By Albert Countryman Jr.
The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) presented five different alternatives for PATCO grade or light rail passenger trains coming through town at last week\’s Gloucester City Business Association (GCBA) meeting.
DRPA Chief Executive Officer John J Matheussen personally spoke to the group at Cap\’s Restaurant, and stressed the importance of the project, especially considering the rush hour traffic tie-ups on Route 676, Route 42 and Route 55.
Options include a PATCO grade railroad line, which would either go above or below ground, or light rail, which would run at ground level.
The new rail line would run from Philadelphia to Camden to either Williamstown or Glassboro.
There would be a hub station at Morgan Boulevard, said Matheussen, the former Republican state senator from Washington Township, who was a driving force in bringing the USS New Jersey to the Camden waterfront instead of it going to Bayonne.
Several of the options would use the Conrail right-of-way through Gloucester City and Brooklawn, and if it was light rail several existing railroad crossings would be closed.
If it was a PATCO grade line (high speed), then it would be built underground or overhead along the right-of-way.
Other PATCO grade options include going along Route 676, 42 and along Route 55.
Mayor William James asked how long the project would take, and the answer was at best seven to eight years, but \”probably closer to 10 years.\”
Mayor James expressed concern about the frequent trains causing ties ups for people trying to get from one side of Gloucester City to the other, and was upset by the way Conrail has done a \”poor job\” maintaining the right-of-way.
Matheussen assured him the PATCO and the DRPA would take much better care of the right-of-way.
Anyone with questions can call the DRPA at 968-2444.
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