River Line (New Jersey Transit)
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| Locale | Camden, NJ; Trenton, NJ |
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| Transit type | Light rail |
| Began operation | March 14, 2004 |
| System length | 34 mi (55 km) [1] |
| No. of lines | 1 |
| No. of stations | 20 |
| Daily ridership | 6,900 |
| Operator | New Jersey Transit |
The River Line (styled River LINE by NJ Transit) is a light rail system in New Jersey, United States that connects the cities of Camden and Trenton, New Jersey's capital. It is operated for New Jersey Transit by the Southern New Jersey Rail Group, which includes Bechtel Group and Bombardier. It is so named because the path from those two cities runs more or less parallel to the Delaware River.
The River Line stops at the PATCO Speedline's Broadway Station (Walter Rand Transportation Center), allowing passengers to transfer to and from this connection to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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[edit] Ridership
The River Line is currently exceeding final ridership estimates of 5,500 passengers per day, with a report in March 2006 of 6,900 passenger boardings per day. Ridership is continuing to grow, peaking at approximately 7,000 passengers during the summer of 2005 and 2006.
[edit] History
[edit] Alignment
The River Line is a modern passenger service on what originally was the Camden - Bordentown section and the Bordentown - Trenton Branch of the Camden and Amboy Railroad. The lines ran under the C&A name between 1830 and 1871, when the line was absorbed into the Pennsylvania Railroad. Ownership proceeded under Penn Central and Conrail, until June 1, 1999, but the original passenger service was abandoned in 1953.
[edit] Planning
The planning for NJ Transit's RiverLINE spanned at least three decades and over multiple planning agencies. Early planning for NJ Transit's River LINE began under the auspices of PATCO's 1960 plan for all-rail service to Moorestown/Mount Holly, Lindenwold, and Woodbury Heights/Glassboro -- utilizing three existing railroad corridors. This plan was considered unrealistically expensive. PATCO elected to focus its resources on the most promising corridor, the Philadelphia-Lindenwold. The PATCO high-speed line was first to enter construction, completed in 1969, re-using parts of the 1926 Philadelphia-Camden Bridge Line subway, and constructing a grade-separated line within the Atlantic City Rail Line right-of-way. (See article on PATCO for more details.) Interestingly, PATCO's initial proposal did not include the alignment that became the River LINE corridor, but planned to serve Burlington County via the Mount Holly alignment.
NJ Transit's Planning for the Burlington-Gloucester Transit System (later the RiverLINE) began in the early 1990s. In response to a major investment study (MIS) completed in 1995, the NJ state senate enacted legislation requiring NJ Transit to study rail transit service between Trenton, Camden, and Glassboro. The primary goals of the BGTS were:
- Connecting South Jersey Communities to Philadelphia
- Providing Streetcar Service to Downtown Camden
- Providing Regional Rail Transit Service to Burlington and Gloucester Counties
Although the MIS focused on providing connectivity from South Jersey counties to the PATCO service via a transfer point in Camden, an equally important goal was to provide the economic impetus to spark the redevelopment of the Camden waterfront and serving the city itself.
The 1995 MIS found that there was substantial neighborhood opposition to the Mount Holly Service, particularly in the Borough of Moorestown, partly because of a potential street-running section. Two special studies were commissioned to supplement the alternatives identified in the MIS. The second of these special studies examined the Bordentown Secondary, another Conrail corridor through Burlington County, the alignment of today’s RiverLINE. The parallel NJ Transit local bus on U.S. Route 130 was heavily patronized, and the corridor was ripe for economic development. Since the original intent of the Mount Holly service was to provide transit to the people of Burlington County, it was felt that the new alignment would achieve a similar objective.
In November 1996, NJ Transit's board of directors approved a light rail transit alignment from Glassboro to Trenton with diesel light rail transit cars based on the findings of the Special Study. The entire alignment constitutes the SNJLRTS project. The Board also established the Initial Operating Corridor (IOC) to be the Trenton-Camden Corridor. The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was completed in 1998, and the contract with SNJRG was finalized in 1999, permitting the system to open to the public in 2004.
Much of the political impetus that led to the funding and construction of the River LINE was, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, State Sen. C. William Haines. He was in effect the father of the River LINE. The entire line was 100% funded by the State of New Jersey from its Transportation Trust Fund. No federal capital was expended for this diesel light rail project.
[edit] Business Model
The management keeps an open dialogue and maintains good relationships with developers along the right-of-way. During its planning, "New Ridership Resulting from Transit-Induced Development" was a line-item in the total ridership estimates. As such, it is critical for the line to grow and market the development potential that the line offers to the region. There are active historic-building-to-condo conversions and other transit-oriented developments under way adjacent to the alignment in Camden, Riverton, Delanco, Burlington, and in other communities along the line.
Since purchasing the Bordentown Secondary, transit appear to have understood its mission as not only growing the passenger service but also growing the freight service through a partnership with the freight railroad. Freight shipments on the line has nearly doubled today, compared to the traffic in 1999. The relationship between the passenger and freight operator is reportedly very constructive, allowing both parties to continually make progress in terms of accommodating one another's needs and communicating business concerns.
[edit] Ownership
Except at its ends, the River Line was Conrail's Bordentown Secondary until June 1, 1999, when NJ Transit bought it for $67.5 million.[1] NJ Transit has exclusive access to run light rail passenger service on the line from 06:00 to 22:00 Sunday through Friday, and all of Saturday night and Sunday morning. Conrail has exclusive access for freight at other times. Either agency may request to use the line at abnormal times in case of a special event or emergency.
The relatively early shutdown of the line has been a frequently raised concern of the River LINE, as it is unattractive to those wishing to attend late evening events in Camden or Philadelphia. The concern stems from the inability to serve several important markets: events at Camden’s waterfront entertainment center often conclude after 10 p.m.; service to second shift workers whose shift change occurs at 11 p.m. is impossible under time separation; service prior to 6 a.m. is needed to serve early morning commuter demands making connections to Philadelphia at Camden and at Trenton for the Northeast Corridor. All these aspects of the service are critically important to improving transit-oriented development within the corridor.
The timesharing agreement with Conrail was renegotiated to allow late Saturday night service for events at the entertainment center.
Within a year of the River LINE's launch, the FRA granted permission to adjust timesharing agreement terms. NJ Transit and Conrail agreed to divide the line into two segments, from Camden to Bordentown (south), and from Bordentown to Trenton (north). In the northern section, the passenger period starts at 5:45 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. Initially, these new periods allowed NJ Transit to deadhead equipment from Trenton to Bordentown and Florence at 5.45 a.m., to form the 6:08 a.m. and 6:23 a.m. northbound departures. These early morning trains provide attractive connections at Trenton for NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor services to Newark and New York City. This demonstrates Conrail and NJ Transit's commitment in working with one another to improve the shared track terms to benefit both freight and transit customers.
NJ Transit is continuing to improve service within the constraints of the timesharing agreement, with the construction of a mid-line yard in 2005 to permit later Burlington arrivals in the evening, and earlier departures after 6 a.m. Since the River LINE opened, NJ Transit has made the following service enhancements:
- Introduced 15-minute peak-period service in June 2004.
- Enhanced Capital Connection bus service in Trenton to provide better connections for state workers with River LINE trains in June 2004.
- Launched new early morning service to Trenton from Florence and Roebling in September 2004, enabling customers to make earlier connections to Northeast Corridor trains.
- Launched new early service from Cinnaminson to Camden in January 2005
- Starting 2006, the River LINE began to operate until midnight between Camden and Pennsauken seven nights a week, providing better service for second-shift employees and Camden Waterfront visitors.
(Source: NJ Transit Press Release NJT-06-119, "River LINE to Offer Earlier, Later Service Starting September 25".)
Temporarily during the summer 2006, NJ Transit will offered riders a guaranteed bus connection from 36th Street station, the last station not subject to the timesharing agreement, to the Pennsauken/Route 73 park and ride station, to increase the attractiveness of the service to riders attending concerts or Riversharks games in Camden on weekday evenings. The special service operated through September 30, 2006. This arrangement operated until late 2006 when NJ Transit upgraded the signals to allow late night operation to the Pennsauken/Route 73 station. [2][2]
[edit] Payment and ticketing
The River Line operates on a proof-of-payment system, as typical of most light rail systems throughout the United States. Passengers can buy the tickets at ticket vending machines (TVM) present at all stations, with the base fare being $1.25. The tickets then must be validated at separate ticket validation machines, where machine will print an expiration time/date stamp on the ticket; tickets are valid for two hours from the time of validation. Passengers must hold a valid ticket before boarding the train, and can face fines if a ticket inspector finds them on-board without proper proof of payment. Passengers holding valid New Jersey Transit bus passes or weekly or monthly rail tickets can present any of those as they are honored on the River Line. Unused Newark City Subway (same $1.25 fare) and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail ($1.75) tickets can be used after validation at a River Line station.
[edit] Vehicles
The River Line fleet composes 20 Stadler diesel multiple unit cars, numbered 3501-3520. The River Line is the first light rail system in the United States (but second in North America, after Ottawa's O-Train in Canada) to use these instead of more typical electric vehicles.
[edit] Stations
[edit] Future service, stations and extensions
New Jersey Transit has proposed several possible extensions and stations to the River Line, either as parts of the initial construction plan which were deferred, or as potential future projects.
The New Jersey State House lies approximately 1.3 miles to the northwest of the River Line's northern terminal at Trenton Station. While the line was being constructed, NJT studied an extension that would bridge this gap via a shared right-of-way on city streets.[3] Such an extension would provide direct service to the workplaces of state employees and other workers in downtown Trenton. While the project is supported by City of Trenton officials, NJT did not elect to expand the already over-budget construction effort, but instead operates a branded "Capitol Connection" bus service, requiring River Line riders to transfer at Trenton Station.
The lack of a direct transfer between the River Line and New Jersey Transit's Atlantic City Line, which crosses directly over the River Line in Pennsauken,[4] was highly criticized at the time of the River Line's opening. NJT has since reconsidered, and has promised to study the construction of a transfer station there. A direct transfer between these lines would widen rail-based commuting options to southern New Jersey residents and benefit riders of both lines.
A third proposed extension would take the River Line beyond the State House through Trenton, to West Trenton station in Ewing Township, New Jersey, connecting with SEPTA's R3 service to Center City Philadelphia via Bucks and Mongomery counties. NJT listed this extension on its 2020 Transit wish list map[3], but has not taken further action.
Much of the River Line utilizes single track. Increasing headways from the current peak level of 15 minutes would require building more passing sidings or full double track. NJT has shown no interest so far in doing so.
New Jersey Transit announced a limited operational extension of the River Line light rail to midnight on weeknights to the 36th Street Station Park & Ride with a potential future extension to the Pennsauken/Route 73 station, so service can be provided for late commuters and people attending evening events in Camden.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Light Rail Now: Camden-Trenton: River Line Light Railway Gains Riders, Spurs Economic Development
- ^ NJ TRANSIT EXTENDS LATE-NIGHT RIVER LINE OPTION: Free, guaranteed bus connection continues through September 30, New Jersey Transit press release dated August 11, 2006
- ^ The 2020 Transit Map, accessed December 26, 2006
[edit] External links
- River LINE official site
- Bordentown Secondary mileposts
- STB - Acquisition Exemption FD-33786
- Philadelphia Daily News "Bureaucratic train wreck": Improper River LINE ticket and bureaucratic snafus land a man in jail
- NJTransit.com: Capital Improvement Projects: River LINE
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