It's not MOM's day just yet in Middlesex County
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer
Aridership study released on Dec. 13 by NJ Transit says that the proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) line that would run from Lakehurst to theMonmouth Junction section of South Brunswick to the Northeast Corridor line and then to New York City would have the highest daily ridership out of the three current options at 27,450.

The Lakehurst to Matawan route had a projected daily ridership of 24,050, while the Lakehurst to Red Bank choice had a projected daily ridership of 16,800.

NJ Transit spokesman Joe Dee said that does not mean the Lakehurst toMonmouth Junction option will be chosen as the preferred route for passenger rail service through central New Jersey.

"The ridership is just one part of the analysis," Dee said. "The analysis is going to be much broader, including factors such as the cost to build the line, parking and traffic circulation, and which alternative attracts the most new customers."

New customers would be people who currently use automobiles and not NJ Transit.

Middlesex County officials have been skeptical of studies supporting the MOM line over the years, and continue to oppose the rail option that would run through Monroe Township and Jamesburg on its way to South Brunswick.

South Brunswick Mayor Frank Gambatese is among those opposed to the longstanding proposal.

"We don't care what kind of study they come up with," Gambatese said. "They're flawed and don't consider one important factor: the line going through South Brunswick is the most expensive of the three lines.

"The expense to the state of New Jersey and the expense to the taxpayers of New Jersey is astounding as opposed to the other lines. It doesn't make sense when the state is in as much financial trouble as it's in."

Gambatese said the Monmouth Junction line would cost $250 million more than the other lines. He continued to disagree with the studies, as well.

"If South Brunswick did a study we would have a totally different answer than what is coming out because we would hire the people we want to say what we want," he said.

Monroe Township and Jamesburg officials have formally expressed their opposition to the rail line over the years, and Gambatese said he has talked to others who would be affected and they agree.

"I talked to (Monroe) Mayor Richard Pucci and he said 'this is ridiculous and we will not allow it to occur,' " Gambatese said. "We will fight it forever. This is not acceptable to us."

Gambatese also does not agree with the layout of the passenger rail line. The Monmouth Junction route would allow riders to go north as far as New York and south as far as Philadelphia.

"It would make a heck of a lot more sense to go in a direct line," he said. "To come west (from Ocean and Monmouth counties) in order to go north makes no sense whatsoever."

The new study now took into account that the line would be going into New York, which is part of ARC (Access to the Region's Core).

"ARC is a project that includes two new commuter rail tunnels under the Hudson River," Dee said.

There are currently two tracks and this project would add two more.

NJ Transit expects to meet with the towns that would be affected by any new rail line in early 2008. A draft environmental impact study on the proposed routes is expected in 2009.

The ridership survey was approved by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. According to Dee, the surveys are based on demographics and projected population growth.