A wish list for regional rails

A new train station at the intersection of two rail lines in Pennsauken could help ease traffic and increase rail travel throughout South Jersey, say regional planners promoting the station.

They hope federal economic-stimulus funding promised for transit by the Obama administration will boost the prospects for the "Pennsauken Transportation Center."

The proposed station would allow passengers to transfer between the Atlantic City Line and the River Line. Currently, the Atlantic City Line passes over the River Line just south of the Betsy Ross Bridge, with no connection.

NJ Transit officials are "in the early stages of the planning process" for a station, looking at environmental and operational issues, spokeswoman Penny Bassett Hackett said.

The Pennsauken Transportation Center is one of nine high-priority transit-expansion projects for the Philadelphia region advocated in a new wish list by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.

A Pennsauken transfer station would provide a more direct rail connection between Atlantic City and Trenton. And planners envision the station, combined with a proposed PATCO rail extension to Glassboro, making regional rail more convenient.

"Riders boarding PATCO trains at Glassboro, for example, will have the ability to easily reach Philadelphia, Camden, Trenton (and New York via Trenton), and Atlantic City by rail, as well as Burlington County communities along the River Line," the DVRPC's new "Long-Range Vision for Transit" report said.

"This new transit ease of use will result in much higher transit ridership, freeing up highway capacity for South Jersey drivers. As a result, transportation options and overall mobility will be improved for all residents and workers."

Bob Cummings, Pennsauken Township administrator, said that the station had "certainly been mentioned many times," but that he'd had no official discussions with anyone about it.

"The township would be open to discussing it," Cummings said. "Certainly, from a mass-transit point of view, it does make a lot of sense."

Without details about precise location, cost, or the effect on nearby residents, though, Cummings said, it was premature to endorse the project.

"Our concern would be to make sure none of our residents are impacted in a negative way," he said.

The intersection of the two rail lines is just south of Derousse Avenue and west of River Road.

Cummings said that, generally, "these types of projects are good for the township," and that plans for a station might dovetail nicely with Pennsauken's plans for redeveloping its waterfront.

Pennsauken already has two River Line stations, at 36th Street and Route 73.

Planners have not put a price tag on the proposed station, but Greg Krykewycz, senior transportation planner for the DVRPC, suggested the cost could be between what NJ Transit spent to upgrade the Trenton station ($79 million) and to build a station in Mount Arlington in north-central New Jersey ($18 million).

Because the Atlantic City Line is on an embankment above the River Line, a station would need upper and lower platforms with passenger elevators, Krykewycz said.

NJ Transit hopes to "complete the concept planning work by later this year," Bassett Hackett said. The project is unfunded, so "no decision on timing" has been made on further studies or possible construction.

The light-rail River Line, which opened in 2004, links Camden and Trenton, with 15 stops in Delaware River towns between the two cities.

The Atlantic City Line operates between Philadelphia's 30th Street Station and Atlantic City, with stops in Cherry Hill, Lindenwold, Atco, Hammonton, Egg Harbor City and Absecon.

Ridership for both lines has been growing since 2004, although the Atlantic City Line's decreased slightly last year as casinos lost business because of increased competition and the sour economy.

The River Line carried 8,150 passengers per weekday last year, up from 4,200 weekday passengers in 2004.

The Atlantic City Line carried 3,500 weekday passengers last year, up from 3,050 a day in 2004, but down from 3,600 in 2007.

From the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission:

Broad Street Line extension from Pattison Avenue to the Navy Yard.

Broad Street Line extension along Roosevelt Boulevard.

Northeast Corridor intercity rail improvements.

Paoli Transportation Center.

PATCO expansion along the Philadelphia riverfront and in Center City.

PATCO South Jersey expansion.

Pennsauken Transportation Center.

SEPTA R6 regional-rail extension to Phoenixville.

SEPTA Norristown High-Speed Line (Route 100) extension from Hughes Park to King of Prussia.

For the full report, go to

» READ MORE: www.dvrpc.org/asp/pubs/reports/08068.pdf

EndText