Post by fbrepublican on Feb 2, 2008 18:06:18 GMT -5
State commits $250M to MOM rail line — if toll plan passes
By Jonathan Tamari • GANNETT STATE BUREAU • February 2, 2008
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TRENTON — The state will commit $250 million to studies and preliminary engineering that could help bring a new rail line to Monmouth and Ocean counties, under the transportation construction program Gov. Jon S. Corzine has promised if his toll road plan is approved.
Corzine said this week that rail service in Monmouth and Ocean counties would be one of his top five transportation initiatives under his proposal, which would sharply raise tolls in order to cut state debt and fund decades of transportation projects. Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri detailed the $250 million in proposed studies Friday.
"I know this is a need that has gone unmet for several years, and the governor strongly believes that Monmouth and Ocean county residents deserve to have a viable mass transit option," Kolluri said.
The $250 million would be part of a 10-year, $42 billion transportation program that Corzine and his aides have said hinge on finding a funding source.
"This commitment is the most sizable and concrete commitment any governor has made to Monmouth and Ocean county residents to make mass transit a reality," Kolluri said.
He could not say when the study would begin, other than that it would be within the scope of the 10-year program. The transportation plan would direct a total of $4.9 billion in projects to Monmouth and Ocean through 2018.
Kolluri said the new studies would include analyses of ridership, costs and benefits, environmental impacts and the viability of the three proposed rail routes — one that would link the new line, starting in Lakehurst, to the Northeast Corridor line in South Brunswick, and others that would tie in to the North Jersey Coast Line in either Red Bank or Matawan. The $250 million would also include preliminary engineering for the plan.
Kolluri said the studies would help the state compete for federal support for the rail line.
But Matt Stanton, a spokesman for a county-backed organization pushing for the approval of the Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex line, said Monmouth and Ocean have already undertaken most of the needed studies and are only about a year away from being able to fight for federal aid.
Still, he welcomed any state support.
"If they want to kick in state funds, thank you," said Stanton, who represents Say Yes To MOM, which is backed by the two counties' freeholders, among others.
Middlesex County officials have fiercely opposed the plans. South Brunswick Mayor Frank Gambatese said the rail line would go nearby homes.
"I would be very disappointed to see the state, which is in such supposedly terrible financial trouble, putting money into a line that's going to cost $850 million," Gambatese said.
Stanton put the price closer to $1 billion.
Gambatese said the promise of funding for the rail line only makes Corzine's toll proposal sting more, since he already worries about trucks leaving the New Jersey Turnpike to avoid the toll hikes and driving his local roads.
"My town is going to get slaughtered as it is," Gambatese said. "If the state was to pour any money into the MOM line, it's a stupid decision."
Jonathan Tamari: jtamari@gannett.com
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080202/NEWS0301/802020334
By Jonathan Tamari • GANNETT STATE BUREAU • February 2, 2008
Read Comments(3)Recommend Print this page E-mail this article
Share this article: Del.icio.us Facebook Digg Reddit Newsvine What’s this?
TRENTON — The state will commit $250 million to studies and preliminary engineering that could help bring a new rail line to Monmouth and Ocean counties, under the transportation construction program Gov. Jon S. Corzine has promised if his toll road plan is approved.
Corzine said this week that rail service in Monmouth and Ocean counties would be one of his top five transportation initiatives under his proposal, which would sharply raise tolls in order to cut state debt and fund decades of transportation projects. Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri detailed the $250 million in proposed studies Friday.
"I know this is a need that has gone unmet for several years, and the governor strongly believes that Monmouth and Ocean county residents deserve to have a viable mass transit option," Kolluri said.
The $250 million would be part of a 10-year, $42 billion transportation program that Corzine and his aides have said hinge on finding a funding source.
"This commitment is the most sizable and concrete commitment any governor has made to Monmouth and Ocean county residents to make mass transit a reality," Kolluri said.
He could not say when the study would begin, other than that it would be within the scope of the 10-year program. The transportation plan would direct a total of $4.9 billion in projects to Monmouth and Ocean through 2018.
Kolluri said the new studies would include analyses of ridership, costs and benefits, environmental impacts and the viability of the three proposed rail routes — one that would link the new line, starting in Lakehurst, to the Northeast Corridor line in South Brunswick, and others that would tie in to the North Jersey Coast Line in either Red Bank or Matawan. The $250 million would also include preliminary engineering for the plan.
Kolluri said the studies would help the state compete for federal support for the rail line.
But Matt Stanton, a spokesman for a county-backed organization pushing for the approval of the Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex line, said Monmouth and Ocean have already undertaken most of the needed studies and are only about a year away from being able to fight for federal aid.
Still, he welcomed any state support.
"If they want to kick in state funds, thank you," said Stanton, who represents Say Yes To MOM, which is backed by the two counties' freeholders, among others.
Middlesex County officials have fiercely opposed the plans. South Brunswick Mayor Frank Gambatese said the rail line would go nearby homes.
"I would be very disappointed to see the state, which is in such supposedly terrible financial trouble, putting money into a line that's going to cost $850 million," Gambatese said.
Stanton put the price closer to $1 billion.
Gambatese said the promise of funding for the rail line only makes Corzine's toll proposal sting more, since he already worries about trucks leaving the New Jersey Turnpike to avoid the toll hikes and driving his local roads.
"My town is going to get slaughtered as it is," Gambatese said. "If the state was to pour any money into the MOM line, it's a stupid decision."
Jonathan Tamari: jtamari@gannett.com
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080202/NEWS0301/802020334