O’Scanlon, Scharfenberger & Flynn Call for Special Hearing to Address New Jersey Transit Issues

July 11, 2024

13th Legislative District, New Jersey – New Jersey State Senator Declan O’Scanlon, Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger, and Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn (Monmouth – R’s) are calling for an immediate special hearing by the State Legislature to investigate and find solutions to the ongoing issues plaguing New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit).

The call comes in response to a 15% fare increase, coupled with continuous service problems, including broken and cancelled trains. The latest issue involving the Raritan River Bridge being damaged and impassable is a significant concern, causing massive disruptions and posing safety risks to New Jersey commuters:

“New Jersey commuters have endured enough,” said Senator Declan O’Scanlon. “The continuous failures of NJ Transit are unacceptable. The recent fare hike only adds insult to injury for residents who depend on reliable transportation. The Raritan River Bridge malfunction is just the latest in a series of systemic issues that need immediate and thorough investigation. We demand answers on when this will be fixed and how NJ Transit plans to prevent such incidents in the future. We also have to question why the federal government seems less than concerned with the overwhelming issues along the busiest corridor in the nation – it’s unacceptable.”

Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger expressed his frustration over the repeated disruptions and the lack of accountability from NJ Transit. “Our constituents are tired of the broken promises and constant disruptions. This is not just an inconvenience; it’s a matter of public safety. Perhaps the $99 million recently allocated by the Biden-Harris administration to build electric bus charging stations could be redirected to actually fixing New Jersey’s railway problems instead. We need to get to the bottom of these issues and ensure that NJ Transit is held accountable for the continued failures that are impacting thousands of New Jersey residents daily.”

Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn highlighted the economic and personal toll these issues are taking on commuters. “The fare increase is a heavy burden on the hard-working families of New Jersey, especially when service reliability continues to decline. The latest issue with the Raritan River Bridge is not only a logistical nightmare but also a safety hazard. We must hold a special legislative hearing to get the answers our commuters deserve and to implement solutions that will provide safe, reliable, and affordable transportation.”

The legislators are calling for the hearing to be scheduled promptly and are urging their colleagues in the State Legislature to support this critical initiative. The goal is to bring NJ Transit officials before the Legislature to address these ongoing problems, provide concrete solutions, and outline a clear plan for improving service reliability and safety