In a recent series of speeches at forums such as at the Rutgers Bloustein planning school and the Women’s Transportation Seminar, NJTransit executive director George Warrington is calling for “clear, honest and straightforward” talk about transit finances.His themes include how much riders need to contribute to operating costs, but his message is implicitly aimed at Trenton.The talk is refreshing and seems well-received by most audiences. 

While Warrington has not ruled out another fare increase, he is clearly laying the groundwork for a claim to more state funding when the state transportation Trust Fund is renewed in 2004, or in case the state gas tax and other fees are raised before that.

For FY 2003, Trenton cut Transit’s budget by the same amount the last fare increase brought in.Next year’s budget crisis is likely to be as bad, or worse. No transit executive has been able to make a deal with NJDOT, the Treasurer, the Governor and legislative leaders and make it stick in the past decade. NJTransit now receives a smaller operating contribution from the state than it did in 1994.

In addition to securing the operating funds needed to run an expanding system and booming ridership, Warrington’s “back to basics” agenda also has a capital side.It aims to get NJTransit facilities back to a state of good repair after years of deferred maintenance, targeting new capacity to relieve overcrowding, and buying new equipment.Within those goals are plans for more parking, clean coaches and improved customer service. 

Warrington’s has avoided directly blaming NJ Transit’s fiscal plight on the Whitman Administration, but in a low-key way, he says the agency became side-tracked by new projects while beginning to fund operations by pillaging capital funds. 

While not publicly lamenting the Camden-Trenton light rail line, which is expected to have low ridership, Warrington clearly does not want to extend NJTransit’s reach to other projects that promise such small bang for the buck.NJ Transit will pay $48 million annually to the operator of the Camden-Trenton line.

Warrington's Candid on Bad Budget Practices (July 15, 2002)

The Fate of NJ’s Lite Rail 
(Sept. 30, 2002)

Report Details NJTransit Budget Woes 
(Nov. 19, 2001) 

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