| For Immediate Release 10/27/05 |
Contact: | Bill Braden Douglas Bowen |
732-539-7932 |
CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR GIVEN PETITIONS SUPPORTING RESTORATION OF PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE - OVER 7,000 SIGNATURES ADVOCATE FOR NORTHEAST CORRIDOR CONNECTION
The Say "Yes" to MOM coalition, in an effort spearheaded by the Central Jersey Rail Coalition and the New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers (NJ-ARP), voiced their concerns over the current status of the Middlesex-Ocean-Monmouth (MOM) passenger rail project. The MOM project intends to provide transportation options to the underserved and fast growing areas of Southern Middlesex, Western Monmouth and Ocean Counties. The coalition presented the campaigns of Democrat Jon Corzine and Republican Doug Forrester petitions including over 7,000 signatures in support of the Monmouth Junction alignment for the MOM project.
"It is my hope that both Senator Corzine and Mr. Forrester will help us in our effort to get NJ Transit to give proper weight to our petition efforts that have resulted in over 7,000 signatures in support of MOM," said Bill Braden, Chairman of the Central Jersey Rail Coalition. Braden noted that he was concerned that NJ Transit counted the Rail Coalition petitions as one submission during their Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) process. "Ignoring the voice over 7,000 residents and taxpayers would be simply wrong."
Along with the 7,000-strong stack of signatures from Monmouth Junction-supporters, the Say "YES" to MOM Coalition has asked each campaign to outline their position on MOM by Wednesday November 2, 2005.
"It is getting progressively harder to trust our elected officials in New Jersey, so we are asking the candidates for their position so we can share it with our supporters before the election," said Douglas John Bowen, President of NJ-ARP. "We are optimistic that both Senator Corzine and Mr. Forrester will examine the merits of the MOM proposal and take politics out of the decision making process."
Braden noted that former Governor James E. McGreevy had written in support of the project but it went no where under his watch.
"Although the Monmouth Junction alternative clearly has the most upside, the people here in Ocean County need rail service now, even if that means interim service to start," Braden said. "We have waited far too long for this project. Pretty soon MOM will be a GRANDMOM".
"Before politics and rhetoric insinuated themselves into the equation, hard facts and common sense thrust the Monmouth Junction alternative to the fore," said NJ-ARP's Bowen. "The 1996 Major Investment Study (MIS) does not mesh with the current lean of the DEIS."
"When analyzed on the merits, the Monmouth Junction alignment is the superior alternative. It provides new transit service to the fastest growing parts of New Jersey, provides many more New Jersey specific destinations including Rutgers University, and New Brunswick and points south on the Northeast Corridor line, will provide the most environmental benefit by taking the most cars off the road, and help relieve and prevent traffic congestion," Bowen concluded.
NJ Transit's DEIS study will choose a locally preferred alternative from three alignments to continue in the federal process for funding and construction. The other alignments under consideration would begin in Lakehurst and connect with the Jersey Coastline in Red Bank or Matawan.
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