TRENTON—NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri testified before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on April 9, defending the agency's plan to restrict regular commuter access during World Cup 2026 matches. The testimony comes as the agency prepares to implement unprecedented transit closures and differential fare structures for the international sports event.

The World Cup is expected to draw approximately 450,000 total attendees across eight matches scheduled at MetLife Stadium, including the tournament final on July 19. Amid questions about what changes the event would bring to NJT users, Kolluri pledged that "we will not charge the regular commuters of NJ Transit for this special event."

Conflict Between Regular NJT Users and Fans

The hearing addressed the conflict between regular commuter needs and the expected influx of international fans. Kolluri acknowledged that while the current round-trip fare from New York Penn Station to Meadowlands is $12.90, World Cup ticketholders will face fares "well more than $12.90." Kolluri added that "we're following the governor's mandate that we will not charge the regular commuters of NJ Transit for this special event… I can't say that any more forcefully."

The agency plans to close Penn Station to regular commuters during four-hour windows on all eight match days, allowing only ticketholders with verified credentials to access NJ Transit trains to and from Secaucus Junction. Senators, including John Burzichelli (D-3rd District), questioned how much World Cup attendees would pay and whether the agency could maintain service for regular commuters during the tournament. The closure plan most notably affects five weekday matches scheduled during afternoon and evening rush hours: June 16, 22, 25, 27, and 30.

The testimony follows the introduction of S4111, legislation sponsored by Senator Paul Sarlo (D-36th District) that would impose a 3% sales tax surcharge on retail, food and beverage sales within the Meadowlands District during the event period. It would also add a 2.5% hotel surcharge and a $0.50 fee on rideshare trips. The bill, introduced in March, aims to capture revenue from the expected 450,000 total attendees (approximately 56,000 per match on average) that will offset state infrastructure investments estimated at more than $300 million.

Federal support includes a $10.4 million grant to the New Jersey-New York region, awarded by the Federal Transit Administration under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026; this funding makes up part of $100.3 million distributed to the 11 host cities nationwide. The funding requires no local match and supports operational costs like security and expanded service.

Plan Aims to Promote Security During World Cup

Kolluri described a three-perimeter security model requiring coordination between NJ Transit, the New Jersey State Police and federal agencies. The plan designates New York Penn Station as the outer security checkpoint, Secaucus Junction as the secondary screening zone, and MetLife Stadium as the final controlled perimeter. During closure windows, only credentialed ticketholders will be able to access trains, and regular commuters will be prohibited from boarding NJ Transit-SEC lines at Penn Station.

Republican legislators have opposed the tax surcharge approach. Assembly Members Chris DePhillips and Al Barlas, both from the 40th Legislative District, issued a joint statement opposing the plan. Barlas referred to the taxes as a “cash grab” that amounts to “changing the rules of the game.”

“Businesses made investments and commitments based on one set of expectations. Now Trenton wants to move the goalposts to cover its own spending," he added.

The World Cup schedule includes eight matches at MetLife Stadium: five group stage matches (June 13, 16, 22, 25, 27), a Round of 32 match (June 30), a Round of 16 match (July 5), and the final on July 19.

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Sources

• Kris Kolluri testimony before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, New Jersey Legislature (April 9, 2026).

• Bill S4111, "Imposes temporary surcharges on certain transactions to support preparations for hosting of special events" (March 2026).

• Colleen Wilson and Katie Sobko, NorthJersey.com, "World Cup transit won't be paid for by NJ commuters, official vows" (April 9, 2026).

• Colleen Wilson and Katie Sobko, NorthJersey.com, "NY Penn Station to close for hours before World Cup matches" (April 6, 2026).

• Laura Ratliff, "The only way to get to MetLife during the 2026 World Cup will be through public transit" Time Out New York (March 19, 2026).

• NJ.com, "N.J. wants to hike sales tax to 9.6% during the World Cup — and Republicans are furious" (April 8, 2026).

• NJ Assembly GOP, "DePhillips, Barlas Slam World Cup Tax Hike Proposal as ‘Another Trenton Cash Grab’" (March 30, 2026)

• Colleen Wilson, NorthJersey.com "NJ and NY to get $10M from feds for World Cup. What is it for?" (March 4, 2026).

• NJ Transit, "Fares & Schedules" (accessed April 9, 2026).