Jones Lang LaSalle
NJ Transit schedules review of MOM line
Home News Tribune Online 02/22/06
By LARRY HIGGS
GANNETT NEW JERSEY
NEWARK — NJ Transit officials will take a second look at predicting how many people would use the planned Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex rail line if they could ride trains through a proposed second Hudson River tunnel directly to Manhattan.
NJ Transit officials made the decision at the request of Monmouth and Ocean counties' officials, said Dan Stessel, NJ Transit spokesman. It will add 18 to 24 months to the larger Draft Environmental Impact Study of the MOM line.
"They did make a request to run the numbers assuming a one-seat ride to New York," Stessel said. "We'll follow the process and work cooperatively with the three counties to build a consensus behind the data."
The news didn't sit well with officials in South Brunswick, who oppose the proposed MOM line passing through Monmouth Junction.
"Am I worried? Of course," said South Brunswick Councilman Joe Camarota. "It's always something that's a concern. I don't think it has a realistic chance of happening."
Maintaining the rail line through South Brunswick is not efficient, Camarota and fellow Councilman Charles Carley said yesterday they didn't think NJ Transit would veer from where it was leaning last year. NJ Transit said last year the Monmouth Junction line would cost more to build and to maintain than the other two alternatives, and would not serve as many riders as the option going through Matawan in Monmouth County.
Officials in Monmouth and Ocean hired AECOM Consultants to provide technical help reviewing ridership forecasts. NJ Transit officials will work with the ridership consultant to review figures and test assumptions, Stessel said.
The second Hudson River tunnel project would build a second set of twin tubes under the river and a new underground station adjacent to Penn Station on 34th street.
Previous ridership studies assumed passengers would change trains in Penn Station, Newark, to travel to and from New York.
Monmouth officials stressed their main focus is selecting the right route of the three considered for MOM.
"A one-shot ride is certainly more convenient, but our problem is ridership and the area it will serve," said Monmouth County Freeholder Director William C. Barham. "If they put through the tunnel, it's certainly something we'll look at and see if it's right for our residents."
However, Barham stressed that the county's main concern is that the MOM line is routed through Monmouth Junction to serve growing western Monmouth County.
"Our projections don't agree (with NJ Transit) on ridership. We believe Monmouth Junction is the proper way to go," Barham said. "The western part of the county is where the most growth is and we want to get cars off Route 9."
The MOM line would start in Lakehurst and run through Lakewood to Farmingdale. From there, three routes are being considered.
One alternative would go northeast across Monmouth County to join the North Jersey Coast Line at Red Bank.
An option, backed by Monmouth and Ocean officials, would go to Freehold and then northwest through Manalapan and Englishtown, cross into Middlesex County at Monroe, pass through Jamesburg and connect with the Northeast Corridor Line at Monmouth Junction in South Brunswick. Officials in Middlesex County and three municipalities the line would pass through oppose this route.
A third option, called the Matawan alternative, would go to Freehold and then northeast to join the North Jersey Coast Line at Matawan.
"We're in sync with Monmouth County," said Douglas Bowen, New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers president. "A one-seat ride doesn't make or break this project. MOM can stand on its own."
Contributing: Staff writer
Sharon Waters
NJ Transit schedules review of MOM line
Home News Tribune Online 02/22/06
By LARRY HIGGS
GANNETT NEW JERSEY
NEWARK — NJ Transit officials will take a second look at predicting how many people would use the planned Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex rail line if they could ride trains through a proposed second Hudson River tunnel directly to Manhattan.
NJ Transit officials made the decision at the request of Monmouth and Ocean counties' officials, said Dan Stessel, NJ Transit spokesman. It will add 18 to 24 months to the larger Draft Environmental Impact Study of the MOM line.
"They did make a request to run the numbers assuming a one-seat ride to New York," Stessel said. "We'll follow the process and work cooperatively with the three counties to build a consensus behind the data."
The news didn't sit well with officials in South Brunswick, who oppose the proposed MOM line passing through Monmouth Junction.
"Am I worried? Of course," said South Brunswick Councilman Joe Camarota. "It's always something that's a concern. I don't think it has a realistic chance of happening."
Maintaining the rail line through South Brunswick is not efficient, Camarota and fellow Councilman Charles Carley said yesterday they didn't think NJ Transit would veer from where it was leaning last year. NJ Transit said last year the Monmouth Junction line would cost more to build and to maintain than the other two alternatives, and would not serve as many riders as the option going through Matawan in Monmouth County.
Officials in Monmouth and Ocean hired AECOM Consultants to provide technical help reviewing ridership forecasts. NJ Transit officials will work with the ridership consultant to review figures and test assumptions, Stessel said.
The second Hudson River tunnel project would build a second set of twin tubes under the river and a new underground station adjacent to Penn Station on 34th street.
Previous ridership studies assumed passengers would change trains in Penn Station, Newark, to travel to and from New York.
Monmouth officials stressed their main focus is selecting the right route of the three considered for MOM.
"A one-shot ride is certainly more convenient, but our problem is ridership and the area it will serve," said Monmouth County Freeholder Director William C. Barham. "If they put through the tunnel, it's certainly something we'll look at and see if it's right for our residents."
However, Barham stressed that the county's main concern is that the MOM line is routed through Monmouth Junction to serve growing western Monmouth County.
"Our projections don't agree (with NJ Transit) on ridership. We believe Monmouth Junction is the proper way to go," Barham said. "The western part of the county is where the most growth is and we want to get cars off Route 9."
The MOM line would start in Lakehurst and run through Lakewood to Farmingdale. From there, three routes are being considered.
One alternative would go northeast across Monmouth County to join the North Jersey Coast Line at Red Bank.
An option, backed by Monmouth and Ocean officials, would go to Freehold and then northwest through Manalapan and Englishtown, cross into Middlesex County at Monroe, pass through Jamesburg and connect with the Northeast Corridor Line at Monmouth Junction in South Brunswick. Officials in Middlesex County and three municipalities the line would pass through oppose this route.
A third option, called the Matawan alternative, would go to Freehold and then northeast to join the North Jersey Coast Line at Matawan.
"We're in sync with Monmouth County," said Douglas Bowen, New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers president. "A one-seat ride doesn't make or break this project. MOM can stand on its own."
Contributing: Staff writer
Sharon Waters
posted by Jones Lang LaSalle NJ News Blog at 4:50 PM
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