RELEASE: Gottheimer Meets with NJ TRANSIT Commuters to Discuss Summer Delays, the All Aboard Act

Above: Gottheimer discusses delays and transit refunds with local commuters.

FAIR LAWN, NJ — Today, Tuesday, September 3, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) met with local commuters at the NJ TRANSIT Radburn station to discuss their commuting experience over the summer, his work to improve service for millions of riders across North Jersey, and his new legislation which will create a Rail Passenger Bill of Rights. 

Gottheimer heard from commuters that service issues impacted their ability to get to work on time and home to see their families at night. He highlighted his long track record of securing infrastructure investment, including his recent work to help reduce delays and cancellations for NJ TRANSIT customers. 

Gottheimer’s Federal Action to Address Amtrak-Driven NJ TRANSIT Delays Includes:

• The new All Aboard Act, which includes a Rail Passenger Bill of Rights that guarantees refunds to Amtrak customers and NJ TRANSIT customers impacted by Amtrak infrastructure & who experience serious delays and cancellations. 
• Meetings with Amtrak and the Department of Transportation to emphasize that they must deploy the infrastructure investment that he clawed back for passenger rail as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.
  • These meetings build on a letter he sent this summer with the entire New Jersey delegation, demanding that the Department of Transportation investigate the Amtrak malfunctions causing the breakdown in rail service.

Train Delays Across Jersey:

• In July, 605 NJ TRANSIT trains were cancelled and 1681 trains were delayed.
• 415 of NJ TRANSIT’s cancellations in June, well more than half, credited to Amtrak.
  • If it weren’t for Amtrak issues, NJ TRANSIT reports that 92.3 percent of its trains would run on time in June. 
  • Amtrak receives $100 million each year from NJ TRANSIT to help maintain its tracks and infrastructure — on top of $6 billion they received for “State of Good Repair” maintenance investments on the Northeast Corridor Rail Line through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. 
• The vast majority of issues occur on the nation’s most important rail line, the Northeast Corridor Rail Line, which is home to a century-old tunnel and decades-old, faulty catenary wires.
• In July, Jersey commuters were trapped on an NJ TRANSIT train for three hours due to an Amtrak infrastructure failure. 

“Tens of thousands of North Jersey residents rely on NJ TRANSIT trains every day to get to work, doctor’s appointments, and visit family. Pervasive delays and cancellations cause a real headache for our commuters — and a real drain on our entire state. Today, I heard directly from commuters in Fair Lawn that something has got to give,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “I was eager to let them know that I’m taking decisive action in Washington to put a stop to the misery for commuters and families. I’m introducing the All Aboard Act, which will ensure that rail commuters are compensated for significant delays or cancellations. I’m also calling on our federal agencies to deploy the infrastructure investment that I fought for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. By working together, we’ll put an end to this commuting chaos.”

Gottheimer fought for a total of $66 billion in rail investments — including $4.5 billion for Jersey public transit, specifically, and $11 billion for the Gateway Train Tunnel Project by helping craft and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.

Below: Gottheimer discusses delays and transit refunds with local commuters.

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