This fall has been relatively quiet transitwise in New Jersey so far; we made comments to the New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) on their 2050 plan; we were pleased to see a response not only from the NJTPA but also from NJ Transit itself. We had called for passing sidings on all single-track lines, reactivating passenger service through Aldene to Elizabeth, restoring West Trenton service to connect to SEPTA, extending service from the Andover station into Pennsylvania, and addressing the logistical challenges to advancing the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail project. The responses were not especially responsive; general support for increased rail service “where possible and as funding becomes available” from the NJTPA and a reminder from NJ Transit that the Transportation Improvement Plan “does not include operating funds for regular NJT or Amtrak services”, and that service west of Andover would be operated by Amtrak. Of course, we are aware of that, but riders are more concerned with frequency and reliability of service than with which agency provides it or how it is funded.
New member Ron Weissman continues to work on better signage and accessibility resources at Morristown and other stations, including the removal of abandoned bicycles taking space that could otherwise be used by current riders. Communications Director Rachel Herman shared a video from Lo Sontag expressing concerns about conditions at Newark Penn Station’s Light Rail area, which we forwarded to NJ Transit Customer Advocate Franck Beaumin for his thoughts. He recognized the validity of her concerns about nonworking escalators—unfortunately, they cannot be repaired, but replacement is being planned.
We have scheduled presenters for our September and October meetings; Liam Blank from City joins us on September 29th, speaking on The Lost Compact: How a Forgotten 1958 Plan to Unify Commuter Railroads Holds the Key to Penn Station’s Future. The next month, on Monday, October 26th, Scott Spencer from AmeriStar Rail discusses their proposal for a cross-country train from Hoboken to Los Angeles.
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