TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE DEMANDS BETTER NJ TRANSIT SERVICE

The Township Committee this week demanded better service from NJ Transit following the recent derailments and delays out of Penn Station and ongoing safety and service concerns.

First proposed by TC member Greg Lembrich, the governing body last Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution that called on:

- NJ Transit to work, in conjunction with Amtrak, to develop better
contingency logistical, communication, and customer service planning to
prepare for any future accidents to avoid the mass confusion, loss of
service, and economic harm that resulted from the recent derailments; and 

appear before the TC to provide updates on improvement efforts.

- Governor Christie to revise his proposed 2018 budget to restore NJ
Transit funding to the levels that existed before his tenure and to make
the capital investments required to provide the safety and reliability that
NJ residents deserve; and

- Congress and President Trump to commit the federal resources, budgetary
and otherwise, necessary to maintain, expand, and improve the public rail
system in the NY/NJ metropolitan area, including adequate capital funding
for Amtrak and its tracks and facilities and the New Starts program and
Gateway Project.   

Greg Lembrich

Lembrich raised the issue in a lengthy statement that said, in part:

"Following the fatal accident at Hoboken 

Terminal last year, which left one dead 

and over 100 injured, there now have 

been two separate derailments in the 

past month that have caused major 

service disruptions, leading to delays, 

limited service, and pervasive confusion that 

lasted several days.

"These derailments threatened the safety of our residents and led to
numerous professional and personal difficulties for commuters, 

including problems with employers, customers, clients, and 

childcare, among other things.

"The public transit system between NJ and NYC is a crucial 

part of our state’s economy, and is particularly critical to 

Maplewood, South Orange, and all of Essex County. 

The lack of reliable public transportation between our towns 

and NYC threatens devastating harm, economic and
otherwise, to our communities."

See his entire statement HERE.