One of the state’s oldest commuter groups and a petition started by riders are calling for NJ Transit’s CEO to step down, blaming the agency’s leadership for a lack of substantial improvement over the last two years.

The New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers called for NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett and state Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti to resign. The commissioner is also chairwoman of NJ Transit’s board of directors.

Also on Wednesday, a group of commuters started circulating a Change.org petition asking Gov. Phil Murphy and the state legislature to replace NJ Transit’s management.

PLEASE retweet, and take a moment to stand up for yourself and your fellow NJT rider. Enough is enough. Let’s get this petition viral & get a response @GovMurphy and @SenatorLorettaW @NJSenatePres @CommutingLarry @NJ_ARP @Lackawanna_Rail #NJTransit https://t.co/MeBj6R8vLj — FIX NJT Advocates (@FixNjt) February 27, 2020

Even a ranking lawmaker has raised questions.

“I think the governor’s office needs to closely examine whether the current management is up to the task,” said state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen .

The petition also dropped a very big hint about who commuters think should replace Corbett, suggesting former NYC Transit President Andy Byford, who’s last day of work there was last Friday.

“The current leadership has had two years and continues to make excuses for why change has not started to appear on the horizon,” the petition said.

The commuting meltdown of Feb. 3, when an Amtrak overhead wire problem closed one of two Hudson River tunnels causing massive delays for commuters leaving New York, was one of the factors that led several commuters to launch the petition, said co-author Ryan Felmet, who commutes on the Morris & Essex line between Summit and New York.

“The reasons are actually endless. There is no visibility into what is actually going on with the system,” he said. “Not one rider I have spoken to has felt any improvement in the past several years, and in fact, felt the opposite.”

He cited what has become familiar commuter complaints about canceled and delayed trains, “rude conductors, dirty trains, overcrowded trains to the point handicapped, seniors, and pregnant women cannot find seats.”

As of Thursday morning, the petition had 100 signatures in less than 24 hours.

“The entire system is breaking down in huge way, and nothing is changing,” he said. “I’ve missed critical (work) meetings, time with my family, and spent thousands of dollars over the past five years on alternative transit due to the deterioration of NJ Transit service.”

NJ-ARP echoed what commuters said, that NJ Transit service is no better or more reliable than it was on January 1, 2018.

“Pressure has been on us by our members to call for change and we’ve hung tight with the present team, hoping beyond hope, that things would change,” said Len Resto, president of the New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers. “They (NJ Transit) are in P.R. mode. The only positive stuff you see out of the agency is when they sponsor it and pay for it.”

Corbett was hired two years ago in February. In a statement Wednesday, he was backed by his bosses.

“Governor Murphy has full confidence in the capabilities of Executive Director Corbett and Commissioner Scaccetti to address the long-term issues facing NJ Transit after nearly a decade of inaction and funding cuts," said Jerrel Harvey, a governor’s spokesman.

In his budget address on Tuesday, Murphy proposed allocating an additional $132 million for NJ Transit to hire 98 new engineers and fund critical service enhancements, Harvey said.

"This builds upon the customer-focused improvements made over the last two years to ensure that New Jersey’s public transit system is once again reliable for commuters and a model for the nation,” he said.

Commuters remain skeptical, Felmet said, especially about the on-time performance and breakdown numbers citied by NJ Transit, based on their experiences.

“From day one, we knew that turning around NJ Transit from years of neglect and mismanagement would take years of collaboration, hard work, and increased state funding,” said Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, through a spokesman. “Commuters are frustrated that they’re not seeing results quickly enough, and so are we.”

She citied a reduction in canceled trains between 2018 and 2019 and other progress.

“No one In this administration will rest until NJ Transit is once again a world-class transportation agency that delivers the reliable, safe, and on-time service New Jersey commuters deserve,” she said.

Byford was suggested in the petition, and by Resto, because of his operational experience running transit systems in New York, London and Toronto.

“You need an operations guy who knows what he is doing like Byford, and can interact with the troops (employees),” Resto said. “The next person needs operational experience to head a transit agency in trouble and help rescue it.”

Byford could not be reached for comment. Corbett deferred comment to NJ Transit.

Agency officials defended Corbett, listing 26 accomplishments such as progress replacing Portal Bridge, ordering new trains and articulated buses, expanding service on 12 bus routes, increasing light rail frequency, improvements at more than 160 train stations, upgrades to six major bus park and ride stations and successfully applying for $39.5 million in federal grants for work ranging from an electric bus pilot program to new platforms at Newark Penn Station.

“We know we’ve still got a long way to go before we deliver New Jersey residents the world-class commutes they deserve,” said Nancy Snyder, an NJ Transit spokeswoman. “Despite having to dig out from the incredible hole we were in after years of neglect and disinvestment, our progress has been steady and substantial.”

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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