Green Jersey

Sussex County could get rail service

Sussex County hasn’t had direct passenger rail service for at least 40 years, according to the county historian. But the county could soon get it — tomorrow, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority is expected to vote on a $36.6 million project that would extend NJ Transit’s Montclair-Boonton line from Port Morris to Andover Township.

Andover would get a new rail station, between Roseville Road and the rail line. The site is currently undeveloped, according to the New Jersey Herald, which says plans also call for a 65-space parking lot.

From the New Jersey Herald:

David Behrend, public affairs manager for the authority, said the newest plan was a first step for a project originally recommended by a 1999 study. That study called for the extension and expansion of passenger and commuter rail service to the region. The project would be the first step toward future funding from the Federal Transportation Agency and other sources to establishing a continuous, and contiguous, service to the area, he said.

The county has been growing — according to U.S. Census figures, its population increased 6.4 percent between 2000 and 2006, compared to 3.7 percent for the state as a whole.

The Sierra Club of New Jersey opposes the project, saying it would encourage sprawl and overdevelopment and could triple the population of Andover Borough. Jeff Tittel said improvements to existing roadways such as 80 and 15 would be preferable to a new rail line.