Legislation Passed to Connect Passaic County to Statewide Transit System

PATERSON - U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. today announced $10 million in funding for The Bergen-Passaic Cross County Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) demonstration program, an initiative to bring advanced transit technology to rail lines in Passaic and Bergen counties.  This funding is part of the House passage of H.R. 3550, The Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU), a $275 billion piece of legislation renewing federal funds for highway and transit programs designed to replace the expiring Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, known as TEA-21.

"This project has been my top priority and I am proud to have won the authorization to jump start this ground-breaking venture," stated Rep. Pascrell a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  "Once completed, it will improve the quality of life for residents in both Passaic and Bergen Counties reducing congestion, pollution and linking urban populations and jobs."

Congressman Steve Rothman, also a staunch supporter of the DMU link and member of the House Appropriations Committee added his commitment to the plan:

"The new, self-propelled DMU commuter railcar shows us what may be a cost-effective solution to bringing new rail service to Passaic County and across the country," Rothman said. "It offers the potential to provide the flexibility that is necessary in order to developan effective commuter rail system in a densely populated area, and the ability to roll out service on existing freight rail tracks instead of having to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more building new rail lines."

The proposed rail alignment of the Passaic-Bergen demo project shares track with the NYS&W freight line which offers ready connections to other outlets in the area.  Specifically, The NYS&W (also known amongst transit experts as the "Susie Q") serves upstate New York and runs through Northern New Jersey, with its terminus in North Bergen.  NJ Transit has considered proposals to utilize this line for passenger rail service over several decades.

"New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the union," added Pascrell.  "Adding lanes for automobiles is not the answer to our regional congestion and mobility problems.

We need more passenger friendly and environmentally efficient public transportation and we need it now."

Planners of the DMU demonstration are currently in phase one of the project, which would travel from one terminus in Hawthorne, through Paterson, and ending in Hackensack.  Ultimately, Passaic County residents would be connected to the new Secaucus Transfer Station, Hoboken and Xanadu complex.  Ultimately, commuters will be connected to Pompton Lakes by a potential Northwest extension.

Experts agree that DMUs have the potential to provide frequency and convenience associated with light rail service while being compatible with existing commuter rail options.  The proposed Colorado Rail Car is a DMU compliant with Federal Railroad Administration standards, meaning that the car is safe to provide service on freight fixed guideways.

"This bipartisan infrastructure bill -- which every member of the New Jersey delegation voted for will reinvest almost $7 billion in the state of New Jersey," added Pascrell.  "However, the bill is currently being threatened by a Presidential veto.  We have to hold President Bush's feet to the fire and get him to back off of his veto threat.  This bill is too important to our State and overall national economy."

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