Sweeney, Weinberg, Diegnan Back NJ Transit Schedule Changes, Reiterate Commitment to Strong Reform Bill

TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney, Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Transportation Committee Chairman Patrick Diegnan today praised New Jersey Transit’s leadership for implementing the schedule changes needed to meet the federal deadlines for Positive Train Control implementation, and reiterated their commitment to swift passage of NJ Transit reform legislation.

“The wave of train cancellations in recent months due to Positive Train Control work and a shortage of engineers has caused havoc on the lives of the tens of thousands of commuters who depend on NJ Transit rail service,” said Senate President Sweeney (D-Gloucester/ Salem/Cumberland). “The new schedule announced today by NJ Transit recognizes reality. There should be no excuse for not meeting the new schedule and providing safe, reliable service through the end of the year.”

In a meeting in the Governor’s Office last month, Senator Diegnan (D-Middlesex) urged Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez- Scaccetti and NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett to redo NJ Transit’s rail schedule to provide commuters with reliable service, and Senator Sweeney reiterated that recommendation last night.

“For commuters, what has been most frustrating has been the constant uncertainty and the worry of not knowing whether a train is going to be cancelled in the morning, making them late for work, or in the evening, making them late for their child’s sports event,”  Senator Diegnan said.  “Last summer was supposed to be the ‘Summer From Hell,’ but it ended up being bearable because NJ Transit adjusted its schedule months in advance to account for Amtrak’s work at New York Penn Station.”

Senator Weinberg (D-Bergen) said the service problems this summer underscored the need for implementation of the NJ Transit reform legislation that was the subject of a meeting she and Assemblyman John McKeon (D-Middlesex), the bill’s sponsors, had Monday with senior officials from the Administration, Department of Transportation and NJ Transit.

“It is more apparent than ever that NJ Transit needs a strong, representative board that is fully attuned to the needs of NJ Transit’s hundreds of thousands of daily rail, bus and light rail riders,” Senator Weinberg  (D-Bergen) said. “The need for transparency and for the NJ Transit Board to hold evening meetings where it can listen to its customers is clear. Now that the audit of NJ Transit is under final review, we are working closely with Administration officials to ensure that the needed reforms are implemented.”

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