Fares to remain the same after NJ Transit approves increased budget
NJ Transit’s Board of Directors approved a $1.9 billion operating budget and a $1.16 billion capital budget July 13 for the 2012 fiscal year at a meeting held in Secaucus Junction. Fares will remain stable while NJ Transit focuses on paying down debt.
The operating budget is $85 million higher than last year’s, according to news reports. Chief Financial Officer Kim Vaccari told the Star Ledger that the agency has been funding only its most critical needs, but faces significant increases in the cost of diesel fuel (NJ Transit consumes 36 million gallons a year) and health care.
She said the agency will even have to pay $3 million more to add a day of service because 2012 is a leap year.
The budget also includes spending on new buses, rail cars, dual-powered locomotives, and improvements to the Ridgewood station. The board of directors also considered stopping the practice of non-union employees cashing out unused sick time.
The board reviewed the first customer satisfaction survey, just released, which asked customers to rate the agency on a scale from zero to 10 for various categories including service schedule and fares. The overall results were mixed: for example, the agency scored a 7.0 for “payment options” and a 4.2 for “on-time performance.” The survey was conducted online among 19,000 customers.
Goya delivers 10,000 pounds of food to Secaucus food pantry
Goya, the nation’s largest Latino-owned company, delivered 10,000 pounds of food to the Secaucus food pantry during the first week of July as part of an ongoing campaign to distribute 1 million pounds of food to help combat hunger throughout the United States. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Goya began this effort earlier this year in cooperation with the United Way.
The Secaucus Food Pantry opened the doors to a new space at a 3,000 square foot facility located at 210 Meadowlands Parkway in April, which was donated by Hartz Mountain Industries. The pantry serves on average 100 – 125 families a month.
Deadline for Library MLS scholarships Aug. 1
The Friends of the Secaucus Public Library are offering a limited number of $1,500 scholarships to qualifying Secaucus residents who are pursuing a Masters in Library Science (MLS). The goal of the Friends’ Scholarship is to encourage and aid local residents in their pursuit of an MLS, which is increasingly becoming a requirement for advancement within the library community. The deadline for submitting completed applications is Monday, Aug. 1.
Applicants must be a Secaucus resident for at least one year, must present an undergraduate transcript, and already be accepted into a Masters Program for Library Science at an ALA accredited college. There are also other criteria listed on the application forms that are available at the library or online at secaucus.bccls.org. For additional information, contact Jenifer May: 201-330-2083.
Free passes to museums
Free passes to the Intrepid Air, Land and Sea Museum, as well as to the American Museum of Natural History and the Guggenheim and Brooklyn Museums, are available to patrons of the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center. Patrons with library cards in good standing can reserve the passes by calling the library at 201-330-2083. The Friends of the Secaucus Public Library purchased the passes for the library to offer its patrons.