(The Newark Star-Ledger posted the following article by Joe Malinconico on its website on April 15.)
NEWARK — Attempting to avert gridlock once the Meadowlands sports and entertainment complex gets rebuilt, officials said yesterday that the state needs to build a railroad link to the site.
The state would build two or three miles of track connecting the Pascack Valley and Bergen County lines directly to the Meadowlands complex in East Rutherford, according to preliminary plans discussed at a legislative hearing.
Passengers on the state’s five other major commuter rail lines also would have access to the sports and entertainment hub by switching trains at the Seacucus Transfer station, which is five miles away, to get on Pascack Valley and Main line trains.
Transit officials said that would provide more people with the option of taking trains to the Meadowlands instead of extending the light rail being built through Hudson and Bergen counties to the complex, another option that has been discussed.
“Utilizing the existing statewide rail network, in addition to reducing overall project costs, will result in faster project delivery and avoid or minimize new construction in environmentally sensitive areas,” NJ Transit Executive Director George Warrington said.
Warrington said his agency would provide a more detailed proposal on a rail link within six months. He said it was too early to make any cost projections.
But Rep. Steven Rothman (D- 9th Dist.) said he figured the favored passenger rail link would cost between $100 million and $200 million, compared to as much as $500 million for a light rail extension.
Officials said the rail link would be essential for the region to handle traffic from the Mills Corp./ Mack Cali Realty Corp.’s $1.2 billion Xanadu plan, which would feature 600,000 square feet of retail space, four 12- to 14-story office towers, North America’s first indoor skiing facility and a state-of- the-art aquarium, all around the Continental Airlines Arena.
George Zoffinger, chief executive at the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, told the legislators at yesterday’s hearing at Giants Stadium that the Xanadu developers had promised to provide $65 million for transportation at the site, including some investment in mass transit as well as road improvements.
The state and federal government might be asked to put up the rest of the cash, officials said.
“We all know that’s going to be the most critical issue — where are the dollars going to come from?” Assemblyman Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) said.
Some legislators said the developer should kick in more money. They feared that most of the $65 million would get spent on roads, leaving little for the rail system.
“How the $65 million is carved up has not been determined at this time,” said Michael Luchkiw, an attorney for the developers. “Admittedly, our initial focus has been on road improvements.”
But he said the builders recognized that a rail link was important.
“It certainly doesn’t serve us at all if our patrons cannot get to our site easily,” Luchkiw said.