3-minute read
NJ Transit is the third largest provider of bus and rail in U.S.
NJ Transit has 253 bus routes, 12 rail lines and three light rail lines. It provides nearly 270 million passenger trips each year.
The NJ Transit board is gaining a labor leader with experience in the construction sector, says its newest member, Anthony Abrantes.
Abrantes, who will join the board Tuesday for his first meeting, is the assistant executive secretary-treasurer for the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters.
“As a labor leader with extensive experience in a variety of capacities within the construction industry, I am eager to bring my insights and expertise to the table as we work towards advancing public transit services in our state,” Abrantes said in a statement.
“Throughout my career within the construction sector, I have witnessed the transformative impact that infrastructure projects can have on communities, particularly how they spur economic activity and development,” he said.
Engineers union without a contract authorized a strike
Abrantes’ arrival comes while the agency is at odds with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, the remaining union at NJ Transit without a contract — the last one expired Dec. 31, 2019.
The union authorized a strike in August after an overwhelming majority of its members voted in favor of it, but it requires the National Mediation Board to “release” them to allow a strike, and even then they could still face intervention from the president, Congress or Gov. Phil Murphy.
Story continues below photo gallery.
Abrantes said he has worked on collaboration between labor, management and other community stakeholders in his work.
The biggest sticking point of the negotiations with the locomotive engineers is pay increases. NJ Transit is facing significant financial distress because of impending budget shortfalls, and the board will have to weigh fare hikes proposed by the Murphy administration, which would increase fares 15% in July and 3% annually indefinitely after that.
Meanwhile, the agency is in the process of moving to a new headquarters nearby, a decision clouded in controversy, especially after it was revealed by NorthJersey.com that officials went with the most expensive option despite facing a $120 million deficit in the fiscal year that starts July 1 and a nearly $1 billion shortfall a year later.
Abrantes will be among the board members who must attend some of 10 public hearings about the fare increases that are scheduled to be held in person in March.
More: NJ Transit’s Access Link pilot that uses Lyft and taxis expands to Bergen, Passaic
More: More turnover on NJ Transit board as agency faces fiscal cliff
“My background in union leadership has equipped me with the necessary skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder engagement that will be invaluable as we address the evolving needs of our transit system,” Abrantes said.
“I am excited to work alongside my fellow board members, agency staff, and other external stakeholders as I’m brought up to speed on the challenges confronting the agency in the post-pandemic era, as well as how we can continue building on their successes moving forward,” he said.
Other board members have left recently
Sangeeta Doshi, who had served on the board since former Senate President Steve Sweeney appointed her in 2020, said her term’s expiration in January gave her an “opportunity to pursue other opportunities,” in an emailed statement to NorthJersey.com.
“As someone who is extremely passionate about the environment, I ensured sustainability remained a focus for NJ Transit throughout my tenure,” Doshi wrote. “I consider it a privilege to have served the residents of New Jersey and to have represented South Jersey on the board.”
She is the second person to choose to leave the board at the end of their term, and the fourth board member from the 2020 class to depart in about a year’s time.
Bob Gordon also left at the end of his term in December, saying he wanted to focus his attention on a new job. NJ Transit board members can stay past their term’s expiration until a replacement is confirmed.
Before Gordon, James D. Adams was not reappointed to his position and Cedrick Fulton resigned from the board amid numerous concerns that board members were not being consulted and that the agency’s fiscal health was not being treated as a major focus.
Fulton resigned days before the board voted on an item to allow the agency to negotiate the new headquarters lease at 2 Gateway in Newark.
In addition to a new board member, NJ Transit’s Tuesday night meeting will be led by a new face.
Francis O’Connor was named by Gov. Phil Murphy last month to replace Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti as the commissioner of the state Department of Transportation, a role that includes chairing several boards, NJ Transit among them. Gutierrez-Scaccetti was tapped to become Murphy’s chief of staff in October and has served in both roles since then.
Staff Writer Katie Sobko contributed to this story.
Gregory Daniels is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, he explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture. Gregory enjoys staying ahead of the curve and sharing emerging trends with his readers.
