By David Cruz
Correspondent
The idea for light rail service into and out of Passaic County has been kicking around for decades but like a lot of big transportation ideas it was subject to the economic and political vicissitudes common to New Jersey. Today, a group of elected officials from Passaic, Bergen and Hudson counties announced the formation of the North Jersey Rail Coalition, which will advocate for the creation of service through Passaic and Bergen counties, ultimately connecting to Hudson.
“Jersey City got its rail line; Newark got its rail line expansion. Even Camden now has it. Now it is our turn,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell, who is a former Paterson mayor.
The service would run along existing rights of way, following the old New York Susquehanna & Western rail line, running diesel-powered trains so as not to incur the costs of an electrified rail line. Phase I runs eight miles and would end in Hackensack. Phase II would run from Hackensack to Union City, where it would connect to the Hudson Bergen Light Rail. Relieving traffic congestion and spurring Economic Development are pressing issues up north said Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto.
“When we invest in rail, these towns become economic hubs; transit villages become the engine for the region,” he noted. “When you can have this housing, then move these people to jobs and when you connect Passaic to Bergen to Hudson it just does wonders.”
Officials here say – despite what’s been happening with the state’s transportation trust fund – this plan is affordable. Phase One was projected to cost 160 million in 2006 dollars. And while the environmental impact study of that phase would have to be dusted off, they say much of the heavy lifting is done.
“This is the way to relieve the congestion that chokes us in Bergen County,” said Assemblyman Tim Eustace. “We have a two-lane highway that runs through the heart of our county that chokes up every single day. Route 17 will not be fixed in our lifetime they tell us, so let’s get this rail movement.”
Sounds good but commuters shouldn’t expect to be buying their tickets from Paterson to Bayonne just yet. New Jersey Transit – which would operate the thing – was lukewarm in a statement they issued after we asked them about it today.
“While funding constraints limit our ability to advance many worthwhile transportation projects, we look forward to continuing a dialog with Congressman Pascrell and area officials on the options available to enhance public transportation for the residents of Bergen and Passaic County.”
A lot of things will have to happen before this plan moves beyond the theoretical. The state’s transportation trust fund is broke and the federal version is not far behind. Still, the coalition says it pays to plan for that day when conditions are such that moving from the theoretical to the practical becomes possible.