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 SUMMIT
- Funding to restore the Rahway Valley Railroad from Cranford to Summit
is drying up, and officials say there is no chance the line will be up
and running this spring, as originally expected.
"It's
unfortunate," said Gordon Fuller, chief operating officer for the
Morristown and Erie Railway Inc., the railroad contracted to reactivate
the Rahway Valley and Staten Island lines. "We view this project as
a boon for both Morris and Union counties, so we're sorry to see it slow
down."
A 10-year
contract to reactivate the rail lines was signed by the county and
M&E on May 9, 2002. The contract allows for as many as three trains
per week, no more than 15 cars long, traveling less than 25 mph, to
travel along the tracks:
The Staten
Island Line, which is 99 percent complete, according to Fuller, connects
the Conoco Philips Refinery in Linden to Cranford, by way of Roselle.
The Rahway
Valley Line runs from Cranford to Summit by way of Kenilworth, Union and
Springfield. - See the Reactivation
Map>
Thirteen
businesses, including the Linden refinery, a paper company in Cranford
and several Union businesses, are interested in using the rail lines,
Fuller said, adding that the businesses reiterated their interest three
weeks ago.
M&E
hasn't spent' any more money than anticipated, but millions of dollars
it expected to receive from the state's Transportation Trust Fund now
aren't there.
That will
delay the project, not permanently ax it, Fuller said, adding that he
believes there are other sources for funding out there; but the time
line has been altered enough where he can't predict exactly when trains
will be up and running on both lines.
Erin
Phalon, a spokeswoman with the New Jersey Department of Transportation,
said the county has not requested any additional funding.
Most of
the affected municipalities in the county have been fighting the
reactivation of the lines. Many of them were elated to see The
Star-Ledger report Sunday that, after spending $10.5 million in state
funds on the reactivation, M&E needs an additional $10 to $15
million to complete the project.
"Anything
that delays the arrival of the train is something the residents of
Springfield would welcome," said Springfield Mayor Clara Harelik.
"As far as I'm concerned, the Springfield position was that this
money could have been put to much better use for our municipality. There
didn't appear to be a great need for this railroad."
Summit
Mayor Jordan Glatt had a similar reaction.
"It's
the best news I've heard on the railroad project in a long time,"
he said. "I just hope it remains."
Fuller
said the funding crunch shouldn't affect safety measures taken, because
those are stipulated by the law.
Roselle
Mayor Garrett Smith said he will call Fuller and other M&E officials
to make sure the lights and gates set to be installed at Roselle's road
crossings are still part of the company's plan.
Steven
Riley contributed to this report. Regional Editor Vincent Gragnani can
be reached at 908-686-7700, ext. ,128 or at vgragnani@thelocalsource.com.
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