SENATE RESOLUTION No. 18
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 22, 1996
By Senator CARDINALE
A Senate Resolution urging Conrail to cooperate with the New Jersey Transit Corporation to restore passenger service on the West Shore Rail Line.
Whereas, The New York Central Railroad abandoned rail passenger service on the West Shore Rail Line in 1959; and
Whereas, Studies conducted by the New Jersey Transit Corporation in 1987, 1993, and as late as April, 1995, have recommended that commuter rail service be restored to the West Shore Corridor; and
Whereas, The West Shore Corridor would best be served by reinstituting passenger rail service on the West Shore Rail Line which extends southward from Rockland county in the State of New York through the Bergen county municipalities of Northvale, Norwood, Harrington Park, Closter, Haworth, Dumont, Bergenfield, Teaneck, Bogota, and Ridgefield Park, with the proposed addition to the alignment of the new station at the Meadowlands Complex of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority via the Secaucus Transfer before terminating such rail service in Hudson county at the Hoboken Terminal; and
Whereas, The Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail"), as the owner of the West Shore Rail Line, which it currently uses extensively for intermodal freight service, needs to cooperate with New Jersey Transit in order to come to a mutually beneficial agreement for the initiation of rail passenger service in the most efficient and cost effective manner which may include the sharing of the right-of-way; and
Whereas, Restoration of passenger service on the West Shore Rail Line would help alleviate substantial traffic congestion in the Bergen County area, improve air quality, allow area residents the option of a less stressful, mass transit commute to work, afford increased recreational opportunities, and generally provide a significant addition to the mass transit system of the State; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for this House to call upon Conrail, to cooperate with New Jersey Transit in order to proceed expeditiously with New Jersey Transit's efforts to restore
passenger service on the West Shore Rail Line so the citizens of the State can enjoy the benefits such restoration would bring; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail") to cooperate with the New Jersey Transit Corporation in order to take all appropriate action, including the sharing of the right-of-way with the New Jersey Transit Corporation to allow separate freight and commuter rail operations to operate simultaneously in order to insure that passenger service is restored on the West Shore Rail Line as quickly as possible.
2. Authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested thereto by the Secretary thereof, shall be forwarded to the Board of Directors of Conrail, the Governor, the Commissioner of Transportation, the Board of the New Jersey Transit Corporation, and the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation.
STATEMENT
Studies conducted in 1987, 1993, and as late as April, 1995, by the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT) have recommended that passenger rail service be restored to the West Shore Corridor. Conrail, Inc., as the owner of the West Shore Rail Line, which it currently uses for intermodal freight service, needs to cooperate with NJT in order to come to a mutually beneficial agreement for the initiation of rail passenger service in the most efficient and cost effective manner
This resolution calls upon the Consolidated Rail Corporation ("Conrail"), as the owner of the rail line which uses it extensively for intermodal freight service, to cooperate with NJT, including the sharing of the right-of-way, so that NJT may proceed expeditiously with its efforts to restore passenger service on the West Shore Rail Line.
Urges Conrail to cooperate with NJT to expedite restoration of passenger service on West Shore Rail Line.