Fancy Railroad Buildings, Light Rail and Towns Connected

I wrote this letter to the New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner in 2002:

"I applaud you for looking for funding and short term solutions to our transportation problems. However, with our aging population of folks like myself that are choosing to stay in NJ, and increased highway traffic, you need to start looking for long term solutions. Not everyone in NJ is trying to commute to New York! We have a huge number of businesses, corporate HQ's and shopping malls all along our network of highways. We need a light rail system to take us along Rte 287, Rte. 80 and the Parkway and Turnpike. I shouldn't have to take a train to Newark or NYC to go down the shore from Morristown. 

 If you had light rail down the center of our highways, many businesses would set up shuttles to the station at each exit. You could start planning for park and rides at many of the exits. It will be at least 10 or 15 years before I'm ready to retire. As I get older, I don't want to find myself competing with all of the trucks that have taken over the roads. I also hope to continue to travel throughout NJ. I'd be willing to add a few cents to my gasoline tax now to put this in place in the next 10 years."

Here is the response I got back from the NJ Transit Customer Service Dept:
"Unfortunately there are no resources at present to build light rail lines such as you suggest. There would be many challenges in such an undertaking, the most significant of which would be obtaining funding. Then there would be numerous feasibility and environmental impact studies. Finally, there are many areas of these highways where there are no median strips or medians that would not be wide enough for rail lines.
This suggestion has actually been made many times before and for many reasons is simply not practical.
The unfortunate reality is that in a state as developed and densely populated as New Jersey there are probably always going to be traffic problems to some degree. Budgetary constraints and other considerations prohibit us from offering every type of service we might need, no matter how helpful they might be."

Here is my response back to DOT:
I realize all of the items that would have to be completed. This would be a long term project 10-20 years out.
If you always approach a topic such as this with all of the reasons why it can't be done, then it never would be completed. You should approach it more from the standpoint of what would it take to complete and how can I go about doing it.
For instance, you mentioned the point about median strips. Just like they do in some parts of the Washington DC metro, you go up over the highway. Also, you start where you can put it in and do that first.
The Wash. DC metro took over 20 years to complete. I rode on the very first link to my job in the District 25 years ago. It only went the distance of a few miles from the Union Station. Look at it today!
For instance, start a plan for one that goes out Rte. 80 from PA to Morristown and the northern part of Rte. 287.  to 287 south near Bedminster. You would cut down a HUGE amount of traffic just by giving access along that stretch of road. 
I was in a public meeting about 6 years ago run by DOT and there was an overwhelming response from the public that they would be willing to add 10 cents to every gallon of gas to put in such a light rail system.

For once as government officials, face the challenges that you mentioned below and start the feasibility studies. You'd be amazed at the groundswell of support that you would get from the NJ voters. Who knows, you might even be able to get the funding."

For those living in NJ, you will note that nothing really has changed. If you want to go to any major city in NJ, you basically must first travel to Newark, NJ on the northeast border of NJ and then you can travel to other places in NJ via rail or bus. The biggest light rail change that I am aware of is the ability to travel into New York City, via a link from Newark Airport to Newark. It's a great convenience for traveling flying into EWR.

Just think what the state would look like if they had at least started to investigate feasibility in 1996 when they first held public meetings on transportation issues!

On the other hand, things have changed drastically for me. I had to retire early AND I have moved to the South. Who would have ever thought this Jersey girl would make such a leap? I've changed. An unplanned early retirement due to disability caused life changes and an impact to my financial situation. Strange things can happen to your planned life.  My husband, now in his mid-sixties, works and travels constantly to make up the difference.

Life happens. However, not much has changed in our commitment to Light Rail or railroad transportation, outside of really major cities. It could really help someone in my situation now even more than ever.

I am a huge proponent of Light Rail Systems and have been for decades. I have written numerous letters to Congressmen, Senators, and Governors about the subject. I believe with the soaring cost of energy and the aging population on our roads (I am one of them), it is advisable to plan for light rail systems now.
 
Travel from any small town in Europe is possible via Railroad. It used to be that way in the US. That's one reason why there are so many abandoned railroad lines and Railway station Buildings.

The US is so committed to cars that it is not planning for the overall future of transportation. Initially major highways were built and road improvements made due to the automobile industry. Towns now exist due to developments springing up along roadways, away from cities. We should be taking advantage of the footprint of the current network of highways and start to install light rail systems in the centers of major highways. It is a VERY long term vision that needs to start at some point. It also could be built into the current need to plan for major maintenance on current roads and bridges in dire need of repair and modernization.

As Government Study, Trends in Personal Income and Passenger Vehicle Miles ¹ , backs up this theory. Although the automobile industry in the US is now, thankfully, back and vibrant again and employing US laborers, the study questions whether or not households have reached a saturation point in the number of vehicles per household. Also, the study notes that with changing demographics and an aging population in some areas, the need for public transportation over cars for some types of travel may be required.

There are miles and miles of abandoned railroad lines and actually working lines that could be put to use. Currently, it is less expensive per ton to ship by rail than by truck. The same Bureau of Statistics reveals that more freight travels by rail for long distances and the majority of truck transportation in the US is largely for short distance trips. 

Think about that same model for people for a moment. Look at an Amtrack or bus transportation route for a long distance trip. It might take me 3 hours to drive to Charlotte, but it would take 10 hours to get there by bus. An Amtrack trip to NY city from here would take about 35 hours and a car trip about 13. Of course, those who can afford it would take a plane, which could sometimes involve a 10 hour trip between travel to and from airports, waiting time, transfers, etc.

If you plan now for a light rail system along Rte 20, Rte 71, etc,  it would take millions of cars (and aging boomers like myself) off of the road. You can travel all around Western Europe very easily by train by not around the US. We should be able to travel to and from smaller cities. I now live near Augusta Georgia and would love to be able to take the train between Aiken SC and Augusta GA.

It won’t happen in my lifetime, but with aging infrastructure, why not invest in the right infrastructure. Let’s not only depend on cars to get us from point A to point B. They are now making Hybrid train engines. Smaller cities could support Cable cars like San Francisco!

Let's start planning better Mass transit and light rail for larger cities like Columbia!

Here is a letter I wrote to the Augusta Mayor in 2008, when I lived in North Augusta when they were considering a proposal for a rail system only down Broad street in Augusta:

"I am a huge proponent of Light Rail Systems. I have written numerous letters to Congressmen, Senators and the Gov of SC about the subject. I believe with the soaring cost of energy and the aging population on our roads (I am one of them), it is advisable to plan for light rail systems now. 

However, a system in Downtown Augusta, going down Broad Street is not what I imagined as a useful tool that would get optimum utilization and serve the community's needs. A system that begins in Augusta and can take people to the Augusta Airport, the Atlanta Airport, and Columbia Airport would be ideal. Set up an agreement with Aiken and have a system between the two cities. You will increase shopping downtown and people will come to the Restaurants. 

Consider a link from downtown to the Augusta Mall. That will increase job opportunities for folks living downtown too. Have a stop at the hospital system. Light rail could follow the path of the major highways in GA and SC as the rights of way are already established.

If you brought in Outlets to downtown or some of the old mill buildings, you would have a great link for shoppers and give folks another reason to come from the airports and other towns to Augusta.

Keep thinking light rail. Just don't mar the beauty of downtown Augusta. That is a major draw to the city. You want folks to want to walk around downtown to make it worthwhile for stores and restaurants. Once they are down there, a trolly or open touring bus ride might be just the thing for shoppers to hop on and off of and to be dropped off at the train station to get home. As I age, I'd much rather take light rail than drive. A lot of the retirees moving into the area can afford to spend money in Augusta. We just don't feel a need to go there or drive there that frequently. Give us better reasons."

Now think about hopping on a train that can comfortably take you to Charleston or Savannah for a day trip or Charlotte for a Concert or Nascar race. Not so tired from that drive to enjoy the sights or the event are you? 

North and South Corridors is all we worry about down here and that's where the business goes. Everything is East of us and heads North and South up and down the Rte 95 Corridor. I believe that is one reason that it is hard to bring business to Western South Carolina and another reason why it is so hard to get from point A to Point B from here.

Folks sit in traffic, waste time, and fuel commuting from towns in the North West area along Rte 26 to Charleston and commuters traveling to and from downtown Charleston. Going over some of the bridges in that area is a nightmare. A light rail system along those roads and bridges and to and from the airport would be a boon to the area and the economy.

That is true for so many towns and cities throughout the US. Travel points depend upon Major Highway routes that traverse the US and are main roadway corridors. If you want to travel easily, whether by train or air, pick a major route that parallels a major highway.

Notice all of the abandoned Railroad stations that are now being turned into shops or Museums. In some cases, millions of dollars are spent restoring these buildings to preserve history. Think about it. Folks are preserving history instead of making these buildings useful for the purpose they were built for in the first place. Wouldn't it be nice to have a room dedicated to the Railroad museum history in our local museums and have a functioning Railroad station that actually allows people to travel from that point to another location?

Stop just thinking about the wonderful past but think about a new future that we could have.

1st published 9/14/2012

Updated 1/21/2021

 

1. Dept of Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration  Bureau of Transportation Statistics