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NJ-ARP: NORTHERN VALLEY NEEDS LIGHT RAIL
Rail Group Urges Eastern Bergen County 'Unite to Fight' for LRT;
Objects to Hudson County 'Xanadu' Focus as 'Cutting in Line'
CHATHAM, N.J., March 8, 2004 -- Northern Valley communities lose out under
current plans to create a transit hub for "Xanadu," as Hudson and Passaic
county officials greedily eye the money pie set aside for light rail transit,
according to the New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers (NJ-ARP).
Hudson County, in particular, would divert Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit
(HBLRT) expansion west from its current terminus across Secaucus to the proposed
Xanadu project -- essentially abrogating an agreement between Hudson and
Bergen counties reached in the early 1990s.
"We'd like to be pleased by any 'galloping me-tooism' Hudson County exhibits
for light rail," said NJ-ARP President Douglas John Bowen. "But Hudson County
is cutting in line. It's advancing a 'galloping me-first; you can wait' posture.
NJ-ARP objects."
New Jersey Transit, for its part, has suggested the Northern Valley consider
an "interim" diesel multiple-unit (DMU) rail alternative, as part of its
larger plans for Xanadu. NJT has hedged its bet, saying it won't shut the
door on Northern Valley LRT, but NJ-ARP remains concerned.
"The larger NJ Transit plan for Xanadu is creative and thoughtful," Bowen
noted. "And NJ-ARP believes in DMUs. But Northern Valley DMUs don't
reach Xanadu; at best they access Hudson-Bergen LRT, making the latter a
virtual Hudson-Hudson LRT. Tucked into the bigger picture, NJ Transit
seems to be hoping no one notices. We have.
"The real issue is money," Bowen added. "HBLRT potentially has some; two
counties, NJ Transit, and Congressman Steven Rothman (D-9) have decided to
divvy it up among all the hungry children -- leaving the starving Northern
Valley with crumbs."
NJ-ARP notes representatives of Tenafly, Englewood, Leonia, Palisades Park,
Ridgefield, and Fairview have reiterated their desire for HBLRT vociferously.
"The municipalities have been promised," Bowen asserted. "Now they're being
had."
"NJ-ARP cannot and will not accept any Northern Valley demotion, and we intend
to make our objections known," the NJ-ARP president continued. "We urge the
Northern Valley communities to 'unite to fight' their current demotion under
the Xanadu umbrella. The Northern Valley has requested, has earned, and has
waited for light rail transit."
NJ-ARP is the statewide rail passenger advocacy lobby, a not-for-profit group
established in 1980 to preserve and expand rail transit options and improve
rail services and quality. It has been the leading advocate for light rail
transit (LRT) options throughout New Jersey, playing key roles for both HBLRT
and the River Line in Burlington County.
These files were created by Bob Scheurle.
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