A newly released report is raising questions about NJ Transit’s performance, finding that the agency’s operating budget has increased significantly while mechanical reliability has declined.

The analysis from the Garden State Initiative examined NJ Transit performance and financial data between 2020 and 2024.

According to the report, NJ Transit’s operating budget grew by roughly 20% during that period, while mechanical reliability deteriorated. The agency’s current fiscal year 2027 operating budget stands at approximately $3.5 billion, about 46% higher than in 2020.

The report argues that Amtrak-owned infrastructure, which NJ Transit trains rely on throughout the Northeast Corridor, is responsible for some disruptions but does not explain all of the agency’s reliability problems.

Researchers pointed to NJ Transit’s own fleet management, equipment failures and operational practices as areas requiring additional scrutiny.

The report recommends that state officials focus more heavily on performance measurements and operational reforms rather than relying solely on additional funding to improve service.

NJ Transit carries hundreds of thousands of bus and rail passengers throughout New Jersey and into New York and Philadelphia each weekday.