Passenger Trains > NJ - proposed south Jersey light rail blocked, for now

The Star Ledger picks up a story about the proposed Glassboro-Camden light rail line, and growing local opposition. The recent election turned out some supporters, and a referendum in one town decisively nixed the project.

The college in Glassboro is in favor, some of the on line towns aren't. The usual reasons (criminals coming in by train to rob and plunder, drugs, etc) are contested by often intolerable daily traffic congestion.

The feds have currently backed off the plan, and are awaiting a state or regional authority to take leadership of the project. NJ Transit, which oversees the Trenton to Camden light rail, is expected to be the overseer. A bright spot is Donald Norcross, brother of the local power boss, is now a US Congressman, which should help focus federal attention.


http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2014/11/glassboro-camden_line_support_mixed_with_project_put_on_hold.html

(Comes up on Glassbore Camden light rail project if you're looking for an alternate link)

Blocked by typical stupid, ignorant NIMBYs.

That "trains facilitate criminals" has become one of the mantras of the forces of darkness who try to insure that rail projects are not built: we heard it here in New Mexico with the Rail Runner: it will allow crooks from Albuquerque to come to Santa Fe (as if they previously had no way of doing so). The subtext, of course, is that real people don't ride trains, only crooks.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/14 12:37 by Ptolemy.

The article notes that several "walk up" facilities seem to be well received. But, putting large parking lots in the midst of residential areas provokes a lot of push back. Traffic, and all that.

The Camden - Trenton line addressed some of that concern by building its park rides outside the towns, and making the in town stops mostly walk-up.

Remember that what is said in Newark about South Jersey (Camden) can always be a joke. The study is going forward and I am sure it will be built! The same held true for the Camden-Trenton light rail line which got built despite the fact that Trenton (sort of Middle NJ) has NEVER allowed the line to be built into downtown Trenton. It just has to end at the Amtrak-Septa-NJT rail and bus station in Trenton. Gosh- this is a terrible thing to happen to a light rail line, (Ha Ha ).

The "it will bring criminals to our wholesome community" argument usually is more subtle! We in mass transit (bus) are accustomed to it, though. Of course, it is a shallow argument inasmuch as no criminal is going to come out to your subdivision, sell drugs/rob from your house/corrupt your kids/etc., then stand at the bus stop for an hour for the bus back to town.

That said, light rail has become simply so costly that even where it might be useful as a part of the transportation picture, lots of folks simply don't want to see their tax dollars spent for something that they may or may not actually use.

It is what it is. NIMBYs will always be with us, and we will here more and more from them in the future, I suspect.

timecruncher

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That "trains facilitate criminals" has become one
> of the mantras of the forces of darkness who try
> to insure that rail projects are not built: we
> heard it here in New Mexico with the Rail Runner:
> it will allow crooks from Albuquerque to come to
> Santa Fe (as if they previously had no way of
> doing so). The subtext, of course, is that real
> people don't ride trains, only crooks.


First, your subtext claim is a dishonest strawman argument.

Second, an activist group that has repeatedly threatened violence and riots is now urging 'rebels' to take light-rail from E. St. Louis to Ferguson tonight (though they don't detail the bus transfer required):

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/11/radical-activist-group-calls-on-rebels-to-take-metrolink-to-ferguson-for-war/


So I guess it isn't a myth that criminals sometimes utilize transit to access suburban areas.

Rail isn't the preferred means of [crooks] accessing the suburbs here in NJ, either.

The usual protocol is to steal or car jack a vehicle in Camden, Newark or Irvington, and car pool in that vehicle to the suburbs. Where you steal two or more cars, and take them back. You leave the junker.

Taking light rail etc puts your image on the surveillance cameras, and documents where you departed the rail vehicle.

(The latest variation is to hit the valet stand at a high end restaurant, and depart with Maserati, Mercedes GL, Porsche, etc. Really fast, and they occasionally kidnap the valet guy, dropping him off in the woods somewhere.)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/14 09:30 by Lackawanna484.

Not that this makes a difference for who rides what trains etc., but I thought heavy rail - regular passenger cars and locos - were also an option for this route and it would be on existing freight rail line......Anyone know why this proposal flew out the window - in brief....

In the meantime, while some people's imaginary phobias have been temporarily satisfied, South Jersey chokes in traffic.....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/14 09:57 by chs7-321.

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not that this makes a difference for who rides
> what trains etc., but I thought heavy rail -
> regular passenger cars and locos - were also an
> option for this route and it would be on existing
> freight rail line......Anyone know why this
> proposal flew out the window - in brief....

two of the five on line towns opposed it
no state agency or regional authority sponsors the project

lackawanna484's comment is the most relevant. Wenonah and Pitman have said they don't want it. Glassboro and Woodbury Heights do want it. No agency or authority is stepping up to take ownership of it, perhaps because no one has the money to subsidize it.