NJ Transit consultant gets set to begin rail-line study

Staff Writer

By dick metzgar

FREEHOLD — Even though an environmental impact study has been commissioned, the NJ Transit Board of Directors is still seeking support for the proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) passenger rail line.

Michael Leibowitz, NJ Transit regional manager for government and community relations, discussed the different aspects of the proposed MOM rail line at the monthly meeting of the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce at its monthly general meeting on July 25.

The proposed rail line would have a special impact on Freehold Borough and other Western Monmouth County communities.

NJ Transit has awarded a contract to SYSTRA Consulting Inc., Bloomfield, to prepare an environmental impact statement after studying two alternatives for the rail route.

The Monmouth Junction alternative (MOM) would transport commuters from Lakehurst in Ocean County, through Western Monmouth County and link up with the Amtrak Northeast Corridor line in the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick, Middlesex County. It would pass through Manchester, Jackson and Lakewood in Ocean County; Farmingdale, Howell, Freehold Township, Freehold Borough, Manalapan and Englishtown in Monmouth County; and Monroe Township, Jamesburg and South Brunswick in Middlesex County.

The Red Bank alternative would bring the rail line north from Ocean County, into Freehold Borough and east from Freehold Borough to the North Jersey Coast Line in Red Bank.

Leibowitz told attendees at the chamber meeting that the SYSTRA study is expected to get under way near the end of the year.

"It will take 18 months to prepare the report," Leibowitz said. "It will address all environmental problems such as sound, air and safety, and we will share the information gathered throughout the process with the concerned communities and residents. We want to get a working relationship with residents in the region."

The SYSTRA consulting firm will seek space in the borough in which to locate a branch informational office, Leibowitz said.

"We will be looking for office space in the borough, about 1,000 or 1,500 square feet, to open an informational office," Leibowitz said. "The borough is ideally centrally located for such an office. We want to be able to share information with concerned residents throughout the process as the study progresses. We want a facility where we can hold open public meetings."

While Leibowitz declined to say which alternative route NJ Transit officials favor at this time, a major investment study (MIS) launched in 1984 found that the Monmouth Junction alignment would have a better farebox recovery ratio — passenger revenues compared to costs of operation — and more users than the Lakewood to Red Bank alignment.

According to Leibowitz, Monmouth and Ocean counties are generally in favor of the alignment from Lakehurst to Monmouth Junction via Farmingdale, Freehold, Jamesburg and South Brunswick. Jamesburg, Monroe, South Brunswick and Middlesex County officials have opposed this alignment.

Leibowitz said the environmental impact study should be completed by the end of 2003.

"We need people, communities and organizations who are in favor of the MOM line to come out and tell about it," Leibowitz said. "We are seeking letters and endorsements for the study."

After the completion of the environmental report, federal funding for the project would have to be secured, Leibowitz said. He said the most optimistic estimate as to how long it would take to complete the proposed rail line is about eight years.

While Englishtown officials have not yet officially taken a stand on the issue, borough Councilman Paul Jones said he favors the proposed MOM rail line.

"Although the rail line would have an impact on my property, I am supporting the project for the greater good," Jones said.