Association of Railroad Passengers NEWSLETTER REPORT August 26, 2013 Published Bi-Monthly PO Box 271, Raritan, N.J. 08869-0271 www.NJ-ARP.org Dastardly Deeds May Doom Dinky!

The saga of saving the Princeton DInky continues. As fect unless they are vetoed by the Governor. As Gover- we go to press, there is a real chance that by the time nor Christie is also an ex offi cio member of the Board of this issue reaches you, the Dinky may have been trun- Trustees of PU, there is a confl ict of interest on his part in cated, (illegally, in our opinion) by New Jersey Transit this matter. (NJT) in a conspiracy with (PU). Meanwhile NJT announced a shut down of the On June 24, NJ-ARP in concert with NARP line effective August 23. The last Dinky left the histor- (The National Association of Railroad Passengers) had ic station at 1:27 a.m. on August 24. NJT had already fi led a petition with the U.S. Surface Transportation placed new catenary and poles at the temporary station Board (STB) to halt NJT and PU from cutting back the and planned to install a bumper at the temporary station Princeton branch from its in-town terminal. The petition over the weekend. After temporary service is in opera- asked that the STB take jurisdiction on this issue as per fed- tion starting August 26, NJT crews intend to remove the eral law, and hold public hearings before any decision is tracks leading to the existing station, along with catenary made to cut back the line. and other infrastructure at the station. One day later, NJT held a special telephonic PU will then be free to begin its earth moving work meeting (with extremely limited notice to the public) to for the leveling of the embankment and regrading for the approve a swap of easements between NJT and PU sur- access road to the Lot 7 garage & relocation of tracks rendering the right-of-way between a convenience store for new transit plaza. PU has all the necessary permits and the end-of-track at the existing Princeton Station in it needs from the municipality to begin its earth moving return for an amount to be determined. work after the tracks/catenary are removed. Seven persons made statements in opposi- On August 23 Save The Dinky fi led papers with tion to adoption of the agenda item (the sole piece of the NJ Chancery Court to issue temporary relief and stop business under consideration) within their individually NJT & PU from relocating the terminus. The judge turned allowed fi ve minutes, including NJ-ARP Vice President down the request for a temporary order but agreed to Jack May, NJ-ARP Director Phil Craig, and Virginia Kerr, hear the case for an injunction on October 11. PU has Esq., Counsel to the Save The Dinky Committee. told the DEP and the Chancery Judge that the University will pick up the bill and pay NJT’s restoration costs if a As soon as the public’s statements were record- court fi nds that NJT has violated its legal obligations, so ed for the formal record, as required by New Jersey’s there is some faint hope. Open Public Meetings Act, James Weinstein, NJT’s Ex- ecutive Director, was asked by Commissioner of Trans- This situation is akin to a condemned person portation James S. Simpson to present the proposed res- waiting for a stay of execution. The stay may be granted olution to the Board. This done, the Commissioner called – after the prisoner is executed. NJT and especially PU the question, which was promptly moved, seconded and with its $31 billion endowment should be ashamed of voted upon without any discussion or comments. To no themselves for these dastardly tactics and deeds. one’s surprise, the vote was unanimous in favor of the PU will operate a bus service, dubbed “Tiger- resolution. The meeting promptly adjourned at 1:38 p.m. PaWW” for Princeton/West Windsor for at least a year On August 11, NJ-ARP issued another press re- between the historic 1918 Princeton Station on University Place, the “temporary” Princeton Station, and Princeton lease (See back page) to appeal the June 25 decision by Junction until the permanent station within its so-called the NJT Board to the New Jersey Superior Court Appel- Arts and Transit Project site is opened sometime in the late Division. The fi ling asks the court to declare that the third quarter of 2014. This “supplementary” bus service NJT Board knowingly acted in violation of the New Jersey will run along Alexander St./Alexander Rd. and Vaughn Public Transportation Act and the Open Public Meetings Drive, which are heavily congested during weekday peak Act, when it authorized a sale to PU of state transporta- hours. The bus schedules posted online at PU’s website tion agency’s remaining property rights in the Princeton indicate that they will run from approximately 5:00 a.m. Branch “Dinky” station and surrounding land. to 1:30 a.m, 7 days per week. The schedules, which dif- Our appeal contends that the decision was fer slightly between weekdays and weekends/holidays made by a rubber stamp board controlled by Governor are based on meeting all of NJT’s Trenton-bound North- east Corridor trains arriving at Princeton Junction. Point- Chris Christie in a special meeting called at the last min- edly, there is no guarantee, that the buses will connect ute with no meaningful opportunity for public input.” The with any New York-bound trains departing from Princ- appeal claims that NJT violated the public’s due process eton Junction.” hearing rights. It further states that NJT Board decisions are submitted to the Governor for review and go into ef- (Continued on Page 4) PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE NJ-ARP DIRECTORS and OFFICERS, 2013 A meeting with Congressman Frelinghuysen I had the pleasure of meeting with New Jersey Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen NJ-ARP OFFICE/NORTH (R - 11th District) on Monday, August 19 at the legislator’s Morristown District P.O. Box 271 Offi ce. The Congressman is especially interested in the progress of the Lackawanna Raritan, NJ 08869-0271 Cut-Off and why work has stopped. He explained to me that he has “walked the line” and seen the progress to date. He’d like to take some steps to see what he could do NJ-ARP OFFICE/SOUTH to get it started again. 22 Hartford Road I brought up the situation whereby has yet to stop any of its intercity Medford, NJ 08055 trains at the (Frank R. Lautenberg) station on the NEC which has ❇ ❇ ❇ ❇ been in operation since December 2003. (See page 3) I noted that the station cost about $450 million, some two-thirds of that from the feds, and that Amtrak doesn’t stop anything there. He thought a few Regionals did. Nope. “Why?” he asked. I NJ-ARP E-MAIL CONTACT replied that Amtrak’s President Joseph Boardman told me at an April NARP Council [email protected] meeting luncheon in D.C. two years ago that they didn’t have enough slots at which point I had asked Amtrak’s CEO why he couldn’t skip-stop trains in New Jersey NJ-ARP WEB SITE and eliminate a Metropark stop (or an EWR stop) and serve those riders who might http://www.nj-arp.org/ actually use the intercity carrier’s trains and pay good money to do so? NJ-ARP LIVE He, too, is concerned about the upkeep of the NEC. He travels to D.C. by train Twitter @ NJ_ARP and is cognizant of the deteriorated roadbed. I quoted Boardman’s April 11 House Facebook: https://www.facebook. testimony wherein he said that the current maintenance backlog is $5.8 billion and com/groups/9123267930/ that to bring the corridor up to a state of good repair would entail spending $52 billion. To which the Congressman stated, “There just isn’t that kind of money available.” ❇ ❇ ❇ ❇ We are aware of two fi nancing plans for Amtrak and High Speed Rail. Both were presented to our Board at our July 13 Belmar, NJ Board luncheon. Albert L. Papp, Jr., President 973-762-1831 Rick Arena, President of the Association for Public Transportation made a brief Jack May, Vice President presentation on Funding and Financing High-Speed Railroad (HSR) Transportation 973-746-0757 Megastructure. His hand-outs showed current designated HSR corridors and four Jim Ciacciarelli, Director future Mega-Corridors. They are recommending the establishment of a High Speed 609-709-6317 Passenger Transport Fund to be funded by a 6% User Fee on airline tickets, charter Philip G. Craig, Director fl ights, and freight revenues, Amtrak tickets, future HSR tickets and intercity bus 973-744-1765 tickets. Projected annual proceeds from this would be $10 billion. There is also a plan Jishnu Mukerji, Director for foreign earning repatriation, that would fi nance bonds. This plan could potentially 973-912-9923 (eves only) raise $100 to $400 billion in bonds. Carol Ann Thomas, Director Our other guest was Robert Serlin of AirNet21 who gave what was almost a 856-642-3800 (days) complimentary presentation on how we can create a better fi nancial plan for operating 609-654-5852 (eves) HSR in America. The plan would separate Amtrak into two federally-owned entities Joe Versaggi, Director and then do a stock spin-off managed by an infrastructure management organization 908-725-2316 (eves only) to be designated by U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB). Amtrak would contin- Lester W. Wolff, Director ue to operate trains on the NEC, as well as intercity trains, maintenance of equipment, 201-573-0146 (10a-4p only) and reservations systems. However, Amtrak would face competition on the NEC from AirNet21, which would become an open access “Transportation Service Provider” in ❇ ❇ ❇ ❇ return for its capital investments in infrastructure improvements. The other spinoff would manage the NEC Infrastructure, as well as the Midwest 100 mile HSR line and Leonard Resto, Treasurer the yards and tracks in the metropolitan Chicago area. 973-635-5373 Paul Mulligan, Cape May rep Financing would be based on 90% public funding and 10% private funding 609-884-9161 (eves only) through investment-grade fi nancial instruments acting as collateral. On the revenue William Armstrong, Monmouth rep side: new operators would target exurb-to-exurb markets that have been mostly 732-919-3660 (eves only) underserved and also suburban-to-center city markets. The new service projects to George Musser, Jr. start by adding 14 new stations in exurb and suburban markets and eventually more Montclair/Boonton rep as new markets are found. NJ-ARP Web Master NJ-ARP is sure that there will be more public/private partnership offers 973-259-9389 (eves only) advanced in the future. We are not, at this time, endorsing any specifi c plan. Jishnu Mukerji, Morris rep 973-912-9923 (eves only) I then explained to Congressman Frelinghuysen that Gateway is addressing Gary Johnson, rep the ARC defi ciencies (no redundancy, no Amtrak access, no extension to NYC east 973-482-3372 midtown) and that funds need to be secured to move the project forward. Joe Versaggi, Raritan Valley rep We talked about money for Amtrak; I said that the House recommended level 908-725-2316 (eves only) could lead to service cuts and a slowdown in NEC train speeds (as Amtrak’s Boardman Orrin Getz, Rockland rep said publicly at the June 7 House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s 845-638-4494 (eves only) Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials at the Farley post Tim Apgar, Sussex rep offi ce in New York and which I told Frelinghuysen that I had attended) and that the 201-230-7225 Senate version provided only slightly more for FY 2014 than in FY 2013. Rose M. Heck, Government Affairs (Continued on Page 4)

NEWSLETTER REPORT August 26, 2013, Page 2 Editors’ Choice of Top Transit News Links Each issue, your editors pick what we feel to be the latest and best transit links from our web site’s TRANSIT NEWS page that is updated on an almost daily basis – and may be found at http://www.nj-arp.org/content/news/news. 07/25/13 BRT: Anything but “rapid.” A Los Angeles case study. http://la.streetsblog.org/2013/07/25/failure-of-l-a-mta-rapid-buses-welcome-to-rapid-704/ 07/25/13 NY’s Penn Station & other UGLY train terminals. http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/jul/25/new-york-penn-station-ugly-train-world 07/29/13 New York’s subway map - reimagined. http://www.theatlanticcities.com/design/2013/07/guys-never-met-map-he-didnt-want-fi x/6340/ 07/31/13 NJ-ARP member prompts NJT to make automated quiet car announcements. http://www.nj-arp.org/content/members_only/aax 08/07/13 Dead shark has jaws dropping on N train. http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130807/long-island-city/dead-shark-has-jaws-dropping-on-n-train-queens 08/11/13 Some Raritan riders will get through-service to NY Penn. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/08/some_raritan_valley_line_riders_to_get_transfer-free_rides_to_nyc.html 08/13/13 NY Penn: A vanity project? (See NJ-ARP Directors’ Mukerji & Versaggi comments after article.) http://observer.com/2013/08/vanity-project/ 08/14/13 A cat as stationmaster? Brilliant idea! http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/08/brilliant-transportation-gimmick-day-cat-station-master/6538/ 08/16/13 MTA chief hopeful for one-seat ride to NYP from Orange & Rockland. http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130815/BIZ/308150336 08/18/13 NJT did NOT follow own storm plan during Sandy. http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/NJ_Transit_didnt_follow_its_own_storm_plan.html Editor’s-Eye View: The number of the month: 1,413,981 Here’s why the above number is relevant. tioned the lack of Amtrak service at Secaucus Junction Let us, for argument’s sake, say that everyone several times over the past years to Amtrak offi cials, (based on 2010 census data) in the 64 New Jersey they continue to ignore the 76 markets that are home communities and 12 New York communities decided to over 1.4 million people, who, through their federal to board a train at the nearly 90 rail stations that serve tax dollars, help fund Amtrak. these communities along the Morris & Essex, Glad- In view of the fact that on-line ticketing is readily stone, Montclair-Boonton, Main, Bergen, Port Jervis, available on the Amtrak Web site, it wouldn’t be neces- and Pascack Valley lines. sary to have a staffed ticket offi ce at Secaucus Junction. Let us also say they wanted to use New Jersey Probably an automated ticket vending machine would Transit (or MTA West of Hudson) railroad service to readily suffi ce. connect to Amtrak’s national network. Almost all of these NJ-ARP is also not asking for Acela trains to stop folks would have to ride all the way into at Secaucus, but surely, three or four Regional trains to catch an Amtrak train. in each direction could swap out another New Jersey Who cares? NJ-ARP does! We have an imposing station where they do stop, for a stop at the Secaucus railroad station right here in New Jersey, that was built Junction station. Such swaps would eliminate the ex- at considerable cost: the Senator Frank R. Lautenberg cuse of lengthened run times (or lack of slots) and would Rail Station at Secaucus Junction. Surely, an edifi ce save potential passengers from those 76 markets having named after the one of Amtrak’s staunchest support- to travel into New York City to catch an Amtrak train. ers would have an Amtrak ticket offi ce, or at least an The cost to provide said service should be negli- Amtrak ticket vending machine and several trains in gible. We would recommend through-tickets be made each direction on the Northeast Corridor stopping available that could be honored by NJT and/or MTA at this magnifi cent station to service passengers on on their connecting trains. Of course, marketing the American’s national rail network. availability of through-service via Secaucus within those Sadly, the only Amtrak train that has ever stopped 76 communities via local media or even on in-station at the Secaucus Junction station was the funeral train billboards would be benefi cial in providing new custom- that bore the late Senator’s body back to Washington, ers for both Amtrak and NJT and MTA. DC to lie in state. Even sadder is the fact that although we’ve men- Lester W. Wolff, Editor and NJ-ARP Director

Next NJ-ARP Board Meeting to be held Saturday, September 7

NJ-ARP’s next Board meeting will be in Chatham, NJ on and participate in the Board’s discussions. Those wishing Saturday, Sept. 7 from approximately 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 to attend should please e-mail us at [email protected] at p.m. The venue will be in the small meeting room at the least three (3) weekdays prior to the meeting, leaving Library of the Chathams, 214 Main St., about 2 blocks your name and phone number so that we can notify the from the train station. Parking is available on-site. venue how many members will be attending, as well as contact you with any late venue or time changes. Currently-paid up members are welcome to attend

NEWSLETTER REPORT August 26, 2013, Page 3 President’s Perspective (Continued from Page 2) Dinky Doomed (Continued from Front Page)

I mentioned that I had been to China in October 2011 No one quarrels with PU’s proposed arts center and ridden round trip in a day between Shanghai and Beijing, project. It will benefi t the community. But, if the federal and that was the kind of rail infrastructure that we need to government saw fi t to allow a 6-lane highway to have a have in the corridor to maintain mobility and competitiveness rail crossing along the throat of the Atlantic City Rail Ter- in the 21st century. He said it must be wonderful to have minal, why can’t PU accept a one lane rail crossing in such strong government support for these projects and the front of its planned multi-story garage rather than incon- use of eminent domain to secure the land takings necessary venience thousands of rail passengers, not to mention for construction purposes. isolating Princeton’s rail station to a desolate location over —Albert L. Papp, Jr. a half mile from Palmer Square, the heart of Princeton.

August 11, 2013 Rail Passenger Association claims confl ict of interest by Governor Christie – appeals NJ Transit sale of property to Princeton University.

The New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers (NJ-ARP) announced today that it had ap- pealed a June 25th decision by the Board of Directors of New Jersey Transit to the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division. The fi ling asks the court to declare that the NJ Transit Board knowingly acted in violation of the New Jersey Public Transportation Act and the Open Public Meetings Act, when it authorized a sale to Princeton University of state transportation agency’s remaining property rights in the Princeton Branch “Dinky” station and surrounding land. The pro- posed sale will facilitate Princeton University’s plan to dismantle the station and develop the rail- road property for academic and commercial uses. The University bought the station buildings in 1984 but New Jersey Transit retained the operating rights and an easement for public transit use. The decision authorizes NJ Transit management to sell the easement to the University in return for an easement on other property and a sum of money yet to be determined.

According to Jack May, Vice President of NJ-ARP, the NJ Transit decision “represents a breach of NJ Transit’s fi duciary obligations to the traveling public.” He said that the decision “enables the abandonment of rail service and the destruction of an historic station,” “will have a devastating impact on commuters and the viability of the line,” and “should never have been made without a full public hearing.” Instead, Mr. May said, “the decision was made by a rubber stamp board con- trolled by Governor Chris Christie in a special meeting called at the last minute with no meaningful opportunity for public input.” The appeal claims that NJ Transit violated the public’s due process hearing rights.

All New Jersey Transit Board decisions are submitted to the Governor for review and go into effect unless they are vetoed by the Governor. Governor Christie is an ex offi cio member of the Board of Trustees of Princeton University. Philip G. Craig, a Director of NJ-ARP, said the Governor has been “an outspoken supporter” of Princeton University’s plans to develop the railroad property for academic and commercial purposes and move the train terminus farther away from the town center.” Mr. Craig said the Governor “ignored the impact on the over 1,000 daily riders who travel on the Princeton Branch and disregarded strong opposition within the community.” The appeal claims that the Governor has a confl ict of interest and should have recused himself.

The Princeton-based citizens group Save the Dinky, Inc. and Anne Neumann, a Princeton resi- dent, joined NJ-ARP in the appeal which was submitted for fi ling on August 8, 2013 to the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division.

NJ-ARP Annual Fall Meeting Date: Saturday, October 26 The date for NJ-ARP’s annual Fall meeting will be Saturday, Based on current schedules, we should have about 40 October 26, to hopefully coincide with the anticipated open- minutes between south and northbound RiverLINE trains to ing of the Pennsauken Transfer Station at DeRousse Ave. explore the new station. On the A.C. Line current approximate between the RiverLINE and the . departures would be at 10:40, 12:21, 2:04 and 2:59 to Atlantic City and 10:00, 12:06, 1:46, and 3:54 to . As there is very little commerce around the new station, our meeting will take place somewhere along the RiverLINE Members in good standing will be receiving invitations and we will travel by light rail to visit the new station after the towards the end of September with further details as to the meeting. venue, possible speakers, and cost for the luncheon. Seeking Candidates for NJ-ARP Board

It’s time for those NJ-ARP members in good standing (dues Deadline for submissions will be Friday, September 20, paid) who wish to run for one of eight (8) seats on NJ-ARP’s so that ballots can be prepared and mailed the following week Board of Directors to notify us. thirty days prior to our annual meeting on October 26. A candidate should submit a written statement, no longer Submissions should be addressed to NJ-ARP’s P.O. than 100 words, detailing his or her qualifi cations, credentials, Box 271, Raritan, N.J. 08869-0271. and/or ideas which might bolster his or her candidacy. NJ-ARP NEWSLETTER REPORT Editors: Douglas John Bowen and Lester W. Wolff • Production: Lester W. Wolff The New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers (NJ-ARP), founded in 1980, is an Independent Advocacy Association.

NEWSLETTER REPORT August 26, 2013, Page 4