The three candidates vying for the 12th District congressional seat in the House of Representatives would not say whether they were for or
against a proposed rail line.
By:Matthew Armstrong
The three
candidates vying for the 12th Dis
trict congressional seat in the
House of Representatives would
not say whether they were for or
against a proposed rail line that
would run through South Bruns
wick.
Each
gave their views regarding the line
to The South Brunswick Post this
week.
Richard
Zimmer, 12th District U.S. repre
sentative from 1991 to 1996, and
Mike Pappas, U.S. representative
from 1997 to 1999, are trying to
win the Republican nomination in
the upcoming primary June 13, to
run against incumbent Democrat
U.S. Rep. Rush
Holt.
An inte
gral issue for South Brunswick res
idents these days is a proposed rail
line that would run from Lakewood
to Monmouth Junction. South
Brunswick officials and residents
are vehemently against this propo
sal.
The pro
posed rail line has been inching its
way forward in the state Legisla
ture, with the Assembly to vote on
it today (Thursday) and the state
Senate Transportation Committee
currently weighing the proposal’s
merits.
If the
state Senate and Assembly approve
the proposal, the project would be
eligible for federal funding from
the Con
gress.
None of
the three candidates would state
whether he was for or against the
proposed rail line, though all said
there was a need for more informa
tion on the proposed rail
line.
“I don’t
have a stated opinion on the rail
line,” said Mr. Holt. “I’m not about
to advocate the construction of this
line. It’s very prema
ture.”
Mr.
Holt said that further studies are
needed to determine the environ
mental, economic and traffic im
pacts the proposed rail line would
have on the region. He said that all
the transportation alternatives
should be analyzed and that region
al transportation studies are needed
to see where people are trying to
go.
Mr. Pap
pas dealt with this proposal in 1997
when he was the 12th District con
gressman.
“I
have always been supportive of rail
transportation, but there are legiti
mate concerns from communities
like South Brunswick and James
burg,” said Mr. Pap
pas.
Mr. Pap
pas said NJ Transit should work
toward getting a consensus with
municipalities along the rail
line.
When
told South Brunswick is not likely
to ever favor the line, and asked
whether that would be enough to
block the proposal, Mr. Pappas re
fused com
ment.
Mr.
Zimmer said he will keep an open
mind and acknowledged the traffic
congestion problem in central New
Jersey. However, he was adamant
about the safety and economic con
cerns about the proposed
line.
“There
are some serious questions about
the economic viability of the line,”
said Mr. Zimmer, who questioned
the cost of the project when com
pared with the estimated ridership.
“In South Brunswick, land use de
cisions were made based on the as
sumption that there would only be a
freight train. That poses some real
problems for the
line.”
Mr.
Zimmer said all the rail options
should be looked at objectively to
make the best decision for all the
communities in central New Jer
sey.
“It would
be wrong for NJ Transit to move
forward without studying all the
options,” said Mr. Zimmer.