Who is they?

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is a self funding agency that makes money from tolls on its road. It is using that money to fund this program over decades.

NJTransit is an independent agency, but it relies on the state to cover deficiencies in its budget. This isn't a judgement against NJTransit, as mass transit typically requires subsidies. If NJTransit were to build this project, it would be funding from the state.