December dates set for MOM public meetings in 3 counties

December dates set for MOM
public meetings in 3 counties

NJ Transit is preparing to advance the next phase of the Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), hosting three public scoping meetings in the three-county area.

According to a press release, the outreach process will provide the public with an opportunity to offer comments and suggestions on any aspects of the technical work to be undertaken, including comments on three rail corridors currently included in the DEIS:

• Monmouth Junction, South Bruns-wick, to Lakehurst.

• Matawan to Lakehurst.

• Red Bank to Lakehurst.

In addition, any other alternatives suggested during the public outreach effort will be considered.

The public scoping meetings — where several detailed presentations on the MOM project will be made — will be held on the following dates:

• Dec. 3, 1:30-9:30 p.m., Holiday Inn, 390 Forsgate Drive, Monroe Township.

• Dec. 4, 1:30-9:30 p.m., Ramada Inn of Toms River, 2373 Route 9, Toms River.

• Dec. 9, 1:30-9:30 p.m., Freehold Gardens, 50 Gibson Place, Freehold Township.

During the public scoping meetings, NJ Transit will receive public comment at all three meeting locations. Written comments will also be accepted through Jan. 31.

E-mail correspondence should be directed to momcomments@njtransit. com.

Correspondence by regular mail should be addressed to James Schwarzwalder, Project Manager, NJ Transit, One Penn Plaza East, Newark 07105-2246.

The three commuter rail alignments currently included in the DEIS are:

• A 40.1-mile freight alignment between Lakehurst and Monmouth Junction, where MOM trains would then travel on the Northeast Corridor to Newark. Passengers traveling south of Monmouth Junction or to New York on the Northeast Corridor would transfer to another NJ Transit train.

• A 27.7-mile freight alignment between Lakehurst and Red Bank, where trains would then operate north on the North Jersey Coast Line and Northeast Corridor to Newark. Passengers traveling south of Rahway or to New York on the Northeast Corridor would be required to transfer to another NJ Transit train.

• A 35.8-mile freight alignment between Lakehurst and Matawan, where trains would then operate north on the North Jersey Coast Line and Northeast Corridor to Newark. Passengers traveling south of Rahway or to New York on the Northeast Corridor would be required to transfer to another NJ Transit train.

The DEIS process — which is scheduled to last between 18 and 24 months — includes the development of ridership projections, potential station and train storage locations, equipment requirements, capital and operating costs, infrastructure improvements, environmental impacts and train scheduling for each of the three alignments, according to the press release.

The number of alignments under consideration in the DEIS may be reduced following a technical review of project data gathered on each alignment and input received during the public outreach effort.

The DEIS is being prepared in conformance with federal requirements to ensure that the project will be eligible for federal funds. The Federal Transit Administration will be involved in the development, review and approval of the document. Following completion of the DEIS, the NJ Transit Board of Directors will consider advancement of the project — including the development of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and preliminary engineering.