NJT has so many other things going on, we won't see this for a very long time. But it should happen someday. The railroads were in such a big hurry to end ferry service, until someone realized they were a needed entity. And they are back. They also were in a hurry to tear up little-used lines, but now there is a need for them again. At least the old Southern Division is still in place, and the Freehold & Jamesburg line to Farmingdale still exists.
We all agree the MOM is needed and should be opened. Not if, but when.
My take has always been to begin at Toms River. Get off Ciba-Geigy's back in exchange for a yard and park-and-ride lot, easing the Parkway's gridlock. Take the MOM to Red Bank, and also to Freehold and up to South Amboy. A back-up route is not a bad idea. Years ago, when the Matawan Trestle burned, detours that worked were set up by both the CNJ and the PRR. Today, one bridge outage or trees or wires down on the NJCL brings everything to a screeching halt. Just one line is too limiting.
The every-Thursday lumber train going to Lakewood, to the delight of area railfans, brings materials to build more housing, and people, who will ultimately need better transportation. The roads can't handle what we have now, and they're inviting more people to move in. Sooner or later, someone in authority just might notice and comprehensive rail transit will once again roll. (Maybe?)
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