Gov. Murphy Calls On NJ Transit To Set Date To Open AC Rail Line

CHERRY HILL, NJ - One day before a community forum is scheduled on the issue, Gov. Phil Murphy joined the number of voices that are demanding the Atlantic City Rail Line be reopened.

NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett said the Atlantic City Rail Line will be opened by June, with a specific date set to be announced in three weeks, according to The Press of Atlantic City. However, Murphy has responded by saying he wants an answer this week.

“Customers want clarity,” the governor said during a press conference on Tuesday, according to the report. “Who can blame them? They’re right.”

The line has been closed since September. NJ Transit officials said in December that they had met a milestone for the installation of federally mandated safety mechanisms.

Senator Fred Madden, Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, all Democrats representing the 4th Legislative District, supported Murphy.

“The absence of the Atlantic City Rail Line has unjustifiably disrupted the lives of thousands of South Jersey residents and has suppressed economic prosperity in the region. Since last September, the Atlantic City Rail Line has been out of commission for the installation of federally mandated safety equipment. As we now head into March, well beyond the scheduled January 2019 re-opening, the residents of South Jersey deserve to see this shutdown come to an immediate end,” they said in a joint statement.

“I’m pleased the Governor finally heard our calls for action on the Atlantic City Rail Line,” Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo (D-Atlantic) said in a statement. “If NJ Transit delivers on the Governor’s directive to set a date to reopen the line by the end of the week, we will get a little closer to restoring normalcy for thousands of people in Atlantic County who ride the train each day. However, we need to hold NJ Transit accountable to actually meet this deadline.”

“Now that the Governor has stepped in, it’s my hope that we’ll begin to see the progress so many rail riders have demanded since the AC Line closed in September,” Assemblyman John Armato (D-Atlantic) said. “We’ve waited for answers from NJ Transit for months on end, and we’ve been stonewalled at every turn. I’m prepared to hold their feet to the fire to make sure those answers are delivered this week, which will help Atlantic County see a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Murphy’s comments come less than a week after the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously passed a resolution calling for NJ Transit to reopen the Atlantic City Rail Line. Read more here: Camden County Calls On NJ Transit To Open AC Rail Line

Residents have their chance to weigh in on the issue Wednesday night when the Assembly Transportation Committee holds a forum at the Cherry Hill Municipal Building on Wednesday night, 6 p.m. The municipal building is located at 820 Mercer Street in Cherry Hill, 08002.

Read more here: Officials To Meet With Cherry Hill Commuters About Rail Services