In a continuation of last week's transportation woes, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak rail service into and out of New York Penn Station are currently experiencing 30-minute delays. The delays are a result of overhead wire issues that originated in one of the Hudson River tunnels, according to NJ Transit.

Service was temporarily suspended due to the problems, but it has since resumed, albeit with delays. Not only are NJ Transit trains affected, but Amtrak's services between New York and Philadelphia are also experiencing disruptions.

Last week was particularly challenging for both NJ Transit and Amtrak, with numerous delays and cancellations. In response to the ongoing issues, NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett issued a statement on Friday afternoon, expressing his dissatisfaction, and describing the situation as "unacceptable."

Amidst the transportation chaos, there may be a glimmer of hope for New Jersey commuters. It has been reported that the state has reached a tentative agreement with its most profitable companies to temporarily increase taxes in order to fund NJ Transit. Under the proposed plan, corporations in the state that earn at least $10 million in profits annually will pay a 2.5% tax on all earnings for a period of five years.

In exchange for this "transit tax," the state will refrain from restoring the sales tax to its previous 7% rate. This tax hike has been a contentious issue for businesses, who strongly oppose an increase in the corporate tax rate.

However, before the "transit tax" and final state budget can be implemented, they must be approved by the Legislature, a decision which is scheduled to take place next week. It should be noted that the current state budget is set to expire on June 30.

As commuters and stakeholders eagerly await a resolution, the frequent delays and cancellations continue to disrupt transportation services provided by NJ Transit and Amtrak. Efforts to address the overhead wire issues and restore normalcy to rail services are ongoing.