NJ Transit’s proposed passenger rail service project sparked enough interest to draw residents to an open house meeting on Tuesday.
Trains for the Lackawanna Cut-Off will run about 500 feet from the end of Jeffrey Nowling’s property on a cul-de-sac in Byram.
He wonders about emergency access to the neighborhood if a train crash occurs. “There’s one way in and one way out. It would be hard for the firemen to get through,” said Nowling after he left the five-hour informational session.
About 15 residents at a time walked through the large dining room at Adam Todd Banquet Caterers on Route 206.
Charts displayed factual information about the proposed rail line, estimated to cost $350 million. Once completed, it will cost about $22 million annually to operate and maintain the rail service.
NJ Transit is studying whether to restore passenger rail service from Scranton, Pa., to Hoboken. The trains could run as often as every 45 minutes.
The project would require rebuilding the dismantled Lackawanna Cutoff, a 28-mile former rail corridor in New Jersey.
Peggie Phillips, who lives in the Greendell section of Green said she recognizes the project could go through but she’s worried about safety and noise if a gate crossing is close to her property.
No information was available Tuesday as to when construction will begin on the rail project.
NJ Transit is studying an environmental assessment as part of a multi-phased development process.
If completed, 2,800 passengers could ride the train eastbound each day by 2025. This breaks down to 2,700 people boarding the train at the Pennsylvania stations. In New Jersey, 100 people will board the train each day.
With these figures, NJ Transit estimates that 800 less vehicles will travel on the roads.
The project proposes eight train stations. In Sussex County, the stations will be in Blairstown, along Route 521 and in Andover Township, along Roseville Road.
From Andover, it could take a commuter about one hour and 20 minutes to ride to Hoboken.
Each station will provide parking facilities for the commuters.
The entire trip from Scranton to Hoboken could take about three hours.
Byram resident Raymond Bonker, who lives nearby the dismantled Lackawanna Cut-Off wonders if the construction costs are worth it since the rail service would only remove 800 vehicles from the roadway.
“Spending that much money but only a few people will benefit,” said Bonker. “That’s not a good usage of government funds. Will the project contribute enough to justify the cost?”
John McDonough, of Andover Township also lives near the proposed railroad. As a member of the Forest Lakes Water Co., he is concerned about the proximity of the Andover station to their nearby water source. “I’m looking forward to starting dialogue with NJ Transit and I appreciate the opportunity. We want this to be an inclusive process.”
Another meeting will be held Thursday at the Hilton Scranton Hotel and Conference Center on Adams Avenue in Scranton, Pa., from 3-8 p.m.
NJ Transit aims to have the preliminary planning and environmental assessments completed by this fall.
The Federal Transit Administration will rate the project — as either highly recommended, recommended or not recommended — to determine if the project will move forward.
For further information, contact Wendy Kuser Molner, regional manger for NJ Transit, in Newark at 973-491-8073 or e-mail at
[email protected]
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