Opinions Sought on PATCO Extension

PATCO is looking for public feed back on its proposed extension down the Rt 55 corridor. For more information, please take a look at:

http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/b ... 20905c.htm

Thanks to JLo for the heads-up.

NJ-ARP will respond, registering its interest (and skepticism on various levels).

We urge all interested parties -- regardless of opinion -- to do the same.

Is PATCO still including service through Woodbury in their plan? So far, they have been unsuccessful in getting past the NIMBYs there...

I think the better solution to sj transportation problems would be to utilize row and infrastructure already in place . theres alot of rail already laid in sj
and i think it would be dumb to lay rail in the rt 55 corridor. talk about a waste o' money. lets utilize heavy rail and stop wasting time with this light rail frane of mind.
Im all for rail transportation in sj , but i dont think patco is the answer.

NJ-ARP would request that interested parties not automatically equate light rail transit (LRT) with median-highway running, regardless of submodal preferences for Gloucester County.

Just for the record, NJ-ARP supports a "modified PATCO" approach to Gloucester County (which, we might note, could also be described as "modified LRT"). We remain open to an approach different from (if still compatible with) the River Line, though we acknowledge this could prove difficult.

Regardless of the rail mode, however, NJ-ARP is extremely skeptical over any utility to be gained by running rail primarily within highway medians.

Here is the latest on the three proposals. NIMBYs, of course, are predicting defeat of existing right-of-way use.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news ... 437074.htm

If PATCO/NJT were willing to spend MegaBucks the ideal solution would be an underwater tunnel from Westville to Greenwitch yards in south philly. This would allow for a "sports complex" stop with trains eventually terminating at the lower level of 30th St station. Electrifacation could be 750VDC 3rd Rail just like with the old PRSL interurban line.

Other than that I support a standard commuter line for the route with stops at Millville, Vineland, Newfield, Franklin, Malaga, Glassboro, Pittman, Sewell, Wenonah, Woodburry Heights, Woodburry, Westville, Glouster City, Camden Broadway and Camden Waterfront. This would allow suburbanites direct access to the Camden waterfront without having to change to the River Doggle or run the guantlet from Walter Rand to the river on surface streets.