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Lawmakers advance bill to create independent NJ Transit customer‑advocacy office
Summary
Vice Chair Mukherjee told the committee that New Jersey Transit needs an autonomous customer advocate accountable to the Legislature; SB 29‑17 to create a New Jersey Transit Office of Customer Advocacy and a related commission was released from committee.
Vice Chair Mukherjee told the committee it should establish an autonomous customer advocate for New Jersey Transit and create an accompanying commission to represent riders’ interests, saying the current structure—where the customer advocate reports directly to New Jersey Transit—is insufficient.
"The current customer advocate reports directly to New Jersey transit, and I don't think that we'll ever achieve the objectives of having a customer advocate or [commission] unless they are truly autonomous and accountable to legislature and not New Jersey transit," Mukherjee said. He argued an independent office would better serve commuters and that New Jersey Transit operates on "commuters' patience."
Clerk read SB 29‑17, which the committee released. The transcript records the commission name as the "Bridal Commission"; the committee discussion indicates the intention is to create an independent commission aligned with the customer advocate, but the transcript phrasing may reflect a transcription error.
Procedure and next steps
Committee members moved, seconded and recorded affirmative roll calls; the clerk announced the bill's release. SB 29‑17 will proceed to the next legislative stage for further consideration.
