Justin Strickland

What public transit options are available to you from your New Jersey residence, and do you regularly use any of these services?

In Chatham Borough, I have access to the Morris and Essex Line rail service via the Chatham train station. The 873 NJ Transit bus also services Chatham. I regularly use the New Jersey Transit rail service to travel into New York City.

What is your impression of how well public transit serves NJ-11?

New Jersey is lucky to have wide-reaching train service that takes commuters where they need to go, but there are definitely elements of this service that should be improved. Trains are often delayed and cancelled, there are often not enough services, train cars are crowded at rush hour, and services are relatively slow. These things can and should be improved.

What role do you believe the federal government could and should play to fund transit needs in NJ-11?

Funding New Jersey’s transit needs requires strong collaboration between federal and state authorities because of our system’s interconnectedness with our neighbors in NY, CT, and PA. The Gateway project is one example of that partnership, which will certainly bring improvements for NJ Transit services for commuters in NJ-11. In Congress, I’ll coordinate with state authorities to ensure that we can fund the improvements to transit services in our district that people want to see.

How would you partner with other organizations, elected officials, and stakeholders to drive regional improvements and inter-agency cooperation?



As I’ve mentioned, communication and coordination is key to improving our transit system. I would work with state and federal officials to ensure that all actors are on the same page, working towards the same goals. It is also important to include local officials and grassroots voices in discussions about how local transit improvements can shape their communities and the decisions they make.

Train riders in NJ-11 rely on Amtrak-owned infrastructure. What Amtrak funding would you prioritize to improve the experience for New Jersey train riders?

Funding for Amtrak needs to be focused on improving service times and speed. These improvements would prevent routine delays, make trains less crowded and reduce commuting times, making it easier for commuters to settle in communities in NJ-11 that may be further from New York City or Newark. Investing in Amtrak’s inspection and maintenance capacities would make our rails safer while also avoiding delays and cancellations due to electrical or mechanical failures.

New York City’s congestion pricing program has achieved an 11% reduction in auto traffic into New York City, but is still under attack by the Trump administration. a) Do you oppose the Administration’s attempts to punish NYC for imposing the congestion pricing fee? b) Do you support requiring NYC to share some of the funds raised by the program with NJ to help improve bus and train service between NY and NJ, so that more NJ commuters can avoid the congestion pricing fees?

a) I oppose the Trump administration’s attempts to punish NYC for imposing congestion pricing fees.
b) Yes, if we want commuters to use public transportation when travelling into, out of, and around New York City, we have to invest in the infrastructure to make those services efficient, available, and comfortable. New York should share a portion of the funds raised via the program.

President Trump has vowed to cancel federal funding for the Gateway Rail Tunnel project, which is needed to preserve commuter rail traffic between NJ and NYC. What is your view of the project? What approaches should be considered to ensure the continuation of the project?

The Gateway Rail Tunnel offers solutions to real problems facing rail transit in New Jersey and New York, and is a prime example of cooperation between the two states and with the federal government. The additional rail lines that have nearly been completed will alleviate rail traffic along the Northeast Corridor, allowing for trains to run more often and with few delays. The project’s continuation requires commitment to partnership and to improving our rail service. Although the president and many in Congress seem to have forgotten, Congress holds the power of the purse, and I would fight to ensure that funding for projects like the Gateway is used to help the people of New Jersey.

New Jersey is seeking federal funding to extend the Bergen/Hudson Light Rail system to Englewood and the south Jersey River Line Light Rail System to Glassboro. What factors should be considered for funding projects like this? How would you approach advancing transit expansions like this and others within NJ-11?

As a councilman I know that, when considering transit expansions, it is always important to consider how such changes will impact a community and whether a community has the capacity to receive new transit services. Transit options should be integrated into communities in such a way in which a community can grow around transit and flourish. Many communities in New Jersey have been left without access to reliable transit options, which can ultimately hinder their growth. That’s why any decision regarding transit expansion needs to include community members and local officials, in close coordination with state and federal officials.

New Jersey Transit’s bus electrification goals require substantial federal funding to upgrade the electrical infrastructure in the agency’s bus garages needed to charge new electric transit buses. How do you view federal funding investments in such projects?

Making the transition to electrified buses is one of the many steps we can take to lower emissions caused by transportation services. The federal government should continue investing in such projects to support states to recommit America to a comprehensive climate agenda, reduce emissions, produce more clean energy, and continue strengthening our infrastructure.

The Trump Administration is seeking to end California’s ability under the Federal Clean Air Act to set stricter automobile pollution standards than the federal standards. New Jersey along with many other states has traditionally adopted California’s stricter standards, helping keep our air cleaner and encouraging the sales of electric passenger and commercial vehicles under such programs as Advanced Clean Cars and Advanced Clean Trucks, which were implemented under the Murphy administration. What is your view on maintaining California and other states' ability to set stricter air quality standards?

In the absence of comprehensive federal commitment to reducing emissions, combatting climate change, and protecting our shared environment, New Jersey and other states should have the freedom to legislate their own environmental policies.

Last year, the Republican budget ended federal EV tax incentives. In response, US automakers scaled back their investments in new EV and electric battery production. This puts our domestic auto industry at a competitive disadvantage to the Chinese, whose EV models are increasingly gaining a larger share of the world wide auto marketplace. What policy approaches should Congress consider to maintain US global competitiveness in the auto industry?

We should continue to invest in producing more electric batteries and electric vehicles here in the United States, and we should also make it easier for Americans to afford the transition to electric vehicles. As a councilman I know that, when considering transit expansions, it is always important to consider how such changes will impact a community and whether a community has the capacity to receive new transit services. Transit options should be integrated into communities in such a way in which a community can grow around transit and flourish. Many communities in New Jersey have been left without access to reliable transit options, which can ultimately hinder their growth. That’s why any decision regarding transit expansion needs to include community members and local officials, in close coordination with state and federal officials.

Similarly, the EPA has delayed funding for the fourth and fifth year of the Clean School Bus Program grants and rebates, which were authorized by Congress in the previous administration ($1 billion/year). What is your perspective on the federal government's role in funding electric school buses?

Making the transition to electrified buses is one of the many steps we can take to lower emissions caused by transportation services. The federal government should continue investing in such projects to support states to recommit America to a comprehensive climate agenda, reduce emissions, produce more clean energy, and continue strengthening our infrastructure.