Annual RFC Fundraiser
June 23, 2026 By
Annual Open Enrollment
May 1, 2026 By
Dear Rail Agreement Employee:
Annual Open Enrollment begins May 1, 2026 and ends on May 22, 2026. This is your opportunity to review your current benefit elections, enroll and/or make changes. Elections are effective July 1, 2026, unless you have a change in status or experience a qualifying life event – such as marriage, divorce, or birth or adoption of a child.
Remember – If you experience a qualifying event, you must contact the Employee Benefits Department within 31 calendar days of the date of the event to enroll or drop coverage for a dependent or you must wait until the next annual open enrollment period to make any changes.
During this annual open enrollment, you can do one or more of the following:
▪ Enroll (if not currently enrolled)
▪ Add/Remove eligible dependents – spouse, dependent child up to age 26 (including custodial dependents*), same sex domestic partner
• Birth certificate & social security card required for spouse and each dependent child as well as marriage and the first page of Federal Tax Form 1040 with financial information redacted/masked to add a spouse/partner **
▪ Change Plans
▪ Waive Coverage
*Court order required to add custodial dependent
**Please contact the Benefits department if you are unable to provide a redacted/masked copy of your Federal Tax Form 1040
If you do not wish to make changes to your existing coverage, no action is required.
Your current coverage will continue as long as you remain eligible.
Employees hired on or after July 1, 2016, with five (5) years of service can select the Direct Access (DA10 Plan) in place of the EPO at the Post-06.30.2016 rates noted below after the fifth anniversary of your date of hire.
You must make your Open Enrollment elections by submitting a completed Health Care Enrollment and/or Change Form (copy enclosed), via email or fax.
Following are the Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey medical employee contribution rates which will be reflected on the first paycheck in July.
ESI prescription, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey dental, and EyeMed vision coverages are included when medical coverage is elected.
Please send enrollment form and new dependent supporting documentation via email or fax by the open enrollment end date, May 22nd, 2026 (no exceptions). Email: RailPoliceAgreementBenefits@njtransit.com Fax: (732) 204-4307. Please include your name and employee ID number in the subject line of your email.
Pre-Retirement Presentation from RRB
April 8, 2026 By
Safety Department Updates
April 1, 2026 By
Community Alert: Missing Person Connor Oldfield
January 30, 2026 By
Please be advised that we are still actively searching for Connor Oldfield, a missing autistic adult, and are requesting continued awareness and assistance.
Connor Oldfield was reported missing on January 24, 2026, and has not yet been located.
Description:
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Black male
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19 years old
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Approximately 5’8”, 165 lbs
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Short black hair, brown eyes
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Scar on forehead
Medical / Behavioral Information:
Connor is autistic. He is verbal and able to communicate; however, he may be nervous or anxious if approached. Please use calm, clear, and reassuring communication.
Connor is autistic. He is verbal and able to communicate; however, he may be nervous or anxious if approached. Please use calm, clear, and reassuring communication.
Last Seen Wearing:
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Yellow, black, and gray camouflage fleece pajamas
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Gray zip-up jacket
Last Known Location:
Watson Avenue, Plainfield, NJ, at approximately 1:30 PM
Watson Avenue, Plainfield, NJ, at approximately 1:30 PM
Action Uniform Updates
January 13, 2026 By
The GCA was able to work an agreement with the carrier to increase the uniform allotment, also we can now mix yard and passenger uniforms in the same year.
“Annual Uniform Allowance is $660.00 with year-ending 11/30/26. An employee is allowed to place only one order per year. If an employee chooses not to spend the whole $660.00, they will lose the balance for the year. An employee may order any combination of conductor and yard uniform items in the same year and may mix and match items within one order. Newly hired conductors receive a complete conductor uniform set instead of an annual allowance. For more information, please read Uniform Allowance.”
Uniforms can be ordered online now for 2026 by using CONDUCTOR UNIFORMS – NJT UNIFORMS
Action Uniform Update
January 2, 2026 By
There is a misprint on the uniform website, the allowance has not been increased to $1000.00.
The GCA is still in negotiations with the carrier for a much-needed increase, but it is not official, please wait until there is official notification from the organization (SMART-TD Local 60) before placing an order
Thank you
RRB Reminders for 2026
December 16, 2025 By
2026 TIER I EARNINGS BASE AND TAX RATES
Annual Maximum – $184,500.00
Employee and Employer Tax Rate – 6.2%
Maximum Payable by an Employee & Employer – $11,439.00
2026 TIER II EARNINGS BASE AND TAX RATES
Annual Maximum – $137,100.00
Employee Tax Rate – 4.9%
Maximum Payable by an Employee – $6,717.90
Employer Tax Rate – 13.1%
Maximum Payable by an Employer – $17,960.10
2026 MEDICARE HOSPITAL INSURANCE
EARNINGS BASE AND TAX RATES
Annual Maximum – No Limit
Employee and Employer Tax Rate – 1.45%
TOTAL TIER I, TIER II, & MEDICARE
HOSPITAL INSURANCE MAXIMUM TAX
Based on earnings of $184,500.00
Maximum Payable by an Employee – $20,832.15
Maximum Payable by an Employer – $32,074.35
(Additional Taxes are 0.9% of Earnings Above
$200,000.00 – Filing Individually)
SSA QUARTER OF COVERAGE EARNINGS NEEDED
In 2026 – $1,890.00 (Earn up to 4 quarters per year)
2026 EMPLOYER RUIA TAX RATE
0.65% to 12.0% on first $2,150.00 per month
EMPLOYEE RUIA 2025 QUALIFYING EARNINGS
For Benefit Year 2026 (Beginning July 1, 2026) – $5,162.50
RUIA DAILY BENEFIT RATE
For Benefit Year 2026 (Beginning July 1, 2026) – $103.00
BASIC MEDICARE PREMIUM
Part B beginning in 2026 – $202.90
COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE – DECEMBER 2025
Tier I – 2.8%; Tier II – 0.9%
WORK DEDUCTION EXEMPT AMOUNTS*
Retirement and Survivor Work Deduction Limitations
Annuitants Attaining Full Retirement Age (FRA)
(For Months Prior to FRA in the Calendar Year)
Monthly – $5,430.00; Annually – $65,160.00
($1.00 Deduction for Each $3.00 of Excess Earnings)
Under FRA
(If Under the FRA for the Entire Calendar Year)
Monthly – $2,040.00; Annually – $24,480.00
($1.00 Deduction for Each $2.00 of Excess Earnings)
Disability Earnings Limitations Amounts
Monthly – $1,320.00; Annually – $16,500.00
*All earnings must be reported by calling 1-877-772-5772.
Failure to report earnings could lead to penalties.
Year-End Cash-in Request Guidelines
December 16, 2025 By
With the end of the year coming up I just wanted to remind you of some of the best practices for filling out the cash-in request timecards. If these guidelines are followed, then it would help us out a lot in getting all of these payments processed as quickly and accurately as possible:
1) Requests should be for only type of PTO (vacation, personal, or sick) cash-in per timecard submitted
2) Timecard comments should state to pay remaining balance of the PTO type for 2025 instead of the specific amount (e.g. “Pay remaining 2025 vacation balance” or “Pay all unused 2025 personal days”)
3) There is no need for anyone to submit a separate timecard for each individual day that is being cashed in (e.g. a 32-hour vacation cash-in should be submitted on one request instead of four separate requests)
4) Since we are now using electronic timecards there should not be a need for anyone to submit duplicate timecards. They can email me or the verification department with the request ID# and we can check the status of the request.
If anyone has any questions regarding these guidelines, please let me know.
Thanks,
Mark Falanga
Sr. Manager of Payroll
2 Gateway Center
283-299 Market St. Suite 900
Newark, NJ 07102
Tel: 973-491-4634