After enacting a huge fare hike at the beginning of the month, NJ Transit is now making good on proposed service cuts. The Star-Ledger reports that the agency, "the nation's third-largest provider of bus, rail and light rail transit cut at least two trains from each line. The cuts mean commuters might have a longer wait for trains or find cars more crowded." There has been a 2.6% decrease "in bus, rail and light rail passengers in the first week of the fare hike. Officials had anticipated a drop in ridership of up to 5 percent."
The fare hike and service cuts were made to help bridge a $300 million budget gap. Riders aren't sympathetic. One told WCBS 2, "I'll have to leave earlier, like an hour earlier, which is kind of inconvenient because I need that extra hour of sleep before I go to work," while another said, "It's going to cost me another $60 a month - that's two utility bills - and they're decreasing service, too."
