By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
This was the scene MetLife Stadium after the Super Bowl as people boarded NJ Transit trains from the game. And this is what some footballs fans were saying.
“People were chanting Jersey sucks,” said one passenger.
Thirty-three thousand people took NJ Transit trains on game day. New Jersey’s political leaders want answers after fans complained about long waits, lack of bus service and more.
“We had an opportunity to really shine, but this really was, I think, tainted the image New Jersey has,” said Sen. Robert Gordon.
Gordon, chairman of the Legislative Oversight Committee, plans to conduct a hearing on NJ Transit next month. Which will include the NFL transportation issues.
Sources tell NJTV News that the NFL told NJ Transit to expect anywhere from 10,000 to 12,000 riders on the rail service during the Super Bowl, adding that the NFL took over transportation on game day, hiring a contractor to oversee all the transportation management and NJ Transit provided one component. The NFL wouldn’t return NJTV calls for comment.
“I think given the fact that everyone was going to be looking at New Jersey, quote on quote mass transit Super Bowl, you would think even if the NFL was saying don’t expect more then X number that you would prepare from something larger,” Gordon said.
NJ Transit declined NJTV’s request for an interview, but released this statement: “NJ Transit is continuing to review the movement of record ridership around Super Bowl XLVIII. At the request of the State Department of Transportation Commissioner, this process is being led by NJ Transit board [members]. This review will conclude in 30 days.”
“I think in an ideal world they should have put their foot down and say we only can handle let’s say 15,000 people and we gotta put a cap on that and discourage people in some way from using the rail. That would have worked,” said Martin Robins.
As for Sen. Gordon, he says he wants to improve operations and efficiency within NJ Transit and raise the overall level of service for riders.