(The following article by Justin Vellucci was posted on the Asbury Park Press website on June 10.)
ABERDEEN, N.J. — Township officials have declined to take a stance on New Jersey Transit’s proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) rail line, part of which could run through the township and neighboring Matawan.
“I don’t think it’s a simple issue,” said Mayor David G. Sobel, after resident Philip Petrignani asked the Township Council on Monday whether it would voice an opinion on the controversial plan. “There could be some benefit to the region, but we have a lot of concerns in terms of the addition of extra rail.”
Sobel said Aberdeen officials have met with New Jersey Transit representatives to discuss the plan and hope to do so again. In addition to concerns about more tracks running through the area, Sobel said, Aberdeen has questions about traffic impact, quality of life issues and noise.
Last month, Matawan officials voiced strong opposition to the rail line after viewing an impact study that said if the line ran through the borough nearly 150 borough homes would be affected by train whistles and other noise, and one household may experience vibrations.
But Aberdeen Township Manager Mark Coren said Monday that more research needs to be done before township officials develop a position.
“It’s not enough to be against something,” Coren said. “You have to know what you’re against.”