FOR RELEASE: February 23, 2000
CONTACT: Daniel Kerwin (732) 296-1985; Albert L. Papp, Jr. (800) 774-0778

RAIL GROUP BACKS NJ TRANSIT JAMESBURG IMPACT STUDY Reiterates Support for Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Rail Line

JAMESBURG, NJ, February 23, 2000 -- New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers (NJ-ARP) representatives tonight applauded the conclusions and recommendations released in a New Jersey Transit (NJT) rail study assessing the impacts of a proposed regional rail line on the community of Jamesburg.

The study, funded by NJT, concludes that the proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) passenger rail line would not only provide the community transportation benefits but also contribute to economic revitalization and redevelopment, increasing both tax revenues and property values.

"I commend the Mayor of Jamesburg and the Borough Council for exhibiting the leadership in requesting this study for their town," said Daniel Kerwin, NJ-ARP's liaison for the MOM project. "This shows 21st Century thinking on their part aimed at re-invigorating Jamesburg and re-establishing the community as the heart of this historic region."

NJ-ARP (http://www.nj-arp.org), founded in 1980, is the statewide rail passenger advocacy group that has consistently backed this central New Jersey routing since 1985. Its members include citizens in Jamesburg, Monroe Township and South Brunswick.

The study addressed and suggested mitigation measures to a wide ranging number of community concerns with major emphasis on safety, the primary concern of the community.

The installation of automatic warning devices - both crossing gates and flashing lights - are proposed for the rail line which encounters four vehicular and three pedestrian at-grade vehicular crossings as it traverses the center of Jamesburg. Decorative four-foot high wrought iron fencing is suggested to control pedestrian crossing of the tracks. The line is currently unfenced and encourages unrestricted access to the rail right-of-way by pedestrians, many of them schoolchildren.

Even with these safety improvements and traffic realignments to correct existing deficiencies, speeds will be under 30 mph - in some places under 20 mph - because of the close proximity of the at-grade crossings and the need for the train to stop at Jamesburg itself.

Highlighting the assessment is the interweaving of the rail line with Jamesburg's Small Business District Revitalization Plan. Designed to encourage the economic revitalization of center Jamesburg, redevelop the town south of the center and foster a greater sense of place, this plan would draw on the purchasing power of the users of the rail station which is within walking distance of the business district.

Such a plan is not without precedent. A similar passenger rail start up in the outskirts of Boston yielded a 6.7% increase in property values. Applied to Jamesburg, median housing prices could be expected to rise to $159,303 from $149,300 for an overall property valuation boost to the Borough of $69.6 million.

"This is the first occurrence in the state where the start of a regional rail line simultaneously will be the catalyst and centerpiece for a downtown community revitalization effort, " said NJ-ARP Director Albert L. Papp, Jr. "It's a win-win situation with no losers. The town and its community resources, such as the Buckelew House and Thompson Park, becomes a destination, retail businesses benefit, tax revenues rise, property values increase and, of course, transportation access to the region and the state for both residents and visitors alike is enhanced."

While the MOM rail route has undeniable benefits to the affected municipalities, counties and state, certain communities, such as Monroe Township and South Brunswick, still voice reservations - many similar in nature to those addressed in the Jamesburg assessment.

NJ-ARP urges these communities to apply the overwhelmingly positive community, economic, land use and environmental benefits, portrayed in the Jamesburg assessment, to their own situations.

NJ-ARP again reiterates its support of the Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex regional rail link to deal with growing automotive congestion and pollution that increasingly threatens the mobility and livability of these three fast growing counties.

Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex residents, especially senior citizens, will gain access to both NJT and Amtrak rail systems broadening their travel options. At the same time, northern New Jersey rail riders will be able to reach additional towns, employment locations and recreational sites in the central part of the state.

Passenger trains have operated on various portions of this route but the MOM alignment is brand-new and designed to address New Jersey intrastate transportation needs in the 21st century as well as serve traditional New York City commuters and regional rail customers.