Today, Senator Carmen Amato (R-9) submitted written testimony to New Jersey Transit regarding the Senior Citizen and Disabled Residents Transportation Assistance Program to highlight concerns about how services are severely lacking for vulnerable residents in New Jersey.

“Although I support the intent of the Senior Citizens and Disabled Residents Transportation Assistance Program, there are extensive limitations within New Jersey Transit that disproportionately affect disabled and senior riders,” wrote Sen. Amato.

In the letter, Sen. Amato pointed to NJ Transit’s rigid expiration policy on one-way tickets, restrictive access to NJ Accesslink, and how constant cancellations and delays have disproportionately impacted vulnerable residents.

You can read Sen. Amato’s full testimony below: (Click Here for a PDF)

New Jersey Transit Deficiencies for Seniors and Disabled Riders

While New Jersey Transit may comply with the technical requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the events of this past summer make it abundantly clear that service is severely lacking in practice for many of our most vulnerable residents. Although I support the intent of the Senior Citizens and Disabled Residents Transportation Assistance Program, there are extensive limitations within New Jersey Transit that disproportionately affect disabled and senior riders.

One major concern raised during public hearings was the expiration policy that limited the validity of one-way tickets to 30 days. This rigid policy disproportionally impacted seniors and disabled individuals who purchased tickets in advance to avoid difficulties at stations, particularly due to New Jersey Transit’s unpredictable service. By changing the rules mid-game, New Jersey Transit effectively punished seniors and disabled riders for simply planning ahead. This shortsighted decision was nothing more than a money grab that fundamentally disregarded the wellbeing of passengers who rely on public transportation.

NJ Accesslink is another significant concern for disabled riders because of its restrictive service area. Paratransit drop-off and pickup locations operate only within a ¾ mile radius of eligible bus routes or light rail stations and leaves entire regions – especially in South Jersey – without meaningful access to public transportation. This exclusionary service exacerbates the challenges disabled residents face in accessing healthcare, employment, and essential services. New Jersey Transit should take a hard look at how its policies and services can be amended to break down these unnecessary barriers.

Beyond ticketing and access issues, New Jersey Transit’s last few months of service was aptly described as The Summer of Hell by both the media and my colleagues in Trenton. Constant cancellations and delays coupled with air conditioning failures and trains trapped in tunnels created undue hardship for seniors and disabled riders. While being stuck in extreme heat is uncomfortable for any rider, for our seniors and individuals with disabilities, it becomes a potentially life-threatening situation.

In closing, the deficiencies at New Jersey Transit with regard to seniors and disabled riders call for immediate reforms that will create a more affordable, reliable, and accessible public transportation system. While operational and structural challenges have impacted all New Jersey Transit riders, our seniors and disabled riders face additional hardships as a result of these ongoing issues and require immediate action to ensure their safety.

NJ Transit is holding three public hearings on October 17 in Iselin, October 23 in Blackwood, and on October 24 in Newark.