Gov. Phil Murphy has said fixing NJ Transit has been a top priority since taking office.
With time running out on the goal, Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco (R-Denville) is offering a lifeline. Or at least a bipartisan coalition.
Bucco, on Tuesday, said the state needs to set politics aside and address NJ Transit’s ongoing structural and operational issues together.
While bipartisan offers usually are ignored by the majority party, Bucco said he’s hope.
“It’s encouraging to see a growing coalition of Democrats joining Republican legislators’ calls to conduct hearings and address NJ Transit’s constant failures,” he said. “Recognizing the urgency of the situation is a good first step, but New Jerseyans desire action. It’s time we set our politics aside and work together to deliver the reliable transit system our constituents deserve.”
The issue shouldn’t be political. Neither party supports what is going on. It’s the coming together part that has proved difficult.
Senate Republicans have consistently sought to address NJ Transit’s issues, whether it be calling for an updated audit in March or special legislative hearings in July.
Democrats, Bucco said, are finally talking about taking action to hold NJ Transit accountable for their unacceptable service. Most recently, even Murphy acknowledged the ongoing issues with NJ Transit and said that his administration was working with a group called “North Highland” to conduct an audit of NJ Transit.
Bucco said other Democrats in Trenton also have echoed Republican calls for hearings into NJ Transit’s performance in recent weeks. Bucco said he’s eager to get to work.
“Our constituents didn’t elect us to sit around and play political theater, they elected us to work together and solve problems for the Garden State,” he said.