After spending nearly $10 million repairing two rail lines through central Union County, New Jersey, railroad officials say that without another $10 million to $15 million, the project cannot be completed.

Whether the project has reached the end of the line, no one is saying. But none of the potential funding agencies gave any indication last week that more money will be forthcoming.

Utilizing $7.5 million provided by the state Department of Transportation in 2003, Union County contracted with the Morristown & Erie Railway to revitalize two long-unused rail freight routes through the center of the county, the Staten Island Railroad and the Rahway Valley Line.

The M&E has restored the old Staten Island run, a 7-mile line from Cranford to Linden, that cuts through Roselle. On the Rahway Valley Line, which connects Cranford and Summit, only portions of the line have been restored, with some of the more costly and problematic sections still undone: three trestles are needed in Summit, and three major road crossings in Union, Kenilworth and Roselle Park require significant repair.

With unfinished sections of track at both ends of the 7-mile line, it leaves the M&E unable to bring rail cars into Union Township, the one town with the greatest potential for utilizing the line.

M&E Chief Operating Officer Gordon Fuller said last week that he was confident additional funding would be found. The freight line offers significant economic development possibilities for both Union and Morris counties. With only $500,000 left, Fuller said the remaining funds will be exhausted soon.

Union County Manager George Devanney said that while the county remains committed to revitalizing the rail lines, there will not be any money forthcoming from Union to continue the rail work.

"It's been the position of the county that while we support this project and believe it's consistent with the state master plan and (regional transportation plans) we would not be putting any money into it," Devanney said.

The county manager said he was not surprised that the M&E required additional funding to continue. "From day one, it was anticipated that this would be phased in and that funding would come in phases," he said.

Devanney said officials knew from the beginning that the $7.5 million in state funds used to get the project started would not be enough. The county's contract with the M&E, he said, recognized that the railroad's ability to complete the rehabilitation of the two lines "was always subject to available funding."