NJ Transit vote gets usual mixed reviews
MOM rail line to be studied further in light of tunnel proposal

Citing the need for transit investments to be made in Ocean and Monmouth counties, officials in both counties praised NJ Transit's recent decision to provide additional funding to study a proposed passenger rail line.

In Middlesex County meanwhile, Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel reiterated his stance against the Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) rail line, noting that millions of state and federal dollars continue to be poured into studies that are yet to yield any real action.

NJ Transit has for years been studying the MOM rail line along with two other rail options. All three lines would originate in Lakehurst, Ocean County. The MOM line would run to Monmouth Junction, in South Brunswick, while the other two routes would lead to Red Bank and Matawan.

The NJ Transit Board of Directors most recently voted to provide an additional $2.4 million for the ongoing study of the MOM line. The additional money will be used to continue to fund a contract with Systra Contracting to consider the effect of building a second Hudson River tunnel and allowing for one-seat passenger service to New York on the proposed MOM rail line.

The current Draft Environmental Impact Study for the MOM rail line would now look at how the tunnel - and extending the line through to Manhattan - would affect ridership, station size and parking needs.

Ocean and Monmouth County officials see the tunnel as extra incentive to pursue the MOM line.

"The tunnel project will significantly increase rail capacity between New York and New Jersey and, more importantly, enhance flexibility within the state of New Jersey," the Monmouth and Ocean freeholders said in a joint statement.

Officials from the two counties have for years rallied for the MOM line.

"This rail line will make a significant contribution to the quality of life of thousands and thousands of people," said Ocean County Freeholder James F. Lacey. "Continuing to support it and moving it forward is a priority for Ocean County."

Lacey said the MOM line would reduce congestion on highways such as Route 9 and the Garden State Parkway, and connect communities to urbanized areas, creating jobs and improving the economy.

Monmouth County Freeholder Director William C. Barham called the MOM line "a critical project for central New Jersey."

"This project is needed to provide new commuting options for our residents, to retain and attract new jobs, to reduce congestion, to improve air quality and to provide rail service to the fastest growing area of the state," Barham said.

Lacey said he is pleased NJ Transit is funding the further study, but urged it to move on the project as soon as possible.

"This project needs to advance and it needs to move forward now," he said.

In Middlesex County, Crabiel spoke out against the mounting cost of the taxpayer-funded studies.

"According to NJ Transit, this brings the total federal authorization for the MOM DEIS project alone to $9,208,500," Crabiel said. "To date, a total of $10.43 million has been spent for the project consultant work, consisting of both federal and state funds, for the various technical studies that have taken place since 1994."

Speaking at a May 14 meeting of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Board, of which he is a voting member, Crabiel noted that none of the $10 million spent to date has gone to the actual construction of anything.

Crabiel said Middlesex County officials and the governing bodies of three municipalities impacted by the proposed MOM line - Jamesburg, Monroe and South Brunswick - continue to oppose the route.

He said the two other rail alignments that travel to Matawan and to Red Bank are more favorable in terms of ridership and cost. He said the county and its municipal officials believe the Matawan route would provide immediate relief to the present traffic congestion along the Route 9 corridor. The Red Bank alignment would provide relief to the Garden State Parkway and best serve the U.S. Naval Weapon Station Earle and the soon-to-be converted Fort Monmouth lands to private development, Crabiel said.

The draft DEIS started by SYSTRA Consulting Inc. in 2001 favored the Matawan alignment and found the Monmouth Junction route to be the most expensive of the three possibilities. This alignment would also run through and adversely impact Monmouth Battlefield State Park in Manalapan, Crabiel said.

"I say once again the MOM facility will never be constructed in Middlesex County," he said.