Mercer County gains a new champion to fight for transit access: SMART-TD Brother Ron Sabol

January 6, 2025

Home>News>Front Page>Mercer County gains a new champion to fight for transit access: SMART-TD Brother Ron Sabol

In ongoing recognition of his commitment to advocating for SMART-TD bus and transit workers, Brother Ron Sabol has been appointed to serve as a member of the Mercer County Advisory Council on Special Transportation.  One of the Council’s main priorities is to look for federal funding to help seniors, students, and those who are disabled better traverse the New Jersey county.

Brother Sabol is both the president of Local 1447 and SMART-TD’s New Jersey/Delaware Safety & Legislative Director (SLD). His one-year term on the council began on November 14, and he was sworn in on December 5.

Mass transit is a vital part of daily life for both passengers and workers in Mercer County, which includes the state capitol. Princeton University, which is a big stop for both Amtrak and New Jersey Transit, mixes with other passengers who rely on the Trenton Transit Center and the Hamilton Train Station.

Transit Union helped secure groundbreaking COVID-era safety legislation

SMART-TD members who live in the Garden State are no strangers to Brother Sabol’s passion for ensuring that his union family is adequately protected on the job.

Nearly two years ago, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the Motorbus and Passenger Rail Service Employee Violence Prevention Act into law.



The first of its kind in the nation, the law addressed the rise in violent attacks against transit workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.



Thanks to Brother Sabol’s efforts, the bill increased the penalty for all assaults on a bus operator, the operator’s supervisor or a passenger rail employee.

In addition to his work on the Council, Brother Sabol also serves as a Vice President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and is secretary to the Mercer County Central Labor Council. He was also re-elected as the president of the New Jersey Society for Environmental, Economic Development (NJ SEED) in December.

Congratulations, Brother! Your union looks forward to seeing the impact that your service on the Council has on SMART-TD members!