READER’S VOICE By Frank J. Chrinko Does rail survey really ask the right questions?
The latest push is under way to create support for a commuter rail station in South Brunswick.
Once again, Mayor Frank Gambatese has begun a campaign to justify a rail station and deceive unsuspecting citizens in the township. Since the infamous Metroplex disaster more than 15 years ago, other attempts to promote a commuter rail station have been tried. All have failed. This latest effort will also fail. Why will it fail? Because, just as in the past, the rail station is being wrongly promoted as a big plus for South Brunswick. Nothing could be further from the truth.
First, let’s look at the method being used to hype the rail station. As in 2001, a "survey" is being sent to residents in an effort to solicit their thoughts on the subject. The survey was prepared by the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association of Princeton. The 2001 survey was flawed because the GMTMA is not an unbiased organization. The GMTMA’s sole purpose is to promote, support, develop and increase mass transportation solutions.
The 2001 survey asked only 16 questions. It did not offer any information about the pros and cons of a commuter rail station. It totally avoided discussing the impact a rail station would have had on the community.
In 2001, only 12 percent of the households in the township responded. The mailing was sent to 11,000 homes. Just 386 households responded favorably to a rail station. This is hardly an overwhelming endorsement.
Now, why is the mayor conducting another survey? The latest survey has only eight questions. Half are copied from the survey conducted in 2001. Why was the Planning Board and the public excluded from the preparation of the survey? Is there a motive behind this new effort to promote a rail station? Who will benefit? What does South Brunswick gain if a rail station is built? What will South Brunwsick lose if a rail station is built? These are questions that have not even been addressed in the survey.
If they were, and if they were answered, the citizens who are being asked for their opinions would be better informed. An informed citizenry is more prepared to respond intelligently.
The 2005 survey claims that "if the train station is built, trains would be running approximately at 20 to 30 minute intervals during the peak travel period and half-hourly at all other times." There is no authoritative basis for such a promise. This statement can only be designed to influence the survey response.
The survey states that the "Township is considering a new rail station in South Brunswick." Under what statutory authority does the township undertake such an effort? Has the township, or its officials, engaged in negotiations with anyone to conduct a survey or promote a rail station? Is this survey being conducted to pave the way for private interests?
Questions like this need to be answered. The residents have a need to know the consequences of a commuter rail station, if indeed one is to be built within our boundaries. The credibility of this survey needs to be examined. It is just not enough to just ask if you support a rail station in South Brunswick.
I conducted an analysis of six Central Jersey commuter rail stations in April of 1994, and again in June of 2000. That analysis has recently been updated. It contains factual information about the traffic generated by these Commuter Rail Stations, the number of commuters utilizing the trains at each location, the parking requirements and parking fees.
It does not include the number of "dropoffs" and "pickups" that would be made by cars which normally do not use parking spaces. The 2005 analysis is attached. It should be studied by every person who plans to submit a survey.
Frank J. Chrinko, a Henderson Road resident, is a founding member of Concerned Citizens Against a Rail Station. He is a former member of the Township Committee and served as mayor.

