James Solomon Unveils Bold Plan to Transform Jersey City Transit 

Jersey City, NJ—James Solomon, candidate for Jersey City mayor, announced a comprehensive plan today aimed at overhauling the city’s transit systems and ensuring safer streets for all residents. Solomon has a strong record on street safety and as Mayor would create a more reliable and efficient transportation network while addressing critical public safety issues that affect everyday commuters.

James Solomon said:  “Jersey City deserves transit services that work for every resident, along with streets that are safe for all. As Mayor, I am going to expend real time and engy to make sure we expand transit. Our community needs modern solutions, and my plan will deliver just that. Rethinking our transit and street safety will not only improve commutes but also enhance the quality of life for all Jersey City residents. I’m committed to making Jersey City a model for efficient and safe urban transportation.”

Improving PATH and NJTransit Services: Solomon’s vision includes holding PATH and NJTransit accountable for consistent, reliable transportation. His plan demands expanded PATH service on weekends and evenings, along with direct routes from Jersey City to New York City. Furthermore, he aims to extend PATH services to Newark Airport and secure meaningful representation for Jersey City on the Port Authority Board that oversees PATH operations. In addition, Solomon is committed to enhancing NJTransit bus services. This includes advocating for increased frequency and reliability, especially during nights and weekends on critical routes such as the 119, 123, and 125. Solomon also calls for modernizing bus infrastructure with safe, heated shelters and adequate platform space.

Ensuring Safer Streets Across Jersey City: The plan prioritizes street safety through aggressive enforcement against unsafe driving and delivery practices. Solomon will seek maximum penalties for traffic offenses, explore the use of red light and speed cameras in school zones, and hold delivery companies accountable for violations. Additionally, he proposes enhanced funding for the Infrastructure Department to implement engineering improvements across the city. Solomon also emphasizes the importance of implementing resident-only parking and enforcing parking violations strictly to manage street congestion effectively.

Enhancing Light Rail and Opposing Turnpike Expansion: Solomon’s initiative aims to reduce wait times for light rail riders and expand the light rail network to underserved areas, including the West Side Bayfront Development. He advocates for real-time updates on light rail arrivals via the NJTransit app and insists on safe, adequately sheltered stops.

FACT SHEET: James Solomon’s Plan to Fix PATH, Secure Our Streets, and 

Make Transit Work for Jersey City

Jersey City needs reliable transit and safer streets. Every day, hundreds of thousands of people commute into, out of, and around our city via train, bus, light rail, bike, and car. But our residents pay too much for services that are unreliable. Delays are routine, and trains and buses do not come often enough even when they are on time. Our city streets are far too crowded and unsafe, with dangerous drivers and delivery bikers acting without regard for others, seemingly without any consequences.

As Mayor, Councilman James Solomon will finally hold PATH and NJTransit accountable for delivering the transit service that Jersey City residents deserve and pay for. And he will end the impunity for those who endanger others on our streets, moving decisively to make Jersey City safe for pedestrians, drivers, and bicyclists alike. As Mayor, James will:

1. Fight to make PATH provide consistent service for all riders, not just during commuting hours.

• Demand that PATH expand its service on weekends and evenings, and provide direct service from Jersey City to New York City, without stops in Hoboken, on weekends.
• Fight to extend the PATH to Newark Airport.
• Demand a seat for Jersey City on the Port Authority Board, which oversees the PATH.

2. Crack down on unsafe drivers and invest in safety improvements to achieve Vision Zero.  

• Aggressively enforce laws against dangerous driving, direct the municipal prosecutor to seek maximum penalties for offenses, and explore using red light and speed cameras in school zones and near transit.
• Prioritize enforcement against unsafe delivery drivers, and penalize delivery companies directly when their drivers commit safety violations.
• Give the City’s Infrastructure Department the funding and hiring flexibility it needs to deliver engineering improvements for safe streets across the city.
• Implement resident-only parking across the City, and tow out-of-city vehicles that violate parking rules.

3. Push NJTransit to run more buses, more frequently.

• Demand better NJTransit bus reliability and more frequent service at nights and on weekends particularly on the 119, 123, and 125 routes to and from New York City, and the 10, 80, 81, 84, and 86 routes within Jersey City.  
• Demand that NJTransit modernize bus infrastructure to protect riders with safe, heated shelters throughout Jersey City and that the Port Authority allocate larger platforms at the Bus Terminal and more staff to lines that serve Jersey City.
• Demand that Jersey City bus commuters have a voice in decisions about NJTransit service.

4. Reduce wait times for light rail riders and add light rail stops in transit deserts. 

• Hold the new NJTransit light rail operator accountable to reduce wait times between light rail trains, and to upgrade light rail trains to reduce overcrowding at peak times.
• Fight to expand the Hudson-Bergen light rail network to additional stops including the West Side Bayfront Development, and the transit desert near the border with Hoboken.
• Demand that the NJTransit app include real-time light rail arrival times and status updates, and demand that NJTransit create stops that are safe and adequately sheltered.

5. Fight against the expensive turnpike expansion plan that will pollute air and increase traffic. 

• File a lawsuit demanding a rigorous federal Environmental Impact Study on the true costs of turnpike expansion.