Bill Text: NJ AR44 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges President and U.S. Secretary of Transportation to assist in funding proposed Camden to Glassboro light rail extension.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-30 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee [AR44 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR44-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANGEL FUENTES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Urges President and U.S. Secretary of Transportation to assist in funding proposed Camden to Glassboro light rail extension.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the President of the United States and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to assist in the funding of the Camden to Glassboro light rail extension in New Jersey.
Whereas, The Delaware River Port Authority has undertaken a two-year alternatives analysis and planning study to identify transportation needs and solutions for southern New Jersey; and
Whereas, The Delaware River Port Authority, as a result of the above analysis and study, has selected the light rail alternative utilizing the existing Conrail rail right-of-way for service from Camden to Glassboro in the State of New Jersey; and
Whereas, The selected plan calls for diesel light rail trains to run 18 miles along an existing Conrail freight line, with a proposed first phase to Woodbury and a second phase to Glassboro; and
Whereas, The proposed line will provide connections to PATCO and RiverLINE light rail trains at the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden, where passengers could catch PATCO trains to Philadelphia or light rail trains to Trenton; and
Whereas, This selected plan is an extension of the current successful light rail service on the RiverLINE between Camden and Trenton and is expected to receive $500 million in funding from the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund, with the balance of the $1.3 billion in total funding needed from other sources; and
Whereas, This light rail extension will reduce vehicular traffic not only on New Jersey's roadways but will mitigate traffic congestion in the Philadelphia-Camden region as a whole, reduce air pollution from automobile traffic, and stimulate economic development and employment; and
Whereas, The proposed light rail extension is worthy of consideration for federal transportation funding not only for its congestion mitigation, air pollution reduction, and economic development and employment benefits, but also for its projected daily ridership of 27,000, which would meet the cost-effectiveness ratings requirement of the federal government for its New Starts and other funding programs; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the President of the United States and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to assist in the funding of the Camden to Glassboro light rail extension in the State of New Jersey by favorably considering this project for federal funding.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution urges the President of the United States and the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to assist in the funding of the Camden to Glassboro light rail extension in the State of New Jersey by favorably considering this project for federal funding. The RiverLINE currently operates light rail diesel trains from Trenton to Camden, New Jersey. The proposed light rail extension will use the same successful technology from Camden to Woodbury and Glassboro, New Jersey, with its attendant beneficial effects on the region's traffic congestion, air pollution, employment, and economic development, and will meet the federal government's cost effective requirements for daily ridership.
