For the second straight year, Gov. Phil Murphy promised no fare increase for beleaguered NJ Transit riders in his state budget address, as long as the legislature passes his proposed fiscal year 2020 budget.

“Last year, commuters were spared a fare hike. And, if we pass this budget’s investment, there won’t be one this year, either,” Murphy said during his speech Tuesday at the Statehouse in Trenton.

Murphy name-checked NJ Transit 14 times in the speech as he laid out his second state budget proposal.

“If it kills me, we’ll rebuild NJ Transit,” the Democratic governor said after some applause. “There is no higher priority than fixing NJ Transit.”

Last June, Murphy raised the possibility of a fare increase when talks broke down with the legislature about the FY 2019 budget. Ultimately fares were held stable.

For the the fiscal year 2019 budget, Murphy budgeted an additional $242 million in NJ Transit’s operating budget. That pumped in an additional $98 million to agency operations.

The proposed budget includes a total subsidy of $407.5 million for NJ Transit, an increase of $100 million. Out of that, $25 million will replace funding the agency has been receiving from the NJ Turnpike Authority, and $50 million will replace money that has been diverted from NJ Transit capital funds. Another $25 million represents new direct funding, according to the budget.

“We owe our commuters a transportation system that makes their lives smoother rather than harder,” Murphy said. “They deserve a system that is safer, more reliable, and customer-oriented.”

Murphy’s first budget pumped a $242 million allocation in to NJ Transit that helped the agency hire new locomotive engineer trainees, bus drivers and employees to maintain equipment.

During his budget speech Tuesday afternoon, he introduced one of NJ Transit’s trainee engineers, Tawana Watkins, of East Orange. The first 12 graduates are scheduled to complete the 20 month training course in April-May, and another nine engineers are expected to graduate in October, officials said.

“I can’t wait to welcome our first class (of graduates) this spring,” he said.

An engineer shortage resulted in a record number of trains being canceled on Monday, with 36 annulled during the morning and afternoon rush hour. Murphy said Watkins will be one of six engineer trainee classes that “will play a big part in once again making NJ Transit the envy of the nation.”

NJ Transit may also contribute to cost saving in the proposed budget. The agency will implement health benefit reforms and is expected to increase revenues through enhanced ticket enforcement.

Ticket collection is a sore point among riders. Commuters have complained that trains are so overcrowded that conductors can’t get through rail cars to check tickets or collect fares.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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