It looks like the Light Rail extension to Xanadu, at the expense of extending along the Northern Branch is gaining some momentum.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/bu ... 163701.htm
A poll suggests that Hudson County residents support it. So does Congressman Menendez, one of the most powerful democrats in the House of Representatives. Jersey City Mayor and State Senator (and political foe of Menendez) Glenn Cunningham opposes the extension.
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.s ... 327601.xml
I live in Jersey City. Personally, I want to see the Northern Branch. This isn't just because I think it's "fair" to Bergen County. The Northern Branch extension helps Hudson County in a couple of ways.
1) It takes commuters going to, or through, Hudson County out of their cars.
2) It gives Bergen County residents the opportunity to come and shop or otherwise spend time in Hudson County, particularly on Sundays when the county's Blue Laws are in effect. They can take the light rail to the shops in North Bergen, or the Newport Mall, or Hoboken.
The link to Xanadu? It's not all bad. I think the whole idea of Xanadu in the first place will be a disaster. But if you build it, you should have as many transportation links as possible. But I'd prefer to see the Northern Branch built first. On top of that, I think the West Side branch should be extended. The West Side of Jersey City near Route 440 is the next target area for development, much like the Hudson River Waterfront was in the past. It will need a light rail link. And if possible, send it further west as well, across the Hackensack River to Kearny (which has lost its rail service), Harrison (perhaps a link to the new MetroStars Complex and surrounding entertainment district) and while we're thinking big, to Newark and Liberty Int'l Airport. And there's also the possibility of building another "spur" to the Vince Lombardi Park and Ride to get more commuters (the original planned route). So the Xanadu extension is not without merit, but I don't want to see it at the expense of the other projects. I also think that with the proposed heavy rail link, light rail becomes at least partially redundant. Redundancy is not always a bad thing, but it means that the line is not an immediate need.
I note that the first article says that the Northern Branch can still run DMUs and hook up to the HBLRT. If one could actually make a one seat ride to Hoboken, that's a decent alternative, and the politicians from the various Bergen cities seems to agree with that. Also, a one seat ride is preferable, but I don't think a transfer is the death knell of the line that some make it out to be. As long as it's coordinated, like the PATH transfer at Journal Square between the Newark - WTC line and the JSQ - 33rd Street line, a transfer can work out fine. There may some psychological reluctance for people who think "I don't get a one seat ride" but in reality it's not an inconvenience if done right. Also, using DMU's now at least lays some groundwork for electrifying the line later and turning it into an HBLRT expansion. If the major cost of the $1 billion is putting up the electrical wires, get the DMUs running now and push for funding for electrical in the future, even if this means some delays (whether or not Xanadu is built).
The first article also mentions that the Bergen Passaic line is currently used by freight. Would this mean that any cross county service would have the same problems with hour restrictions like the River Line does? Would additional infrastructure have to be built to avoid this problem?
Finally, I note that NJ-ARP, of which I am a member, has been taking the tack that Hudson County politico's are being "selfish" by hogging the resources for themselves. I tend to agree. I note, however, that if you try this line on Hudson County representatives, or residents for that matter, most people are going to say that the Freeholder's and Representatives jobs are to look out for Hudson County's interests. Selfish? To an extent, but not the most effective advocacy approach when dealing with Hudson County politicians.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/bu ... 163701.htm
A poll suggests that Hudson County residents support it. So does Congressman Menendez, one of the most powerful democrats in the House of Representatives. Jersey City Mayor and State Senator (and political foe of Menendez) Glenn Cunningham opposes the extension.
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.s ... 327601.xml
I live in Jersey City. Personally, I want to see the Northern Branch. This isn't just because I think it's "fair" to Bergen County. The Northern Branch extension helps Hudson County in a couple of ways.
1) It takes commuters going to, or through, Hudson County out of their cars.
2) It gives Bergen County residents the opportunity to come and shop or otherwise spend time in Hudson County, particularly on Sundays when the county's Blue Laws are in effect. They can take the light rail to the shops in North Bergen, or the Newport Mall, or Hoboken.
The link to Xanadu? It's not all bad. I think the whole idea of Xanadu in the first place will be a disaster. But if you build it, you should have as many transportation links as possible. But I'd prefer to see the Northern Branch built first. On top of that, I think the West Side branch should be extended. The West Side of Jersey City near Route 440 is the next target area for development, much like the Hudson River Waterfront was in the past. It will need a light rail link. And if possible, send it further west as well, across the Hackensack River to Kearny (which has lost its rail service), Harrison (perhaps a link to the new MetroStars Complex and surrounding entertainment district) and while we're thinking big, to Newark and Liberty Int'l Airport. And there's also the possibility of building another "spur" to the Vince Lombardi Park and Ride to get more commuters (the original planned route). So the Xanadu extension is not without merit, but I don't want to see it at the expense of the other projects. I also think that with the proposed heavy rail link, light rail becomes at least partially redundant. Redundancy is not always a bad thing, but it means that the line is not an immediate need.
I note that the first article says that the Northern Branch can still run DMUs and hook up to the HBLRT. If one could actually make a one seat ride to Hoboken, that's a decent alternative, and the politicians from the various Bergen cities seems to agree with that. Also, a one seat ride is preferable, but I don't think a transfer is the death knell of the line that some make it out to be. As long as it's coordinated, like the PATH transfer at Journal Square between the Newark - WTC line and the JSQ - 33rd Street line, a transfer can work out fine. There may some psychological reluctance for people who think "I don't get a one seat ride" but in reality it's not an inconvenience if done right. Also, using DMU's now at least lays some groundwork for electrifying the line later and turning it into an HBLRT expansion. If the major cost of the $1 billion is putting up the electrical wires, get the DMUs running now and push for funding for electrical in the future, even if this means some delays (whether or not Xanadu is built).
The first article also mentions that the Bergen Passaic line is currently used by freight. Would this mean that any cross county service would have the same problems with hour restrictions like the River Line does? Would additional infrastructure have to be built to avoid this problem?
Finally, I note that NJ-ARP, of which I am a member, has been taking the tack that Hudson County politico's are being "selfish" by hogging the resources for themselves. I tend to agree. I note, however, that if you try this line on Hudson County representatives, or residents for that matter, most people are going to say that the Freeholder's and Representatives jobs are to look out for Hudson County's interests. Selfish? To an extent, but not the most effective advocacy approach when dealing with Hudson County politicians.