Criticism of the South Jersey light rail is nothing new. Scores of people labeled it a failure and waste of money long before the line launched in March 2004 because the projected numbers of people expected to ride it were so low. The line cost roughly $1.1 billion to build, and ridership was expected to remain less than 10,000 daily through its first 10 years.
But, on the other hand, maybe if they extend the line to where it will tap more ridership, it will be more of a success. While the Trenton Transit Center (TTC) is a logical stop, albeit its station across a busy street from the TTC itself, perhaps more politicians and others with business at the state office buildings will add to the ridership if only they had it at their doorstep. I have also long advocated it continuing north from downtown Trenton to the West Trenton SEPTA station, where there would be a logical rail connection.
I have been on the RiverLINE when there were crowds, as in no available seats. It does do a substantial rush hour business, enough to increase frequency from 30 minutes to 15 minutes. Off hours, its intent was to provide connections to PATCO in the south and NJT/Amtrak at TTC in the north, with another connection added later in Pennsauken between the RiverLINE and the Atlantic City Line. The latter has also suffered in ridership throughout its existence since the mid-1990's, and the casino flop in the past several years cannot be helping it.
That all said, there has been continued talk about a Camden-Glassboro rail line, that would operate as either a spur or extension of the RiverLINE. Whether that would end up being successful or not is the big question, and whether a new line could feed the existing line new passengers, and vice versa, remains to be seen IF this is ever built.