New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy provided an update on the ongoing efforts to address the issues commuters faced this summer with the state’s rail systems, particularly along the heavily traveled route from Trenton to New York City. Murphy, accompanied by officials from Amtrak and New Jersey Transit, discussed the progress made in addressing the rail disruptions, which plagued many riders in 2024.
As part of a focused effort, over 200 miles of catenary overhead wire systems were inspected, with more than 2,000 hardware components either repaired or replaced, according to Murphy. These improvements aim to prevent incidents that had left many commuters stranded, particularly during the summer months. In addition to physical repairs, officials emphasized that no single, specific cause for the disruptions was found. NJ Transit President Kevin Corbett stated that the investigation did not uncover a “smoking gun” or any systemic failures related to the electricity-carrying devices on the tracks.
Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner reassured riders that service has now returned to expected levels of on-time performance, addressing the frustrations many commuters faced when summer service was marred by delays and stranded trains. However, both Murphy and Corbett acknowledged that the infrastructure, much of which is aging, still requires significant replacement to ensure the reliability of the rail system. The federal government has awarded New Jersey $300 million for these upgrades, though the funds are not yet guaranteed, and additional funding will be necessary.
Murphy highlighted that discussions with President-elect Trump had centered on the progress of the Portal North Bridge project, an important infrastructure initiative for the region. While optimistic about its completion next year, Murphy noted that there is still work to be done, with some of the money from the federal grant earmarked for the Sawtooth Bridges—an area that could cause further delays in the short term. However, it remains unclear how much additional funding will be needed to fully modernize the system, with detailed studies taking up to two years before a clearer estimate is available.
On a separate note, Murphy also announced a toll increase for both the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. The average toll on the turnpike will rise by 16 cents, while tolls at most Garden State Parkway barrier plazas will go up by 8 cents, with a slight increase at entrance and exit ramps as well. These toll hikes are part of a broader effort to fund infrastructure improvements, including those on the rail network.
The announcements signal that while progress is being made, there is still considerable work to be done to address the state’s aging transportation infrastructure and ensure that New Jersey’s commuters have a more reliable and efficient rail system.
