This is real — NJ Transit is modeling World Cup ticket prices over $100 for the 18-mile trip that normally costs $12.90. The article is well-sourced and corroborated by local news (NBC, CBS) and national outlets. One wrinkle: NJ Transit's spokesman said the price hasn't been finalized yet and called the reports 'unconfirmed speculation,' so there's a small chance the final number lands lower. The framing focuses on the shock value of the price hike without much context about why NJ Transit says it needs to charge this much (they cite $48 million in World Cup costs and FIFA security requirements) — that context matters for understanding whether this is pure profiteering or cost-recovery for unprecedented security and service demands.