Beginning on July 1, NJ Transit riders will notice a slight change in their fare prices. Prices will be increasing by 3%, which is a moderate but notable change for riders.
The increase in fare was created to fill a $106 million budget gap forecasted from the past year. For example, a round-trip ticket from Secaucus Junction to New York Penn would jump from $9.70 to $9.99.
The ideal outcome of the increase in fare prices is to help NJ Transit increase profits and continue providing the best possible transportation for NJ citizens. NJ Transit is expected to bring in $980 million from farebox revenue and with the increase in fare prices, the hope is that more money can be delegated to improving its services.
When NJ Transit increased its fare prices by 15% in 2024, it was the first time the company had brought them up in almost a decade. This increase is the first of what could be many to come. NJ Transit will be indefinitely increasing fare prices by 3% annually.
The overall goal of the increase is to address shortcomings within the budget. A significant amount of these issues arose following the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people began working remote and stopped relying as much on public transportation.
For anyone planning to use NJ Transit on a regular basis or even occasionally, it is important to mind the slight increase.