NJ Transit erased its biggest embarrassment — now riders want the same commute every day
⚽NJ Transit moved more than 370,000 World Cup riders during eight matches
⚽CEO Kris Kolluri says World Cup strategies will be used to improve daily commutes
⚽Commuters won't pay if the World Cup transportation creates deficit, Kolluri says
NJ Transit CEO and President Kris Kolluri is very proud of his team for a smooth World Cup and will apply that same effort to the everyday commute.
The agency committed to transporting 40,000 World Cup ticket holders to-and-from Penn Station New York for each game. It's previous largest sports event, Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, was seen as a failure for NJ Transit as over 28,000 fans more fans than expected overwhelmed Seacuacus Junction before the game. Fans had to wait until nearly three hours before leaving MetLife Stadium. Kolluri is confident to "curse" from the game is broken.
"I think the way I think about this is, we've lived with that image of New Jersey Transit for 12 years. The team worked so hard for two plus years to put in place a plan that we can execute in a calm and rational way that would that would frankly show both New Jersey and the world what this underdog team is capable of doing. And that's exactly what we ended up doing," Kolluri told New Jersey 101.5.
NJ Transit moved over 370,000 people to and from the eight matches, the most they've ever moved and the fastest they've ever moved.
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How NJ Transit handled its biggest event ever
The biggest accomplishment of his team was the thousands of man hours put in by employees who volunteered to serve as ambassadors. Rail operations who made sure the rail cars were ready and the infrastructure was ready for the volume of riders. Kolluri also spoke highly of partnerships between NJ Transit police and federal agencies and with other bus companies.
"We had for the first time a phenomenal partnership with not just private carriers but also with our internal bus folks to make sure bus and rail can work hand in glove to make sure we move almost between 22,000 and 26,000 people per game," Kolluri said.
He hopes that the success of the World Cup transfers to the everyday commute. Kolluri says he has executed a plan that will modernize its entire fleet of trains and buses by 2031.
"I think we get almost 20 brand new buses a month, and we're about to start getting the rail cars by the end of this year. That is a good example of how we intend to execute for the commuters. That is the only way I know how to do it, and I have a team that is totally focused on the commuters, and that's what we're going to do," Kolluri said.
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Kolluri promises commuters won't cover any World Cup deficit
Before the World Cup Kolluri said it would cost $48 million to move 40,000 riders to-and-from each match. Ridership never reached that level raising the possibility of a deficit. Kolluri repeated his promise that commuters would not be responsible for filling that void.
"I want to be crystal clear on this: if there is a deficit, I will not ask the legislature or the governor for a supplemental appropriations. I will not go to the commuters, ask them for a surcharge, and I will not cut service," Kolluri said. "It is up to me and my colleagues to figure out a way to to deal with the deficit from this event, if there is one."
Kolluri said that NJ Transit's CFO has started working with the head of each department for a final figure on expenduratures. He will share the numbers with the public at the end of what he expects will be a three week process.
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Significant or historical events in New Jersey for July (in chronological order)
Gallery Credit: Dan Alexander
