NJ TRANSIT ANNUAL REPORT New Leadership New Direction Table of Contents
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2018 NJ TRANSIT ANNUAL REPORT New Leadership New Direction Table of Contents 17 4 10 Facilities 29 19 Messages New Leadership, State-of-Good-Repair Safety & Security New Direction 21 4 Major Projects Governor's Message 32 22 6 12 Studies Financial Performance Chair's Message Improving the Customer Experience 22 8 Resiliency Executive Director’s 15 35 Message Bus and Rail Fleet 26 Technology Corporate Accountability 2 2018 NJ TRANSIT Annual Report 46 57 Light Rail Methodology Executive 38 Management Team 48 SCDRTAP Bus Methodology 59 NJTRANSIT.com FY2018 42 50 facebook.com/ Financial Report NJTRANSIT On-Time Performance Board, Committees & Management Team twitter.com/ 42 NJTRANSIT On-time Performance 50 by Mode Board of Directors instagram.com/ NJTRANSIT 44 55 youtube.com/user/ Rail Methodology Advisory Committees TheNewJerseyTransit 3 Letter from Phil Murphy Governor, State of New Jersey New Jersey’s economy relies on a dependable team, led by Transportation Commissioner transportation network to move goods and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Diane Gutierrez- and people across our state and region Scaccetti and Executive Director Kevin every day. Historically, that transportation Corbett. These two transportation veterans network has been one of our greatest both hit the ground running, beginning the assets. Unfortunately, it has become one rebuilding process with a laser focus on of our greatest challenges, in large part safety, reliability, affordability and improving due to nearly a decade of disinvestment, the overall customer experience. They are deterioration and neglect. Before I became also paying greater attention to the workforce Governor, I was aware that insufficient to improve employee morale and give workers funding and mismanagement had taken the tools and resources they need to be its toll on NJ TRANSIT, once considered a successful. national treasure. Since becoming Governor, I have seen firsthand the extent of the Both Diane and Kevin are following through damage, primarily caused by a failure to make on a top-to-bottom audit of NJ TRANSIT necessary investments in our transportation that I ordered in the early days of my infrastructure. administration. The audit, which is being used as a roadmap to make meaningful changes NJ TRANSIT customers need and deserve that will benefit customers, employees, safe, dependable, on-time service, something and the agency as a whole, affirmed many I am committed to delivering. We began of the concerns we had, particularly about moving on that commitment early on with funding shortages and leadership instability. the hiring of an outstanding management It should be noted that, before the audit was 4 2018 NJ TRANSIT Annual Report New Leadership, Customer Safety & Financial Corporate On-Time Messages New Direction Experience Security Performance Accountability SCDRTAP Performance Team completed, we began working on several Finally, we need to secure the future of early-action items to start moving the rail travel in New Jersey with the Gateway company forward, such as hosting speed Program, a series of projects that include hiring events and open houses for bus new rail tunnels under the Hudson River operators and mechanics, increasing the and a new fixed-span Portal Bridge over the number of locomotive engineer training Hackensack River. The existing Hudson River classes, filling other key positions across the tunnels and Portal Bridge were built by the agency, improving customer communications Pennsylvania Railroad more than 100 years and streamlining the procurement process. ago. New Jersey has committed to making a significant investment in the Gateway Project, One of our biggest challenges this first including a $600 million financing agreement year was meeting the Federal Railroad approved in June 2018 by the NJ TRANSIT Administration’s year-end Positive Train Board of Directors to be used for a new Portal Control (PTC) requirements by December Bridge. We need the federal government to 31, 2018. After several years of limited come to the table to help make this happen. progress, we revamped the project plan by applying for an alternative schedule, and, In closing, I am confident that we will turn through the commitment of the leadership things around. The State Legislature and and project team, we met this important our Congressional delegation are doing their interim milestone. PTC will add another layer part to help make that happen, along with of safety to the NJ TRANSIT rail system. The many other regional advocacy groups and entire PTC project will be completed by the supporters who believe that a quality public end of 2020. transportation network is essential to help our residents travel to good paying jobs, Other important work that continues to medical facilities, as well as educational and advance is NJ TRANSIT’s resilience program, shopping opportunities, all of which allow us which will protect bus, rail and light rail to grow our regional economy. We ask that vehicles, equipment and underlying field you stand with us. systems from future weather events by making our infrastructure stronger and more reliable, driving critical operations. Due to fare increases totaling 36 percent over the past eight years, NJ TRANSIT customers should not bear the financial brunt of these Phil Murphy changes. The FY2019 State Operating Governor, State of New Jersey Appropriation increased by $166.6 million from $140.9 million to $307.5 million. All state assistance combined increased by almost 40 percent from $427 million to $593.6 million, allowing us to hold fares stable in this year’s operating budget. While a combination of state and federal funds are helping us advance capital projects, further assistance will be required. 5 Letter from Diane Gutierrez- Scaccetti Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Transportation Chair, NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors Since January 16, 2018, when Philip D. Murphy skills are examples of how the six-point plan was sworn in as the 56th Governor of the State immediately began putting NJ TRANSIT on an of New Jersey, the Governor has been clear in his upward trajectory. mandate that NJ TRANSIT be restored to a position of national prominence in the TRANSIT industry. Specific to safety, NJ TRANSIT successfully met To that end, he appointed a leadership team that its Positive Train Control (PTC) criteria for 2018 shares his vision for a customer-oriented TRANSIT as established in collaboration with the Federal system that maintains safety as its first priority, Railroad Administration. Often described as delivers excellent customer service, and is fiscally Herculean, the NJ TRANSIT team never took their transparent. eye off the goal and delivered 282 PTC-equipped vehicles, installed all necessary wayside equipment Since that time, NJ TRANSIT has aggressively along hundreds of miles of railroad right-of-way, moved to fulfill the Governor’s mandate and vision. and completed full training requirements for In February 2018, the Governor announced a six- NJ TRANSIT staff. As we continue towards the point commuter relief plan that quickly addressed conclusion of the capital portion of the PTC project, some of NJ TRANSIT’s most pressing issues. Not staff has started to absorb PTC implementation a panacea to all that has failed at the agency over activities into their daily operations. the previous eight years, this plan represented a concrete demonstration of the administration’s Customers are at the heart of all we do commitment to the agency and those it serves. at NJ TRANSIT. It is no secret that strong Procurement of necessary equipment parts to communications play a critical role in helping expedite necessary vehicle repairs and return customers navigate their daily lives. To help, them to service, rental of train cars to help NJ TRANSIT launched a new mobile app feature reduce overcrowded trains for our customers, and that allows customers to register for, and accelerated hiring of staff with critically-needed customize, push notifications, so they can receive 6 2018 NJ TRANSIT Annual Report New Leadership, Customer Safety & Financial Corporate On-Time Messages New Direction Experience Security Performance Accountability SCDRTAP Performance Team custom-tailored, real-time information for their build the Portal North Bridge and new Hudson regular commutes and trips. Information is power; River tunnels on the Northeast Corridor. Executive by providing this information as far in advance as Director Kevin Corbett’s membership on the possible, commuters can make informed decisions Northeast Corridor Commission and collaboration that benefit their work and family lives. There with the Gateway Program Development is no shortage of opportunities to strengthen Corporation will ensure that New Jersey’s voice is our communications and the NJ TRANSIT team heard and our customers’ interests are addressed. continues to be laser-focused on excellence and building a strong and trusted relationship with our Creating a stronger, fairer New Jersey is customers. the responsibility of every state agency. At NJ TRANSIT, we are keenly aware of our role in the No agency can be successful without the confidence Governor’s mission. Whether through our Access of its constituents and that confidence is built with Link paratransit service, or providing the daily rail, fiscal responsibility. Executive Order 5, signed by bus and light rail service that enables New Jersey’s Governor Murphy on January 22, 2018, called for a citizens to get to their work, recreation or other comprehensive audit of NJ TRANSIT. The results of destinations, NJ TRANSIT is committed to serving the audit were presented on October 5, 2018, and all of its customers with a high level of service and served to confirm that years of neglect had left an respect. A special thanks to all of the NJ TRANSIT agency that was starved of funds, disorganized in family of employees who have demonstrated management, and lacking effective leadership. The exceptional commitment to our customers each and Governor tasked the agency with working quickly every day, and on whose continued commitment we to take the necessary actions to implement the – and New Jersey - depend.