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Re: (erielack) Lackawanna Cutoff
- --- KSmollin_@_aol.com wrote:
> Just curious as to why you don't think this will happen in the next 4
> years? I actually contacted NJT and spoke to someone who is working on
> the project. He stated the concept design was to be done in DEC 04. The
> gentlemen said they would be looking for federal funds as early as
> spring of 05. He told me to give him a buzz in the spring and he will
> have a better idea as a timeline of events.
In case you hadn't noticed, President Bush has been trying for four years
to kill Amtrak. He is trying to cut the Federal share of transit projects
by a large precentage, which would make Pennsylvania and New Jersey pay
more. Until the White House changes its priorities (meaning a change of
who lives there, and preferably his party), it will be difficult (not
impossible) to move forward faster on the Cutoff.
> The cutoff is now considered an "urban core" project and this might help
> them get federal funds faster. Also NJT has completed many of its other
> "urban core" projects (secaucus, kearny connection, montclair..etc..),
> so it stands to reason now that these projects are now done that NJT can
> look at heading west again and extending service on many of there lines.
NJT's budget has an ongoing drain to pay for operating the RiverLINE and
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail lines. The capital budget has been tapped to
cover ongoing operations for several years. It costs a lot of money to
run Secaucus and NJT has projected a $65,000,000 shorfall for CY 2005.
=====
Gary R. Kazin
DL&W Milepost R35.7
Rockaway, New Jersey
http://www.geocities.com/gkazin/index.html
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