NJ Transit Offers 50% Discount Amid Sinkhole Disruptions

NJ Transit Offers 50% Discount Amid Sinkhole Disruptions

NJ Transit commuters faced with the aggravating closure of New Jersey’s I-80 due to yet another sinkhole can now take advantage of a 50% discount on roundtrip travel from select stations starting this Monday, March 24. This temporary concession comes as elected officials aim to alleviate congestion on the roads while repair work is underway on the troublesome highway, which has been plagued by sinkholes since late last year.

Governor Phil Murphy expressed his commitment to providing alternative travel options for residents during the I-80 repairs, stating, “While we work around-the-clock to repair the roadway, we are providing every possible travel alternative including on NJ Transit trains.” By offering these discounts on train fares, the hope is to divert vehicles from the road and offer commuters a convenient way to get to work or school and back home at the end of the day.

Discount Details and Eligible Stations

The 50% discount will be available to customers traveling from specific stations including Hackettstown, Mount Olive, Netcong, Lake Hopatcong, and Mount Arlington. To take advantage of this offer, passengers boarding at these stations need to inform the train crew if they plan to transfer at Newark Broad Street Station, Summit Station, or continue to Penn Station New York. The crew will then assist them in obtaining a transfer ticket to present to the connecting train’s crew. It’s important to note that customers will still need to pay for their return trip ticket.

The Sinkhole Situation and Expert Insights

The recent appearance of yet another sinkhole on Wednesday, March 19, led the New Jersey Department of Transportation to close I-80 eastbound due to a 15-foot by 15-foot hole in the median work zone. The agency quickly responded by detouring I-80 westbound at Exit 34B/Route 15 north as a precautionary measure while evaluating the situation.

The persistent sinkhole issues along I-80 have been linked to a series of abandoned mines beneath the affected sections of the highway. Bill Kroth, President of the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, shed light on the underground landscape, describing it as “Swiss cheese” back in December when a sinkhole first emerged. He emphasized the grave risk such occurrences pose, stating, “If that would have happened in one of the travel lanes, there would have been fatalities.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, alongside Governor Murphy and Rep. Tom Kean Jr., visited the I-80 site on Saturday to assess the situation firsthand. In a video shared online, Duffy remarked, “It is remarkable what we’re seeing. This is going to be a whole government approach.”

In light of the ongoing challenges posed by sinkholes along I-80, the 50% discount offered by NJ Transit serves as a practical solution to alleviate commuter stress and reduce traffic congestion. As repair efforts continue, commuters can rely on this temporary relief to navigate their daily travels with ease and convenience.