No Plan To Raise Fares For NJ TRANSIT Commuters
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey TRANSIT doesn't plan to raise fares in the new fiscal year.
Executive Director James Weinstein told members of the Assembly Budget Committee on Monday the fiscal 2013 state budget does not include any fare increases.
Weinstein also explained the agency has ordered 1,400 buses, which will be phased in to replace older vehicles.
Lawmakers questioned Transportation Commissioner James Simpson about the Transportation Trust Fund.
Gov. Chris Christie renewed the fund last year, partly with money that was earmarked for the Hudson River rail tunnel that Christie scrapped.
The project that would have included two more tunnels under the river to relieve congestion, but Christie abandoned the project, citing escalating costs and feared overruns of up to $5 billion.
Some Democrats have said the money should be returned to taxpayers if the tunnel isn't being built, but Christie said he should be able to apply the funds where they're needed.
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