Lackawanna Coalition

advocating for rail passengers since 1979

Tag: budget

  • Budget Committees, March 2025

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    We attended the Tuesday, March 25th hearing in Trenton (State House) and the Wednesday, March 26th hearing in Newark (NJIT Student Center). We presented the same statement at both, differing only in the committee name on the written copy.

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  • Report from the Chair: July/August 2024

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    As this issue of the Railgram goes to press, a budget deal is in place to keep the government running. It includes the controversial—at least among businesses, though most will not be affected—corporate transit fee (an extension of the corporate business tax that ended in December 2023), though NJ Transit, the intended beneficiary, will not…

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  • No Changes for NJT Budget; $12M for Private Bus Carriers

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    New Jersey’s budget for Fiscal 2024, which starts on July 1st, was approved on the last day of June. This year’s budget approval process was not long and drawn out with government shutdown looming. Although there were debates over certain items, e.g., the tax rebate for seniors, the Legislature passed the budget on time. At…

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  • A New NJT Headquarters?

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    commentary Recently it was reported that NJ Transit is going to move its headquarters from its owned building on one side of Newark Penn Station to leased space on the other side of the station. We were flummoxed to hear this—generally speaking, owing one’s “home” is not only considered the American Dream, but also gives…

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  • Budget Season Is Here

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    Checking the state legislature’s home page as this issue goes to press, we found that the annual Senate and Assembly budget hearings have been announced; the first on March 14th, the final on April 25th. Each year the legislature spends much of this season hearing from constituents about particular budget concerns, suggestions for more, less,…

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  • Report from the Chair, March/April 2023

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    Sally Jane Gellert

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    The biggest train-related story since our last issue of the Railgram has to be the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. We note that the problem was compounded by a slow EPA response that allowed the corporation’s request to burn off toxic chemicals—possibly necessary to avoid an uncontrolled explosion, but done in such a…

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  • NJT Board Members: Wake Up!

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    Portal North Bridge Is Out of Money Already! Stop the presses, NJ Transit Board members, please wake up! The $1.56 billion Portal North Bridge construction contract you approved unanimously at a special meeting last Oct. 12 is a whopping $340 million (28%) over the $1.22 billion contract cost in the PNB Project capital budget! The…

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  • 11 Bus Lines Targeted for Cutbacks

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    John Bobsin

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    As a result of a first-of-its-kind exercise for NJ Transit, the agency is proposing cuts in 11 bus lines, which NJT says are little-used compared to the majority of its bus services; Mike Frassinelli reported the proposed cuts in the Star-Ledger (May 15).  NJT’s review of its bus operations involved an ”inward look” using metrics…

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  • Menendez Calls for Bipartisanship on Transport Bill

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    John Bobsin

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    U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) has called for bipartisanship rather than politics as Washington lawmakers struggle to come up with a compromise on a new transportation bill to fund highway and transit operations and improvements.  According to reporting by Malia Rulon Herman in the Daily Record (May 9), Menendez is one of 47 lawmakers from…

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  • Most NJT Fares Still Highest, Even After Fare Increase in New York

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    Donald Winship

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    Despite fare increases by New York’s Metropolitan Transportaiton Authority (the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North, and local transit in New York City) that went into effect at the end of 2010, most New Jersey riders still pay more for a train ride than their counterparts elsewhere. A study by Lackawanna Coalition member John Bobsin indicates…

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