West Trenton Line

Background
The project involves restoring commuter rail service for 27 miles on the West Trenton Line between the existing Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) West Trenton Station in Ewing, Mercer County, and Bridgewater Station in Bridgewater, Somerset County, where the line would connect with the existing Raritan Valley Line providing service into Newark Penn Station. Click here to view a map of the system .

Project Scope
The proposed project would include re-installation of previously removed track and installation of 12.8 miles of new track within the existing rail right of way, signal improvements, restoration of the at-grade crossing of the Lehigh Line at Port Reading Junction, four new stations and parking facilities, a train storage yard, and acquisition of additional rail rolling stock.

Project Cost
Approximately $197 million (2004 estimate). Construction of the project is not funded.

Current Status
Public open house information sessions were held in Mercer and Somerset counties in December, 2004, to present project status and receive community feedback. The draft Environmental Assessment (EA) will be submitted to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for review in the spring of 2005.

Next Milestone
Subsequent to receipt of FTA comments to and revision of the draft EA as appropriate based on the FTA comments, the next milestone will be the submittal of the final EA, and a request to the FTA for issuance of the finding of no significant impact (FONSI).

Benefits
Construction of the project would provide a new transit option in central New Jersey.

NJ TRANSIT Department of Capital Planning and Programs
April 2005