions won't come at a cost to New Jersey taxpayers, she told reporters here this evening.

"I said from the start I didn't want this put on the back of the New Jersey taxpayers," the Governor said. "Certainly, FIFA should take on some of this burden as they stand to make [millions]. We've gone out to corporate sponsors to try to get those costs lowered and we've seen a great response from them.

"So I'm happy they've come forward," Sherrill added. "I'm waiting to see if FIFA will come through although we're not holding our breath. "It's down to $105 - we have to have a set price [because] sales start next week."

NJ Transit is awaiting more sponsors.

What price is acceptable to Sherrill?

"The price that does not charge one dollar to the New Jersey taxpayer," she said.

Some context, via The New York Times:

NJ Transit’s 18-mile journey from New York’s Pennsylvania Station to MetLife Stadium ordinarily costs $12.90 for a return ticket, but the price was hiked by more than eleven times for World Cup games at the venue.

The New Jersey governor Mikie Sherrill directed NJ Transit to ensure ordinary commuters will not carry the burden of the cost, meaning that the $48m cost of World Cup-related services to the agency would be transferred to World Cup ticketholders rather than local taxpayers.

The decision to raise the prices to $150, first reported by The Athletic, provoked considerable criticism and led to a row between Gov. Sherrill and FIFA.

Speaking to The Athletic, NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri confirmed: “Governor Sherrill made two broad points; first, she would not impose financial burden on New Jersey taxpayers or commuters but said the World Cup was an opportunity for New Jersey to showcase the state, the economy and its culture and we are excited to host the games.”