Princeton, serve the state by taking public transportation

You’ve probably seen listserv emails with titles like “Need Uber to JFK ASAP!” In the days and hours before every break, Princeton students flood the listservs with requests to split rideshares instead of taking available public transportation to the airport.

Students may understandably be looking to save a few dollars. An Uber to Newark Airport costs between $70–90, which may be slightly more or less if split among four people than the $22.40 cost of a New Jersey Transit ticket.

This isn’t just an isolated incident — far too often, I hear Princeton students who are reluctant to take public transportation, whether it be NJ Transit or the New York subway. But instead of Uber-ing to the airport and other nearby destinations, Princeton students should take public transportation whenever possible — even when it’s slightly more expensive — and actively advocate for increased funding for NJ Transit. As students in positions where we could take an Uber instead, showing that we value public transportation helps preserve access to it for those who need it most.

There are plenty of individual reasons to take NJ Transit instead of Uber-ing. For one, it’s more eco-friendly: an individual’s carbon footprint can be decreased by 69 percent by taking the train instead of driving, NJ Transit estimates. It also reduces congestion because there are fewer cars on the road, and getting stuck in traffic isn’t a concern if you ride the train. Additionally, NJ Transit is generally significantly cheaper than taking an Uber for short trips. A train ride from Princeton Station to New Brunswick Station costs just $9.15, while an UberX covering the same route at the same time would cost around a staggering $48.93 — more than five times the price of public transportation.

But the biggest reason Princeton students should take the train when feasible is to give legitimacy to the notion that public transit — our most democratic mode of transportation — is a worthwhile social investment. NJ Transit is used by senior citizens and people living in rural areas who have no other way to get around. It’s also an essential means of transportation for low-income families who can’t afford a car, or people who are unable to drive. Almost 50 percent of NJ Transit riders don’t have cars and make less than $35,000 per year, and 80 percent of individuals who rely on taking the NJ Transit bus do so at least five times a week.

But that accessible transportation is in jeopardy. NJ Transit, grappling with a whopping $1 billion deficit, is in dire financial and operational condition. Years of underfunding from the state have halted necessary expansions and increased the frequency of overcrowding and cancellations. From 2010 to 2018, during Governor Chris Christie’s administration, direct state aid for public transit was cut by 90 percent. In order to stem the financial bleeding, the state sharply increased ticket prices by 15 percent in 2024. This puts the communities who rely on NJ Transit in danger. Not only are their trips becoming more expensive, but NJ Transit — their main method of transportation — is at risk of financial ruin.

Individual riders admittedly might not be able to save NJ Transit alone. According to the FY 2026 Operating Budget, only 31 percent of NJ Transit revenue will be generated through the farebox.

But as Princeton students, we have the duty to support public transportation both in practice and in principle. Using transit creates a culture of using transit, and the more people who use it, the more money NJ Transit can generate.

If you’re concerned about safety, you’re not alone: 40 percent of Americans believe public transit to be unsafe. But as a proud New Jerseyan, I’ve taken NJ Transit, SEPTA, PATH, light rail, and the NY subway — and, although others may have had different experiences, I’ve never felt unsafe. Private transportation doesn’t necessarily mean safer transportation. A sexual assault or sexual misconduct was reported nearly every eight minutes in an Uber between 2017 and 2022. Avoiding the train due to safety concerns is understandable, but every form of transportation poses risks on some level.

Of course, there are valid reasons to take an Uber: if you’re going somewhere the train won’t take you, if you need accommodations, if you’re carrying a lot of luggage. And Princeton students have limited ability to bring NJ Transit back from the brink.

But public transit stands for something bigger — a radically egalitarian idea that everyone deserves affordable transportation. When Princeton students ride the train, we implicitly endorse this idea. We have a unique opportunity to shape our culture and signal to others that NJ Transit is worth saving. So next time you’re going to Trenton or Newark International Airport, consider taking the train.

Vitalia Spatola ’28 (any pronouns) is a contributing Opinion writer from South River, N.J. intending to major in Anthropology or environmental studies. She can be reached at vs2172[at]princeton.edu or @vitaliaspatola on Instagram.