While in Atlantic City last week, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy placed his bet that South Jersey residents would benefit from having more modern and efficient transportation options.

The incumbent governor unveiled three major transit initiatives last Wednesday, on the eve of Draconian cuts for mass transit provider SEPTA that began over the weekend. Murphy said his proposals would help residents and workers alike in getting around the state’s southern region quicker.

Murphy’s transit plans for South Jersey include:

• Expanding Camden’s electric bus fleet;
• Adding an express shuttle for casino workers traveling between Vineland and Atlantic City;
• Expanding micro-transit options for rural and underserved communities with $5 million in federal funding.

“These new transportation options in South Jersey will not only better connect residents to jobs, schools, and healthcare, but also lay the foundation for a stronger and more interconnected regional economy,” Murphy said in a press release dated Wednesday, Aug. 20.

Earlier that day Murphy presented his ideas at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City during a fireside chat sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey.

Drastic service cuts to SEPTA, which stands for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority – the public transit agency operating in the Greater Philadelphia area – took effect on Sunday, Aug. 24. It was reported that starting yesterday 32 SEPTA bus routes were eliminated, 16 routes shortened, and 88 routes reduced as SEPTA deals with a $213 million operating deficit.

SEPTA’s financial woes are impacting South Jersey as well as service on five Regional Rail lines that serve the area, including the Trenton, West Trenton and Wilmington/Newark lines are being reduced. Some of the rail line cuts will take effect this month, and more significant ones are planned for January 2026.

Adding to commuters’ misery, a SEPTA fair hike is expected to hit on Monday, Sept. 1, increasing the fare from $2.50 to $2.90 for weekday bus, train and trolley rides.

At his fireside chat in A.C. last week, Gov. Murphy said an expanded fleet of eight new electric buses for Camden would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and provide residents with a reliable mode of transportation.

Proponents for the state’s southern region and those pushing for more environmentally-friendly transit options applauded Murphy.

“South Jersey’s transportation challenges are not just well-known, they are critical and escalating,” said Christina M. Renna, President & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey. “The reality is that as you travel further south, mass transit options diminish significantly. The Governor’s announcement addresses these pressing issues.”

New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan said electric buses are supported by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – and tie in with Murphy’s push for a clean energy future for the Garden State by putting more zero-emission vehicles on roads.

“The expanded fleet of electric buses in Camden will provide clean and dependable transit options for residents and commuters,” Sullivan said in a statement. The head of NJ TRANSIT, New Jersey’s version of SEPTA, also supports having more electric buses in Camden and statewide.

“With Governor Murphy’s support, NJ TRANSIT is committed to fully modernizing its fleet of rail cars and buses by the year 2031 and that includes the continued expansion of the electric bus program,” NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri said in the same Aug. 20 press release. “Having sustainable transportation options in the most densely populated state … is critical to the environmental future of New Jersey and essential for powering our economy for generations to come.”

Speaking of economic engines, among the biggest employers in South Jersey are the nine Atlantic City casinos, which collectively employ more than 23,000 workers.

Murphy said his proposal to develop a year-long, pilot express shuttle service between Vineland and the seaside gambling resort would allow more in largely rural Cumberland County the opportunity to gain jobs in A.C., while also reducing congestion and improving regional mobility.

The pilot would launch this fall and provide twice daily express bus shuttle service between the Vineland Transportation Center and the Atlantic City Bus Terminal, with two round-trips Monday through Friday. The South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) will operate the shuttle.

“This long overdue program can be a positive step forward in connecting our residents to job opportunities in the gaming industry while also strengthening our regional economy,” said Vineland Mayor Anthony Fanucci. “Reliable public transportation is key to empowering our workforce and ensuring that Vineland continues to thrive.”

Murphy said he wants rural counties across South Jersey to flourish overall. His third initiative calls for a $5 million investment of one-time federal funding to support the expansion of micro-transit options with a focus on improving service options on the “eds and meds” corridors, meaning schools, colleges and hospitals.

The initiative is designed “to connect residents to jobs, schools, and healthcare facilities, advancing the State’s efforts to build a more interconnected public transportation system for all New Jerseyans,” said Murphy.