ARC, MOM, Lackawanna Cutoff & West Trenton rail projects

It looks like the ARC, MOM, Lackawanna Cutoff & West Trenton rail projects but will MOM, Lackawanna Cutoff & West Trenton rail projects not start passenger rail service until the new tunnels under the Hudson as part of ARC is completed.

It all boils down to funding yet again.

Technically, the DL&W Cutoff project should not be bound to new North River tunnels. All service on this line is to terminate at Hoboken Terminal and will not operate anywhere near Secaucus Junction. However, as noted, Trenton is dragging heels when it comes to funding (despite buying the Cutoff from Turco, Trenton has not put up $40 million [PA has] to get TEA-21 funds released towards the project).

West Trenton service is still not funded either. Nor is MOM, nor are the new North River tunnels that are but one stage towards relieving congestion on the High Line and in NYP.

Earlier this year NJ-ARP protested published comments attributed to Peter Palmer, current chairman of the North Jersey Transporation Planning Authority (NJTPA), the metropolitan planning organization overseeing regional transportation development (and New Jersey's portion of ARC). Palmer's quotes suggested ARC had to be put in place before any other project (MOM, for instance) moved forward.

However, Palmer told NJ-ARP and local press that such linkage was NOT NJTPA's position, nor his own.

We'll be asking Mr. Palmer more about this at our annual meeting October 16th; Mr. Palmer is one of the speakers on our agenda.