As the second-largest public transit system in the country, RPA’s analysis highlights the measurable value of NJ TRANSIT with case studies of five key municipalities demonstrating shared benefits.
NEW YORK, NY (June 25, 2025) — Today, Regional Plan Association (RPA) released a comprehensive report assessing the value of NJ TRANSIT both in specific New Jersey communities and across the state as a whole. The new report, titled “The Value of NJ TRANSIT”, emphasizes the significant mobility advantages and economic benefits of NJ TRANSIT. contributes to the state, its communities, and even individual households, while providing a glimpse into the predicted losses that would result from a complete termination of its services.
The report found that NJ TRANSIT is projected to generate between $12.7 and 13.8 billion in annual value across the state, and $2.5 billion in annual benefits across five key municipalities, including Atlantic City, Bloomfield, Hackensack, Newark, and Union City. For every household in the communities studied, NJ TRANSIT services supply $10,100 in annual economic benefits.
“NJ TRANSIT is chronically underfunded and underappreciated, to better understand the value it provides we analyzed what would happen if the service didn’t exist.” said Rachel Weinberger, co-author of the report and RPA’s Peter Herman Chair for Transportation at RPA. “Without transit New Jersey’s streets would have to handle 2.5 billion more miles of travel every year –the gridlock would be staggering. NJ TRANSIT also reduces air and noise pollution, fatalities, and increases people’s ability to access their jobs and other critical destinations. Our “Value of NJ TRANSIT” report makes clear that eliminating these vital transit services would not only harm the riders but also weaken the economy and severely disrupt the lives of all New Jerseyans. Whether we realize it or not, we all benefit from transit”
“This report drives home something we’ve long known but had not quantified: NJ TRANSIT is far more than just a way to get from point A to point B, it’s economic infrastructure,” said Zoe Baldwin, Vice President, State Programs. “Our findings clearly show that every investment in NJ TRANSIT is an investment in the strength and stability of the communities it connects. Whether in Newark or Atlantic City, transit multiplies opportunity and reduces congestion on our roadways. We can now say with confidence that it also underwrites a major part of our day-to-day economy.”
Key Findings for the Five Municipalities Studied:
Atlantic City: Every year, NJ TRANSIT services approximately 4.3 million rides into, out of, and within Atlantic City. Known for its tourist and entertainment appeal, public transportation contributes $89.6 million in net benefits to the municipality.
Bloomfield: Transit services generate net benefits of $97.3 million to Bloomfield’s economy. The eradication of service across Bloomfield Township would severely limit transportation options for residents, many of which rely on service for their daily work commutes.
Hackensack: As the most populous city in Bergen County, Hackensack relies on NJ TRANSIT to move nearly 4,000 commuters to and from work daily. NJ TRANSIT contributes a net total of $131.8 million to the municipality.
Newark: As New Jersey’s largest city, Newark is served with an estimated 51 million bus trips and 7 million rail passenger trips by NJ TRANSIT each year. The transit system contributes net economic benefits of $1.4 billion each year, with bus operations providing 97 percent of these benefits.
Union City: NJ TRANSIT contributes net economic benefits of up to $291.5 million yearly, with the benefits of reduced air and noise pollution, congestion, and road maintenance making up a substantial portion of this estimate.
“Thank you to Regional Plan Association for this timely and valuable report,” said NJ State Senate Transportation Committee Chair Pat Diegnan.” “New Jersey Transit is an essential component of why people choose to live and work in our state, in particular these five representative communities. This report highlights the need for the state to work together to provide the best, most affordable service to New Jerseyans since reliable New Jersey Transit service is the economic lifeblood of our state.”
“This report confirms that public transit is not just about moving people—it is about keeping our economy strong, our communities connected, and opportunity within reach,” said Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, Chair, NJ Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee. “NJ TRANSIT delivers measurable value to our state. As Chair of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee, I remain focused on supporting the improvement and expansion of New Jersey’s public transportation system to better support our residents’ daily lives, from getting to work and school to accessing health care, while also helping reduce traffic, emissions, and our dependence on fossil fuels. At the end of the day, investments in New Jersey’s mass transportation systems through NJ TRANSIT are investments in our economy, mobility, environment, and future.”
“The RPA report confirms what millions of New Jerseyans already know: NJ TRANSIT is the backbone of our economy and our daily lives,” said Alex Ambrose, policy analyst at New Jersey Policy Perspective. “But years of consistent underfunding, fare hikes, and service cuts have left us with an agency at risk. This report should serve as a wake-up call to lawmakers — without sustainable, equitable funding, New Jersey risks losing not only a reliable transit system but billions in economic benefits. Investing in NJ TRANSIT means investing in a future with safer roads, cleaner air, and a strong economy that benefits everyone.”
“NJ TRANSIT plays a pivotal role in boosting Newark’s local commerce,” said Ferlanda Nixon, President and CEO of the Newark Regional Business Partnership. “By bringing hundreds of thousands of daily riders directly into our city, it dramatically increases foot traffic for shops, restaurants, and other businesses. This consistent flow of visitors and commuters is essential for supporting our local entrepreneurs and fostering a dynamic, thriving urban core.”
“The findings in this report go a step further and analyze the rippling impacts of a world without NJ TRANSIT. The report reinforces the importance of keeping NJ TRANSIT running and fully funded into the future or else there will be crippling economic and social effects for the state” said Talia Crawford, Advocacy and Organizing Manager, Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
“For riders, the value of NJ Transit is a dependable daily bus or train ride,” said Doug O’Malley of Environment NJ. “But the true value of NJ Transit is what happens when those rides take cars off our roads and allow mobility for hundreds of thousands of riders who don’t have access to a car. RPA’s “Value of NJ TRANSIT” report puts a fine dollar and cents look at the overall impact of NJ Transit on our households, our urban centers and state economy. Spoiler alert: The value of NJ Transit is massive and creates real environmental and quality of life benefits for all riders and residents who never take transit. During the brief NJ Transit rail strike last month, we saw what happens when the trains didn’t run -- it created a ripple effect that stretched from riders to drivers to local and state businesses. Everybody depends on NJ Transit -- and we need our state leaders to ensure we have both reliable, consistent service and reliable dedicated funding to keep the buses and the trains running.”
A full copy of the report can be found here.
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About Regional Plan Association:
Regional Plan Association (RPA) is an independent non-profit organization that conducts research, planning and advocacy to expand economic opportunity, environmental resiliency, improved health, and better quality of life in the New York metropolitan area. Since the 1920s, RPA has produced four landmark plans for the region. The most recent was released in November 2017. For more information, please visit www.rpa.org.
