Additional 'One-Seat'
Ride Service in Jeopardy -
RVRC to Hold Special Open House Oct. 27
RVRC to Hold Special Open House Oct. 27
CRANFORD - The
Raritan Valley Rail Coalition (RVRC) will hold a special open house meeting
on Monday, Oct. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. to update the public on the
issues surrounding the "one-seat" ride initiative.
NJ Transit's
decision last week to not roll out the after-8-p.m.-weekday "one-seat" service
as planned has brought this issue to the forefront.
RVRC is a
non-profit, bi-partisan advocacy group that was established in 1998 primarily to
advocate for a "one-seat" ride into NYC Penn Station for the Raritan Valley Rail
Line. Some progress has been made with the partial deployment of dual-powered
locomotives during weekday off-peak, but budget constraints were cited by NJ
TRANSIT as the reason no further deployment would be made this year.
The special
Oct. 27 meeting from 6 to 8 p.m., designed to accommodate commuters, will be
held at the Cranford Community Center at 220 Walnut Ave., one block from the
train station. A representative from NJ Transit will be present along with
Coalition members to update the public regarding service along the line. The
session will give the public the opportunity to ask questions, get information
and share ideas.
"In light of
recent developments, it is critical that residents, commuters and businesses
attend this meeting and make their voices heard," said Somerset County
Freeholder and RVRC Chairman Peter S. Palmer. "The meeting is open to everyone
from every town on the Raritan Valley Line. Elected officials and NJ Transit
need to hear how important the 'one-seat' ride is to everyone along this
line."
"The
Freeholder Board is determined to work with NJ Transit to overcome this
temporary setback and restore the funding to keep moving forward," said Union
County Freeholder and RVRC Trustee Bette Jane Kowalski. "The cost of expanding
one-seat rides on the Raritan Valley Line is very low, and the payback is
enormous in terms of economic development, improved property values, and the
productivity of our commuting workforce. Please come out and have your voice be
heard."
Visit the
Coalition's website at www.raritanvalleyrail.com or find the
organization on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/raritanvalleyrail?ref=hl