The NJ Transit is expected to hike the round-trip fare to the MetLife Stadium to as much as $150 during the FIFA season|Kenneth C. Zirkel|CC BY-SA 4.0
NJ Transit of New Jersey intends to raise round-trip fares to approximately $150 for travel between Penn Station and MetLife Stadium during the FIFA World Cup, prompting backlash, according to The Athletic.
Covering 18 miles, the rail trip costs $12.90 for a round-trip ticket, matching fares from last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup final.
Why?
With eight matches scheduled at MetLife Stadium, including the final, NJ Transit faces an estimated operating cost of $48 million. Governor Mikie Sherrill said that she is “not going to burden New Jersey taxpayers with that bill for years.”
Sherrill noted that NJ is not alone and that in Boston, a round-trip ticket for the stadium in Foxboro via bus and train will cost $95 and $80, respectively.
She also called out FIFA for not offering financial assistance to host cities for fan transportation during the World Cup.
FIFA expressed surprise at the governor’s stance, citing host city agreements that originally required free transit. Some host cities, such as Philadelphia and Atlanta, are using federal grants to keep fares stable.
Beyond rail costs, attendees face parking fees of $225 to $300 at MetLife Stadium, making public transit essential for the 40,000 fans expected each match day.
A final decision on the NJ Transit fare is anticipated on Friday.