West Trenton Line news
December 9th 2007 06:26 pm
The Sunday Courier-News has a few articles on the West Trenton Line:
3 Responses to “West Trenton Line news”
« Who makes money on toll scheme? - NJ-ARP board meeting canceled »
NJ-ARP is not responsible for the posts/comments on this blog.
The opinions expressed in the blog are not necessarily those
of NJ-ARP or its members. By viewing the blog, you agree not
to hold NJ-ARP responsible for any posts/comments, or any
action or omission regarding posts/comments.
Eine Kleine Multi-level responded on 10 Dec 2007 at 6:00 am #
The second article looks like the often-seen “Parade of the NIMBYs”, with all of the typical preconceptions and oppositions.
Some NJT “representatives” (as I read on a message board) are telling people that the costs are in the neighborhood of $50 million per mile (most high-speed rail alignments cost at least half that amount) and that BRT would be a “viable” option. Would this be part of Sarles’ vision for NJT in particular? because upon his accession (IIRC), he declared a renewed focus on the bus division.
Joe Versaggi responded on 10 Dec 2007 at 10:40 am #
The capital cost of W-T is $219 million + $50M for a flyover where it crosses the NS Lehigh Line. That is still nowhere near $50M/mile. Still and all, that capital expenditure to add a mere 500 people to the system (given their ineffective service plan) make this project a virtual non-starter.
See my Blog of a few weeks ago. If this is a Route 206 traffic reliever, then focus on what 97% of the traffic volume is doing: intra-suburb, cut capital costs by eliminating a new and redundant train yard in West Trenton, extend a couple of trains out to Wayne Junction (the SEPTA connections will be non-existant or useless), and invest in DMU’s to make shuttles of the residual service with corporate and residential bus feeders. There is no possibility adding trains on the Aldene connection anyway without a $1B expansion there for triple-tracking, another non-starter.
The Bus division is a step child in NJT being flat-budgeted every year.
Sarles’ “vision” is first, last, and only: THE Tunnel.
LRTADV responded on 11 Dec 2007 at 6:20 pm #
NJ Transit has always low-balled their estimates. Remember when they thought 2500 people would use Midtown Direct service? Over 10,000 wound up using it. If 4182 people are on a xix year waiting lost for an out-of-towner space at Princeton Jct, you’ve got to believe many of those folks would use th West Trenton line.