Freight Trains The Latest Agent
No efforts is being spared to stop an abandoned right-of-way from being reactivated through town. But track repairs have already restored the old Rahway Valley line to within 5 miles of Summit, barely two towns away.
Our last hope is to choke off funding for this final $10 million stage of a 23 mile project which is now 75% complete. Senator Kean and Assemblymen Munoz and Brammick made sure the money was not earmarked in Governor Corzine's recent bailout of the State Transportation Trust Fund.
But if our funding stronghold fails, we've got to be ready to deal with M&E track crews working on the .8 mile right-of-way in Summit including four trestle overpasses. Federal jurisdiction pre-empts local and even state laws when it comes to railroads.
Good news is that as a "short line" operator the Morris & Essex has been specifically denied access to the Big Five Ports behind Staten Island by national "Class I" operators like CSX and the Norfolk & Southern. So the threat of NYC garbage wending its way through Summit seems unfounded. No guarantees however when Union County Freeholders have a stake in the action.
Secondly, height and width clearances along the whole route physically preclude long trains pulling large cars. Substandard sized equipment, coupled together in short "consists" of a dozen or fewer cars will be the norm. At least for the foreseeable future.
Thirdly, the existing right of way will not be straightened or widened, so the chances of any backyards in Summit being taken by eminent domain seems remote. Thirty-nine different properties actually abut the abandoned ROW, from Celgene on our border with Springfield up hill to NJTransit's mainline at our existing passenger station.
Even so, an impact cannot be denied. Some landowners read the inevitable hand-writing on the wall are are already reacting. A car dealership on Broad Street for example might shift its operation to River Road, out of harm's way. Anyone encroaching on railroad ROW will have to cease and desist - not even walk their dog here!
Many forces of change are at work in Summit, including the very real threat of one freight train a day sharing the same tracks of west of Summit with passenger commuters. Our challenge is to react constructively, with good public policy choices.
Many thanks to Bob Sheehan and his tireless band of volunteers looking out for Summit's best interest. Without his Stop the Train Coalition it would have already happened!
Tom's Current Agenda
Smaller
Government
Recycling
Public Art
No Freight Trains
Downtown
Economy
Municipal Budget
Taxes
Traffic