(The following story by Larry Higgs appeared on the Asbury Park Press website on April 12.)
NEWARK, N.J. — If you see a low-flying helicopter over NJ Transit rail lines later this month, don’t panic, it’s supposed to be there.
Starting April 20, a contractor for NJ Transit will conduct aerial surveys of the agency’s tracks, continuing work begun in 2003. The helicopter, equipped with Light Detection And Ranging technology, will be flying only 300 feet above rail lines.
The survey is being performed by a specially equipped helicopter and will enable NJ Transit to update maps of critical areas and create a digitized electronic map.