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NJT/Plan to extend light rail into downtown Trenton resurfaces


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#1 Sloan

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Posted 11 May 2016 - 09:05 AM

 

 

For commuters who take the train to Trenton, the mile-walk from the transit center to the State House can take about 20 minutes. But if an ambitious multi-million dollar proposal to extend the light rail into downtown were to ever come to fruition, they would be dropped off only steps from the gold-domed building.

http://www.nj.com/me...trenton_re.html



#2 KevinKorell

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Posted 11 May 2016 - 11:36 AM

NJT does have a network of bus routes that run together through downtown Trenton between the Trenton Transit Center and the State House and other locations, called the Capital Connection. Of course a RiverLINE extension would be so much better, as it would tap new ridership sources as it passes not only the State House but many other government buildings. And why not continue out to West Trenton and its SEPTA station as well?


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#3 Sloan

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Posted 06 June 2016 - 08:42 AM

 

 

Gov. Christie on Trenton River Line extension to Statehouse: ‘Use Uber’

 

The lofty ambitions of Mayor Eric Jackson and MIDJersey Chamber of Commerce CEO Bob Prunetti to extend the New Jersey Transit River Line to the Statehouse appear to be derailed.

 

SNIP:

 

 “So the idea of spending money and resources to extend it to the Statehouse, I’m not so sure. Use Uber. You can get there.”

http://www.trentonia...ehouse-use-uber

 

Obviously, the governor does not have advisors who are knowledgable about transit.  Otherwise, he would not have made such an arrogant "Let 'em eat cake." statement. <_<   Sloan



#4 KevinKorell

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Posted 06 June 2016 - 10:00 AM

It probably is hard to justify an extension of under a mile.   If the Statehouse was just a stop on the way further north, such as the West Trenton rail station or Trenton-Mercer Airport (or even find its way over to the regional shopping malls along US 1), it would make more sense and benefit more people.  How about running it up to Princeton? Then the Governor could use it between his official residence and his office.



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#5 jis

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Posted 06 June 2016 - 10:32 AM

Perish the thought. Pillsbury Doughboy does not use anything other than rubber tired vehicles which run on gasoline. :P



#6 Sloan

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Posted 11 December 2017 - 11:20 AM

 

 

Gov. Chris Christie labels NJ Transit River Line ‘a joke’ due to its poor ridership

SNIP:

 

“The River Line is a joke. Nobody uses it,” Christie said Wednesday during a news conference in response to a reporter’s question about the line’s possible extension farther into downtown Trenton.

http://www.burlingto...-poor-ridership

 

Christie is term-limited; due to leave office in January.  What does he gain by trashing the River Line?   ^_^ Sloan



#7 KevinKorell

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Posted 11 December 2017 - 01:22 PM

 

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.



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