NJ Transit officials monitor issues from commuter ‘war room’

While commuters are hopping on and off New Jersey Transit trains, the rail line is keeping an eye on emerging issues in its emergency operations center.
The center features a wall of monitors which cameras focus on train platforms throughout the NJ Transit system. Workers are also monitoring social media. Staff is then able to pinpoint any train backups or overcrowding that may be impacting the commute.
“I think New Jersey Transit does well in emergency ops,” says NJ Transit executive director Kevin Corbett. “And that's where we need to take that emergency op experience and bring it down to the day-to-day."
Gov. Phil Murphy toured the Maplewood facility for the first time Tuesday as he lobbies for a $100 million increase in spending for NJ Transit.
“We will fix this system,” the governor said.
Murphy has blamed New Jersey Transit‘s services problems on underfunding. He admits that more money won’t immediately fix the agency’s biggest issue – a shortage of engineers. But NJ Transit is in the middle of hiring and training more staff.
A handful of engineers are set to finish training in May. Another group will be trained come October.