Riders tell NJ Transit about impact of cuts

Riders tell NJ Transit about impact of cuts
People with disabilities depend on service
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
William Leonard, who is blind, has just one transportation option when leaving his Fair Haven home, and that may soon be eliminated.

Top: William Leonard [center], of Fair Haven, listens to a speaker during a public hearing March 26 on NJ Transit’s proposal to raise fares and cut services. Above: Jesse Grivin, of Ocean Township, listens to the presentation held at the Long Branch Middle School auditorium. Top: William Leonard [center], of Fair Haven, listens to a speaker during a public hearing March 26 on NJ Transit’s proposal to raise fares and cut services. Above: Jesse Grivin, of Ocean Township, listens to the presentation held at the Long Branch Middle School auditorium. “I take Access Link to go to the doctor, to try to be social, to go to a blind citizens group,” he said. “With the elimination of bus 835, I will be stuck at home, pretty much in a prison cell.

“Access Link is valuable to people with special needs, and that should be considered here.”

Leonard spoke at the March 26 New Jersey Transit public hearing held at the Long Branch Middle School, where transit officials presented a proposal for fare hikes and service cuts to make up a $300 million budget deficit.

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff “The potential budget deficit for 2011 is approaching $300 million,” Thomas Woods, NJ Transit hearing officer, said. “These aren’t actions we want to take but actions we proposed out of necessity to balance our budget.”

In a presentation, Charles Ingoglia outlined a 25 percent fare increase as well as cuts to service on all of the transit services.

Ingoglia explained some of the hardships the transit authority is facing.

“We are facing cost increases for fuel, parts and contracts,” he said. “Against that, ridership has declined around 4 percent, which significantly impacts revenue.

“The state is not in the position to provide increased operating money,” he added. “We have an obligation to balance the budget and come up with solutions for sustainable finances to NJ Transit.”

Thomas Woods, NJ Transit hearing officer, addresses attendees. Thomas Woods, NJ Transit hearing officer, addresses attendees. Ingoglia outlined some of the ways NJ Transit has cut from within, including 200 layoffs, an emergency spending freeze, cutbacks on 401k accounts, cutting executive salaries, hiring and salary freezes, and furloughs, resulting in $30 million in savings.

“We are looking first internally and reviewing every option within our own house to reduce operating costs,” he said. “Fare increases and service reductions are always an option of last resort.”

According to estimates, the proposed plan would generate $140 million in revenue to fill the agency’s budget gap for 2010-11, NJ Transit officials said.

The cuts and fare hikes are still a proposal, and the NJ Transit board will vote on the proposals at the April 14 meeting.

However, many people at the hearing were concerned that over 30 bus lines were being cut across the state, and that many residents use the Access Link system.

Jack Hill, of Howell, addresses the audience and NJ Transit officials. Jack Hill, of Howell, addresses the audience and NJ Transit officials. “My concern is that people with disabilities will be unfairly disadvantaged by this,” Darryl Banks said. “Access Link shadows many of these buses that will be discontinued.

“People who have disabilities already have the least access to the services,” he added. “You really are talking about an unfair disparity for these individuals.”

Much like Leonard, Colts Neck resident Jennifer Sterner said she would be stranded at home without the Access Link service.

“I am a frequent Access Link rider,” said Sterner, who uses a wheelchair. “I take Access Link everywhere.

“I do not drive, so basically that is my only transportation. If that route disappears, I am stuck in my house forever.

“I don’t mind paying an extra 25 percent, but if they take away the route completely, I’m left stranded.”

Also commenting was Alexandra Maldonado, who spoke on behalf of Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District).

“My concern with the mass transit cuts is that they can be counterproductive,” she said. “These fair hikes and service cuts may force fewer New Jersey commuters to take public transportation and put more cars on our already packed roadways.

“These rate hikes will hit all the middle-income commuters the hardest, especially commuters whose only option to get to work is to utilize public transit,” she added.

Monmouth County Freeholder John D’Amico also expressed concern that more residents would be forced to drive.

“Fair increases and service cuts are counterproductive, resulting in loss of revenue and diversion of riders to single- occupancy vehicles that will cause increased traffic congestion on already congested Monmouth County roadways,” he said.

D’Amico’s comments came a day after the Board of Chosen Freeholders passed a resolution urging NJ Transit to reject the proposal to raise fares and cut service.

According to a press release from the freeholders, a one-way rail fare from Middletown to New York’s Penn Station would rise from $11.50 to $14.25. An off-peak round trip would increase from $19.75 to $28.50, and a monthly pass would climb from $326 to $408.

Also, about 1,000 commuters would be adversely affected by the elimination of certain trains, including four trains on the North Jersey Coast Line.

Weekday train 2306 (6:41 a.m. departure from Bay Head), weekday train 2309 (5:10 p.m. departure from Hoboken), weekday train 3517 (7:42 p.m. departure from New York) and weekday train 3518 (9:13 p.m. departure from South Amboy) would no longer be in service.

Jesse Grivin, of Ocean Township, spoke as a member of the Lackawanna Coalition, one of the nation’s oldest rail advocacy organizations.

“I speak as a human being that has consistently had vision problems and will become increasingly dependent on our state’s public transportation system,” he said. “I speak as a citizen outraged at our state’s discrimination against those who cannot afford or safely operate a car.”

Another Ocean Township resident was concerned about the environmental impact that the proposals will generate.

“These proposals are going to be counter to environmental issues,” Stephen Lofthouse said. “New Jersey should be focused on taking more automobiles off the roads, not forcing people into their cars.”

Lofthouse also proposed an idea that the state should take up instead of cutting transit services.

“I believe the governor is wrong in ruling out raising the gasoline tax,” he said. “Why doesn’t someone do the arithmetic on this and see if it would actually work?”

Another group that would be adversely affected by the proposal is students, according to one of their mentors.

“There are quite a few students in Monmouth County who take public transportation to go to school,” Constance Lefferts, who works at Brookdale Community College, said. “Without public transportation, they have no way to go to school.

“They will have to drop scholarships,” she added. “These are students who will become active participants within our community if they can finish school.”

The Long Branch hearing was one of several held last week, including a hearing in Manalapan on March 25.


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