The Jersey Journal
December 27, 2007
Editorial
One of the best things about living in Hudson County is the proximity of New York City - so close and yet so far.
Or should we say, so close and yet so expensive.
Driving into the city? On top of paying $3 for a gallon of gas and on top of the current $6 toll, you'll soon have to pony up an extra $2 to use a Port Authority bridge or tunnel if a proposed increase goes through.
Taking mass transit? The Port Authority also wants to raise the cost of a ride on the PATH by 50 cents to $2.
Some - including U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise and Hoboken City Councilman Peter Cammarano - are trying to fight the PATH increase, but it appears to be a done deal.
Ferry tickets are going up next month by 50 cents, to $7.50, between Port Imperial in Weehawken and Midtown (up 75 cents, to $10.75, from Weehawken to the World Financial Center).
And once you get to New York, you'll also be paying more - the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted earlier this month to raise fares on subways and buses. The base subway and bus fare will remain $2, but the vast majority of riders - who buy monthly cards - will see a $5 increase to $81 as of March 2.
All this on top of the 10 percent increase that NJ Transit riders saw on light rail, train and bus tickets this summer.
You're paying more. But are you seeing better service?
At the PATH station in Harrison, commuters say they have to wait up to an hour just to get into the few remaining parking lots that haven't been consumed by the ongoing construction of Red Bull stadium and other projects.
Many bus riders were frustrated when the Red & Tan's No. 10/99S moved its route to Central Avenue in August. And now riders will have to deal with more Red & Tan changes coming next month - the 16 and 99 are being discontinued.
Let's make a resolution to straighten out these mass transit problems in the New Year.
At a time when we should be doing all we can to reduce the number of cars on the road, making mass transit affordable - and convenient - should be a priority for everyone.