Claim: NJ Transit failed to collect $5M in fares in 2016

NEW JERSEY (FOX5NY) - A letter from the NJ Transit train conductor's union to the head of NJ Transit reportedly cites overcrowding and staff shortages for an alleged failure to collect more than 240,000 fares from passengers in 2016. 

In the story by the NY Times, the loss of revenue to NJ Transit could represent more than $5 million in lost revenue.  NJ Transit responded to the paper saying the revenue loss was "speculative."

The letter was reportedly sent in March from Stephen Burkert to  Steven Santoro, New Jersey Transit's executive director.

"We do make every attempt to collect all revenue, and all money is important," spokeswoman Nancy Snyder said.

Passenger revenue for the railroad was about $582 million during the last fiscal year. If accurate, the uncollected revenue of more than $5M, would be just under 1 percent of that.

The transit agency has been under fire recently for several  derailments and major delays at NY Penn Station.