Sherrill directs NJ Transit to deliver improvements for commuters
Governor gives agency 45 days to produce plan shaped by rider feedback
Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed an executive order on Tuesday, March 24, directing NJ Transit to improve the commuter experience across its system.
“Every New Jerseyan deserves a transit system that is safe, clean, accessible, and reliable. This executive order is about delivering cleaner stations, clearer communication, and more dependable service across NJ Transit. We are listening to riders, holding ourselves accountable, and making the improvements necessary to ensure that rail and bus transit work better for everyone who uses it,” Sherrill said.
The order, Executive Order No. 16, sets a 45-day deadline for Priya Jain, the acting commissioner of transportation and chair of the NJ Transit board of directors, to develop and submit a comprehensive plan to the governor aimed at improving riders’ experiences.
The plan must focus on four priority areas:
- Cleanliness of NJ Transit stations, stops, buses, and rail cars
- Accessibility of NJ Transit-owned properties, including escalators and boarding areas
- Public safety, including lighting, cameras, and law enforcement presence at stations and stops
- The digital experience for riders, with a focus on the usability and reliability of real-time tracking features on the NJ Transit website and mobile app
“New Jersey residents deserve a world-class transit system, and Governor Sherrill’s Executive Order is a clear demonstration of our shared commitment to improving the customer experience for all New Jersey Transit riders,” said Jain. “The goals of the executive order and the focus on public engagement will help in moving our transportation system forward.”
The NJ Transit customer advocate will hold three public listening sessions and develop a public survey to be posted on the agency’s website. The advocate will report survey results and feedback from the sessions within 30 days.
Within 45 days after the plan is delivered, NJ Transit will fast-track implementation of the highest priority initiatives so that, by June 22, riders begin to see immediate improvements toward a safer, cleaner, and more reliable ride.
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Krystal Knapp is the founder of The Jersey Vindicator and the hyperlocal news website Planet Princeton. Previously she was a reporter at The Trenton Times for a decade.