(rshsdepot) Secaucus Transfer, NJ

[Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

Link:
http://www.cosentini.com/portfol/transp/trallied/trallied.htm  (drawings and
info)
http://www.njtransit.com/an_capitalprojects_project002.shtm

Secaucus rail transfer due next year
By GREG CLARY
THE JOURNAL NEWS


NJ Transit officials vow to have a completion date for the Secaucus Transfer
Station set by the middle of July and are determined for the project to be
completed by the end of next year.

George Warrington, who took the helm of the transit agency less than a month
ago, said he needed 30 to 45 days to pin down a construction schedule that
could be met. Rail officials have estimated that the morning commute from
Rockland could be reduced by as much as 20 minutes once the station opens.

Warrington declined to say he was dissatisfied with the delays on the $450
million project up to this point, which have contributed to the station's
probably being finished in late 2003 after it was originally projected to be
done in 2000.

"I can only look forward, and move aggressively forward," said Warrington,
who left the presidency of Amtrak to accept New Jersey Gov. James
McGreevey's offer to run NJ Transit. "I want it done as early in 2003 as
possible."

Orrin Getz, a New City rider on the Pascack Valley line, said rail
passengers had just about run out of patience, especially Rockland riders
who won't see express trains or other service improvements until after
Secaucus is completed.

When the new transfer station is finished in the Meadowlands, it should give
thousands of riders from Rockland and Orange counties - as well as many more
New Jersey riders - the chance to transfer to Manhattan-bound trains rather
than continuing to Hoboken.

Metro-North Railroad, which contracts with NJ Transit to operate its service
west of the Hudson, has predicted that the change could increase ridership
by more than 50 percent within the first few years.

"This thing was supposed to be finished in 2000, and they keep slipping the
completion date," Getz said. "Then they say it was going to be 2002 for
sure. In the meantime, ridership on the Pascack Valley line has slipped.
They say it's Sept. 11, but if they had had Secaucus up and running, they
might not have seen such a dramatic decrease."

Metro-North ridership figures show there were 31,311 riders in March, a 22
percent decrease from the March 2001 total of 40,091.

Getz said another key problem was ensuring adequate capacity at Penn Station
once the Secaucus Transfer Station is finished, because of the increased
number of trains running into Manhattan.

NJ Transit officials hope one way they will be able to move people more
efficiently is by purchasing 231 bi-level cars with the help of $250 million
in transportation and economic development funding approved by the Port
Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The Port Authority approved $250 million for New York as well, but so far,
neither Gov. George Pataki's office nor the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority has been able to provide information about New York's plans for
the money.


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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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