Bill Text: NJ AR211 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges NJT to immediately provide one-seat rides on Raritan Valley Line to New York Pennsylvania Station.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-11-25 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee [AR211 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR211-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LINDA STENDER
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Urges NJT to immediately provide one-seat rides on Raritan Valley Line to New York Pennsylvania Station.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the New Jersey Transit Corporation to immediately provide "one-seat rides" on the Raritan Valley Line to New York Pennsylvania Station.
Whereas, The New Jersey Transit Corporation is the third largest provider of bus, rail, and light rail transit in the nation, connecting New Jersey to cities in New York and Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, Each day, approximately 22,000 people travel on the Raritan Valley Line, which provides rail service to 19 towns in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties, to and from Newark Pennsylvania Station; and
Whereas, The Raritan Valley Line is the only rail line in central New Jersey without a "one-seat ride" or direct access to New York Pennsylvania Station; and
Whereas, New York City-bound riders on the Raritan Valley Line are required to transfer trains at Newark Pennsylvania Station before continuing their commute to New York Pennsylvania Station, which often causes delays and confusion for riders attempting to make train transfers; and
Whereas, Since the New Jersey Transit trains operating on the Raritan Valley Line are diesel-powered trains and are prohibited from entering the Hudson River tunnels that connect Newark Pennsylvania Station to New York Pennsylvania, the trains operating on the Raritan Valley Line may only travel as far as Newark Pennsylvania Station; and
Whereas, New Jersey Transit recently invested $340 million on the purchase of 35 dual-powered trains capable of running on diesel or electric power; and
Whereas, The use of the dual-powered trains on the Raritan Valley Line will allow New Jersey Transit to offer "one-seat rides" on the Raritan Valley Line to and from New York Pennsylvania Station; and
Whereas, In spite of this new capability to ease travel burdens for Raritan Valley Line riders, after studying the logistics of providing "one-seat rides" to New York Pennsylvania Station on the Raritan Valley Line, New Jersey Transit is unable to provide "one-seat rides" on the Raritan Valley Line during the peak travel hours or on the weekends, and will only provide "one-seat rides" during off-peak travel hours; and
Whereas, Many Raritan Valley Line riders are calling on New Jersey Transit to reconsider its decision, to utilize its $340 million investment in dual-powered trains and provide "one-seat rides" to riders who travel to and from New York Pennsylvania Station on the Raritan Valley Line during peak travel hours and on the weekends; and
Whereas, This House finds that it is the interest of citizens of this State that the New Jersey Transit Corporation offer "one-seat rides" to and from New York Pennsylvania Station and urges the New Jersey Transit Corporation to immediately provide "one-seat rides" to and from New York Pennsylvania Station on the Raritan Valley Line, including during peak travel hours and on the weekends; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House hereby urges the New Jersey Transit Corporation to immediately provide "one-seat rides" on the Raritan Valley Line to and from New York Pennsylvania Station during peak travel hours and on the weekends.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation, the Commissioner of Transportation, and the Chairman of the Raritan Valley Coalition.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges that the New Jersey Transit Corporation to immediately provide "one-seat rides" on the Raritan Valley Line to and from New York Pennsylvania Station during peak travel hours and on the weekends.
Each day, approximately 22,000 people travel on the Raritan Valley Line to and from Newark Pennsylvania Station. The Raritan Valley Line is the only rail line in central New Jersey without a "one-seat ride" or direct access to New York Pennsylvania Station. New York City-bound riders are required to transfer trains at Newark Pennsylvania Station to continue to New York Pennsylvania Station, which often causes delays and confusion as riders attempt to make transfers.
Since the trains operating on the Raritan Valley Line are diesel-powered trains and are prohibited from entering the tunnels under the Hudson River that connect Newark Pennsylvania Station to New York Pennsylvania, the trains operating on the Raritan Valley Line may only travel as far as Newark Pennsylvania Station. In spite of making a $340 million investment in 35 dual-powered trains, New Jersey Transit is unable to provide "one-seat rides" on the Raritan Valley Line during the peak travel hours or on the weekends. Many Raritan Valley Line riders are calling on New Jersey Transit to reconsider its decision and to utilize its $340 million investment in dual-powered trains to provide "one-seat rides" on the Raritan Valley Line. In the interest of the citizens of this State, the New Jersey Transit Corporation is urged to immediately provide "one-seat rides" to and from New York Pennsylvania Station on the Raritan Valley Line, including during peak travel hours and on the weekends.
