Impacts of Hudson Tunnel Weighed Against New Jersey Rail Plans

Staff

NJ Transit approved a $2.37-million addition to a contract with Systra Contracting, Bloomfield, to consider the effects on the proposed Middlesex-Ocean-Monmouth rail line of building a second Hudson River rail tunnel and extending direct service to New York. The contract would examine how extending the line would affect ridership, station size and parking needs. Three routes are being considered for the MOM line, which would begin in Ocean County and run north through either Red Bank, Matawan or the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick. A recent ridership study factoring in the tunnel found that the Monmouth Junction-New York route for MOM would generate the most riders. Freeholders from Monmouth and Ocean counties support the Monmouth Junction route, contending it will attract the most riders and relieve congestion on overcrowded Route 9 and the Garden State Parkway. Middlesex County officials have opposed that route.