SEN. MENENDEZ REITERATES THAT NEW PATH FARE INCREASE PLAN LEVIES EXCESSIVE TAX ON NJ COMMUTERS, DISCOURAGES MASS TRANSIT USE

By Senator Robert Menendez | November 26th, 2007 - 10:47am
| More
Release Date: 
Nov 15 2007
Teaser: 

Menendez has sent letter to Port Authority asking for reconsideration of fare hike

WASHINGTON – According to news reports, the Port Authority today will announce a fare hike for PATH trains. U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is reaffirming his opposition to the increase as currently structured.

 

Last week, as reports of the PATH fare hike were circulating, Sen. Menendez urged the Port Authority to reconsider the plan, saying that it could discourage people from taking the exact type of transportation that should be encouraged and that it levies an unfair tax on low-income residents (Text of letter: http://menendez.senate.gov/pdf/111407LetterToPo...). Today, Sen. Menendez again called for a reconsideration of the hike and for the investment of any revenue from additional fares back into the PATH system.

 

 

“The more frustrating traffic gets, the longer our commutes grow and the dirtier our air becomes, the more we should be encouraging commuters to take the PATH. This plan as it stands does the opposite, and I have called on the Port Authority to reconsider,” said Sen. Menendez. “The 50-cent increase is excessive. I’m sure the folks on the New York side of the Hudson are happy with this de-facto commuter tax, but it only places an additional burden on New Jersey riders, especially those who are paid the least.

 

 

“I am asking the Port Authority to think twice about this. They should scrap the fare hike altogether or significantly reduce the hike while guaranteeing that any additional revenue be invested right back in the PATH system, so that New Jersey riders can benefit. Looking at this from a broader view, the overarching strategy should be to keep our bridges and tunnels sound while taking steps to reduce maddening traffic and help clean our air. Encouraging PATH ridership is part of the overall solution.”

 

 

According to reports, the Port Authority plans to implement the jump from a $1.50 fare to $2 early next year. Published reports have pegged the amount of additional revenue that would come from the fare increase at $15 to $30 million, which is a only fraction of both the $3 billion the Port Authority has said it will spend on infrastructure improvements for the PATH system and the $649 million in annual security costs for the Authority.

 

 

# # #

Tags:

Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: March 19, 2010

Christie vetoes 5 service contracts approved by Turnpike Authority  Governor Christie on Thursday vetoed five professional services contracts that were approved by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority a month ago. The governor’s office said Christie exercised his eighth veto because the contract fees ranged from...

Wally Edge

Wisniewski's second cheap shot of the week
Democratic State Chairman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville) put out a statement today accusing GOP congressional candidate Jon Runyan of “hiding from the press while trying to privately impress party bosses, and taking advantage of thousands of dollars...
Byrne is earliest nominated living statewide candidate, Lautenberg is oldest
The passing of Warren Wilentz means that David Norcross becomes the earliest nominated U.S. Senate candidate currently living.  Wilentz was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1966 against Clifford Case, and Norcross was the Republican U....
The nomination nobody wanted
The national political environment favored the GOP in 1966.  It was the mid-term election of Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson, and the war in Vietnam had just begun to divide the nation.   In New Jersey, Republican Clifford Case was...
DiVincenzo backs pension reforms his aide is blocking
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo issued a press release today urging the State Assembly to pass pension and health insurance reform bills, but did not mention in his 574-word that the person blocking the legislation, Assembly Speaker Sheila...
Runyan, Gooch to announce today
Two Republicans will formally announce campaigns for Congress this evening against Democratic incumbents: John Runyan, a retired NFL star who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, is challenging freshman U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill), and Diane...
MORE >

Contributors

Chris
Christie
This is going to be a budget that is going to be unlike any other you’ve probably seen in NJ in at least the last 20 years and maybe... more »
Robert
Torricelli
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
Kim
Guadagno
On Tuesday, Governor Christie outlined a strategy to rescue New Jersey from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Like other states, we were not immune... more »
Jeff
Michaels
Governor Christie seems to have played the rotten fiscal cards he inherited fairly well. As reported by the Star-Ledger, he is proposing to cut school aid by more... more »
Raymond
Lesniak
It's impossible to support consolidation of government services and also support COAH.S1 paints with a broad brush and thus will miss some fine points.  COAH paints with... more »
Joseph
Vitale
As part of his solution to New Jersey’s current budget deficit, Gov. Chris Christie announced that, effective yesterday, he will not allow any additional parents to enroll in FamilyCare,... more »
Steve
Adubato, Jr.
Do I love Governor Chris Christie’s budget proposal?  Of course not.  Who would?  I’m sure he doesn’t like it, but that’s not the point, is it?  How could you... more »
Charles
Wowkanech
The budget speech given on Tuesday by Governor Christie clearly illustrates his priorities – including disproportionately shifting the tax burden away from businesses and the wealthy, and... more »
Alan
Steinberg
On Rebate Issue, Christie Will Win.  The leading New Jersey Sunday newspapers yesterday confirmed that Governor Chris Christie will propose in his FY2011 budget the... more »
Carla
Katz
You’ve got to hand it to Christie; he calls it as he sees it.  I don’t mean the newly crowned Governor, Chris Christie, but his nine-year-old son, Patrick.  ... more »
Joseph
N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
Anyone involved in governing and administrating a town or county in New Jersey understands the economic problems outlined in The Star-Ledger editorials of February 28 and March 1.  The... more »
Gina
Genovese
It is widely anticipated that Gov. Chris Christie’s first budget message, to be delivered on March 16, will show the harsh reality of New Jersey’s bleak financial outlook. No... more »
Donald
Norcross
In keeping with the commitment I made to you in the November election, I am looking at every possible way to cut wasteful government spending and relieve your tax... more »
Michael
W. Kempner
Wanted:  Courage to Pass Healthcare Reform In 1935, they spoke out against Social Security.  In 1965, they spoke out against Medicare.  And now in 2010, they are taking a politics-first... more »
Michael
Patrick Carroll
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice.  Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention.  Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
Richard
J. LaRossa
I have to genuinely wonder if this legislature will go down as the most taxing legislature in the history of the state of New Jersey surpassing the legislative actions... more »
Dr.
Joseph R. Marbach
Now that  the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
Joey
Novick
3.20.10     Putz of the Week and Mensch of The Week It is not too often that I have designated a Democrat as the Putz of the Week and a Republican... more »
Murray
Sabrin
Limited government principles and fiscal conservatism are philosophically sound, because they preserve the people’s natural rights and they prevent government from overspending, over borrowing and overtaxing.   For more than... more »
Anthony
M. Bucco
New Jersey is in severe financial crisis because for years elected officials have been able to make irresponsible and short-sighted decisions without any restraint.  Future governors may... more »
Julio
Tavarez
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
Rafael
Román Martel
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »
Brian
Valentino
On the day of his inauguration, Governor Christopher Christie inherited a gaping $2 billion hole in the state’s budget and swiftly set about the people’s business in meeting our... more »