As reported in the Jan 14th Phila Inquirer: Proposed rail projects on the Philadelphia waterfront and in South Jersey got a significant boost yesterday when federal transportation officials announced plans to rescind Bush administration restrictions on transit spending.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the Obama administration wanted greater flexibility to pay for transit projects that could provide an economic boost or benefit the environment.
That could make it easier to get federal money for a proposed $1.5 billion light-rail line from Camden to Gloucester County and for a $500 million light-rail line along the Philadelphia waterfront.
The $1.5 billion South Jersey project is proposed to run 18 miles alongside a Conrail freight line and serve Glassboro, Pitman, Mantua, Wenonah, Woodbury, Deptford, West Deptford, Westville, Bellmawr, Brooklawn, and Gloucester City.
The line would connect to PATCO and River Line trains at the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden, where passengers could catch trains to Philadelphia or Trenton.
The first leg, between Camden and Woodbury, could be operational in five years.
Gov. Corzine committed $500 million in state funding to help build the line, and transit officials said they hoped to get state, federal, and corporate funding for the rest.
Most of the DRPA's money comes from tolls paid by drivers who cross the agency's four bridges over the Delaware River.
Without substantial federal aid, the most likely source of money for the rail lines would be higher bridge tolls. Auto tolls are scheduled to rise by $1, to $5, on July 1, 2011. That revenue is committed to paying off existing debt and maintenance and repair projects that are already scheduled.
The new policy won't take effect until the FTA prepares rules and a 60-day public comment period is held. The rule-making process could take at least six months."
As I reported in 2007, this line is to continue to Millville one day. Hopefully before 2022 when I turn 60 and can just sit on a comfortable train to my work in Philly. It is a dream that I live in a place with a train line near it and it may happen before I die. YESSS!!!!
1 comment:
If you lived 3 blocks away from where the station is supposed to be in Glassboro you wouldn't be so excited. Living in a small college town we already have problems with the students and their raucous parties AND an undesirable element with muggings and robberies more often than I can even believe. Yes of course there are many more occurrences than hit the paper or are addressed by the police.
There will be a problem with parking in a neighborhood that already has a problem with parking as college students park all over the neighborhood close to the college and train station to be to avoid having to pay for a parking pass.
The best thing I can see for the commuter is the saving in the cost of parking in Philadelphia.
The rail line isn't going to get you there any sooner as there is going to be a transfer involved to get into Philly.
As for DRPA not raising tolls....yea right!
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