State DOT to fund $3 million study of North Brunswick Transit Village proposal

[ThirdRail]

I was a Passenger Movement Clerk many years ago and I had access to all kinds of interesting things. One of them was an operating plan that spelled out where Amtrak wanted the NEC to be in 2003 and 2015.

One of the things that stood out is the plan that is being studied below. It called for the closure of Jersey Ave and County Yard. They would build two new train stations between PJC and NBK,(Adams and South Brunswick-Monmouth Junction), build a new interlocking at Adams Station with a loop right there. If the MON-OC line was in place, Midway would be extended so trains could go to Morrisville or NYP from the South Amboy secondary. If the MON-OC line was not in place, Midway would close as a complete interlocking, and be replaced with a restored interlocking at Nassau (just east of Princeton Jct.)

In any event, here's the article:

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080620/NEWS/806200440

NORTH BRUNSWICK —Proposed plans for a North Brunswick Train Station and Transit Village just got a $3 million boost from the state Department of Transportation, which will help fund a feasibility study.

The grant will be given to Middlesex County, primarily to examine ways to connect Route 130 and Route 1 in the vicinity of the station proposed for a 212-acre former Johnson & Johnson campus. In addition to a new stop along the New York to Trenton Northeast Corridor rail line, initial plans include a hotel and commercial and residential sites.

The former J&J site, including its 1.2 million square feet of building space, was purchased by North Brunswick TOD Associates, LLC, an affiliate of Garden Homes and Garden Commercial Properties, in summer 2006.

"The overall project is not one that's just good for North Brunswick, but one which would be good for the entire region and the entire state," North Brunswick Mayor Francis Womack said. "It is good that the state and the county are having the foresight to do this study not only when you look at the long-term economics for the region, but the day-to-day battle everyone has with gas prices. This is the kind of thing we need to be doing, and you can't have a Transit Village without the infrastructure.

"A study showing how much it will cost is a step in the right direction."

In a letter to Middlesex County Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel, dated May 28, state DOT Commissioner Kris Kolluri noted that the area between Route 130 and Route 1 in the proposed location "is made up of large expanses of wetlands, streams and forested areas." Kolluri added that the key for success in coming up with a viable plan will depend upon "coordination with the Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak."

Kolluri's letter proposed that Middlesex County assume the lead for the initial phases of the study and that in order for the DOT to fund successive phases of work, "this initial study must conclude that the project is feasible and fundable."

A new train station in North Brunswick would fill the largest gap in the New Jersey Transit System — a 14-mile stretch between the New Brunswick/Jersey Avenue stop and the Princeton Junction station.

North Brunswick has held a series of town meetings regarding the project which is conservatively estimated to cost about $100 million to complete.

Womack noted that NJ Transit has plans to install a loop for trains to turn around just south of the proposed station.

"We do know that the bigger picture is that in terms of the state of New Jersey and the towns, we've all got to get together and get our economic situation straightened out so that the Department of Transportation will have money to give us so we can actually have these things that we need."

Gene Racz: (732) 565-7306; gracz@mycentraljersey.com

[mhnj]

What goes around comes around. I found a 1971 Penn Central timetable for the NEC, and there used to be a station at Monmouth Junction (I assume that the little covered building on the east side of the tracks was the "station". Only three trains a day stopped there. I also seem to recall seeing an old map that showed an "Adams" station. I'm guessing that the stairway that still comes down from the road led to the old station.
The old timetable is really interesting. At that time, only 7 trains stopped at PJT between 5:45 AM and 8:55 AM on a weekday, and one of them actually started its run at PJT. There was also an Iselin station, with only one train in the morning. How times have changed!

[spinna]

You should scan in the schedule.

[ThirdRail]

What goes around comes around. I found a 1971 Penn Central timetable for the NEC, and there used to be a station at Monmouth Junction (I assume that the little covered building on the east side of the tracks was the "station". Only three trains a day stopped there. I also seem to recall seeing an old map that showed an "Adams" station. I'm guessing that the stairway that still comes down from the road led to the old station.
The old timetable is really interesting. At that time, only 7 trains stopped at PJT between 5:45 AM and 8:55 AM on a weekday, and one of them actually started its run at PJT. There was also an Iselin station, with only one train in the morning. How times have changed!

The railroad is like the old Jamaican tourist slogan: "What's old is what's new."

Railroad's spend years and countless amounts of dollars ripping up things because "they're not necessary." Then, years later they say "oh..wow! We shouldn't have down that" and spend tons of money putting it back.


They still have the old track charts on the walls at Adams MOW base MHNJ, and you'd be amazed at the things that were ripped out.

At one point, there were four train stations between NBK and PJC: Adams (the staircase is still present), Deans(part of the platform is still there), Monmouth Junction (the station is still there) and Plainsboro. Edison was named "Stelton" and before Metropark, they had  train stations in Iselin and Colonia. You can still see the platform for Colonia by the New Dover Rd bridge. North Rahway,South Elizabeth and South Street, Newark were also in service as train stations.

If you look at the old track charts and compare them to the long range plan for the NEC, they're similiar. Amtrak and NJT are basically putting back the things that were ripped out.

The plan was written in 1998, and it's amazing to see how much of it was accomplished.

There is one plan that appears to have fallen by the wayside. The chart called for a redesign of Metropark Station,and the creation of a "center island" platform between the express tracks (2&3). This would eliminate the bottleneck that occurs when trains crossover into the station. Four trains would be able to occupy the station at once. They would also be able to get rid of Menlo and Iselin interlockings.

I don't know why they abandoned that aspect of the plan, but it's really a shame that they did.

[mhnj]

ThirdRail:
Very cool info!  You can still see the old Plainsboro platform. For a while, there were talking about extending the Dinky to Plainsboro to provide a transit alternative to PJC.
I remember when North Rahway was still operating. And I can still see the old South Street station in Newark (basically a slab with a staircase down to the street).

[JavaJiver]

With rising gas prices NJT needs to start looking into alternatives for the shared NEC track and pretty much Penn Station as well.
The riderships of the NEC is going to continue to grow as gas prices climb and economic prospects remain gloomy.

Honestly...there are a lot of places they could run track and they simply refuse.
Mt. Holly could easily be connected to the "River Line"
By utilizing old cargo tracks that are partially in use still.
You could connect Mt. Holly, Lumberton, Mt. Laurel, Cherry Hill and tons of other stops on a line similar to the River Line and link that to another station.  This would allow people to choose a Trenton to NYP or New Hub X to New Hub Y.

Relying on Penn Station and the NEC in general is going to prove catastrophic for commuters.

[mcmanimal]

"The riderships of the NEC is going to continue to grow as gas prices climb and economic prospects remain gloomy."

Ridership increased on the M&E and Boonton lines west of Dover where NJT built a brand new station and in there infinite wisdom cut service.

[lyra]

"The riderships of the NEC is going to continue to grow as gas prices climb and economic prospects remain gloomy."

Ridership increased on the M&E and Boonton lines west of Dover where NJT built a brand new station and in there infinite wisdom cut service.

Have you tried parking at Mt Arlington recently?  I've had a few family members try to park there to pick me up in the evening, and the lot is jam packed full.  And it's been open only a few months.

[mcmanimal]

I used to commute from Rte 80 exit 4 to Livingston, then from exit 25 to Manhattan, fortunately I don't live that far west anymore.  Anyway, there had been a park and ride at that site for several years that is serviced by Lakeland Bus Co.

[mhnj]

North Rahway,South Elizabeth and South Street, Newark were also in service as train stations.

I was able to spot the old South Elizabeth station last night.

[ThirdRail]

With rising gas prices NJT needs to start looking into alternatives for the shared NEC track and pretty much Penn Station as well.
The riderships of the NEC is going to continue to grow as gas prices climb and economic prospects remain gloomy.

Honestly...there are a lot of places they could run track and they simply refuse.
Mt. Holly could easily be connected to the "River Line"
By utilizing old cargo tracks that are partially in use still.
You could connect Mt. Holly, Lumberton, Mt. Laurel, Cherry Hill and tons of other stops on a line similar to the River Line and link that to another station.  This would allow people to choose a Trenton to NYP or New Hub X to New Hub Y.

Relying on Penn Station and the NEC in general is going to prove catastrophic for commuters.

Anything involving the River Line and the MON-OC line will cause me to tirade! NJT blew a golden opportunity with that stupid River Line light rail system. I will always remain bitter because they displayed a criminal lack of vision and lack of consideration for all NJ residents.

When the Atlantic City line was put into place, NJT only traveled between Lindenwold and A/C. They didn't travel into Philly.  NJT began studying linking Trenton and A/C. They had two options: Taking the NEC to Shore Interlocking (Just outside of the DelAir Bridge on the PA side) and going to  the A/C, or upgrading a former passenger line that's still in use as a freight line that ran through downtowns and connect at Winslow Junction (Just outside of the DelAir Bridge on the Jersey side). This route is the Bordentown Secondary. They said it would take an 1:20 minutes to use the downtown route and the idea was abandoned.  Years later, they resurrect the route and use it as a light rail.

That was stupid in my opinion, and here's why: When the housing prices were pushing people and development south, that entire line was ripe for development.  Towns like Camden, Cinamonson, Florence, Roebling, Burlington and Delenco could have been linked to Newark/New York by originating diesel trains from Philadelphia or Camden over the what is now the River Line. Utilizing a connection available from the River Line (Bordentown Secondary) to the NEC at Trenton, NJT could have them EXRESSED from Trenton to Newark at the point. It only takes 50 minutes from Trenton to Newark.

You could have linked Camden and all of the River Front towns to NWK/NYP in just under two hours, spurred development in those towns and connected the A/C line with the rest of the state. We know that threshold is tolerable, because High Bridge, Bay Head and Spring Valley are close to that time frame and people use them.

Meanwhile, the Zombies at NJT are trying to link Scranton, PA with Hoboken. Scranton, PA?? Charity begins at home! Take care of your own state residents first!!! 


Forgive me for the rant.

[mhnj]

You should scan in the schedule.

I scanned the first page of the 1971 Trenton-NY schedule. But I don't know how to show it here. Anyone can help me?

[spinna]

Go to the "Post Your Commuting Photo's Here" section and start a thread, there will be an option to upload a photo.

[Purple]

North Rahway...was that a station near Merk?  I remember a train stop near there when I was very young, but they must have gotten rid of it before I was in middle school when the newer downtown station was built. 

[mhnj]

North Rahway...was that a station near Merk?  I remember a train stop near there when I was very young, but they must have gotten rid of it before I was in middle school when the newer downtown station was built. 

Yes, it was right behind the Merck factory.