[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         IN SUPPORT OF THE NEWARK-ELIZABETH RAIL LINK EXTENSION

                                 ______


                            HON. BOB FRANKS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, last month, the House of 
Representatives passed the fiscal year 1995 Transportation 
appropriations bill. Included in that bill was $107 million in funding 
to enable the ambitious North Jersey Urban Core transportation 
initiative to move ahead on schedule. A key component of Urban Core is 
the development of a light-rail link between Newark and Elizabeth.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise to lend my full support to a logical and 
critically important extension of the Newark-Elizabeth rail project to 
the city of Plainfield.
  Plainfield is a city struggling to come back from two decades of 
economic decline. This extension could serve as the catalyst for 
economic revitalization and job opportunities for the people of 
Plainfield. It would provide the residents of the city and surrounding 
communities with a vital link to thriving centers of economic 
development and new jobs, such as Port Elizabeth and Newark 
International Airport.
  Light rail is a modern version of the old trolley. Most light rail 
runs with just one or two cars, unlike regular trains that operate with 
many more cars. It is flexible and can be used on existing tracks. In 
the case of the Plainfield extension, the trolley could run on the old 
Central New Jersey tracks. It's also fast, clean, quick and efficient.
  The benefits of a light rail extension to Plainfield are numerous and 
far-reaching.
  First, I have always found it incredible that one of the busiest 
airports in the Nation, Newark International, has no direct rail 
service to the heavily populated areas of northern and central New 
Jersey. Construction of the Plainfield extension will provide the 
people of this city, as well as residents throughout Union and Somerset 
Counties, with a fast and convenient alternative to driving when they 
need to use this busy and still growing airport. By hopping on a 
trolley, people will be able to avoid the aggravation of fighting 
traffic, paying astronomical parking fees, and worrying about whether 
their car will be there when they return from their trip.
  Next, the Plainfield trolley would be more than just a rail link, it 
would be a jobs link. The Elizabeth waterfront is on the verge of 
becoming a major commercial and retail center. IKEA is getting ready to 
break ground on a new ``power center''--a 375,000 square foot extension 
of its facility that is expected to create 600 new jobs. The Orion 
Corp. is preparing to build a ``super mall''--with up to 12 anchor 
stores and 180 smaller stores. It would be the source of literally 
thousand of new jobs. And that's only the first phase of the project. 
Orion has plans to construct even more retail facilities, as well as 
waterfront restaurants. Finally, Wakefern Corp. has plans to build 
800,000 square feet of commercial and retail space.

  The Elizabeth waterfront is poised for a major economic boom. For the 
city of Plainfield, which has been plagued by high unemployment, a 
direct trolley link to the Port of Elizabeth would open the door to 
economic advancement for hundreds, or even thousands of residents, who 
have been unable to find work.
  Trolley service could also be the cornerstone for the economic 
rebirth of Plainfield itself. The possibilities are endless. New shops, 
restaurants, and office space, state-of-the-art manufacturing 
facilities--a city bustling with commuters and shoppers.
  For Plainfield--which has had more than its share of hard times, 
false starts, and unfulfilled promises--trolley service represents the 
best hope of economic renewal. I remember coming to Plainfield as a 
child to shop at Teppers and the other exclusive shops that lined Front 
Street in Plainfield.
  Trolley service can help launch a new era of prosperity. It has 
happened in other cities and it can happen here. Take Arlington, VA, 
across the Potomac from Washington, DC. Arlington was a city in 
economic decline until it linked up with Metro rail service in the late 
1970's. Today, Arlington is on the upswing. Crowded restaurants, shops, 
apartment complexes, movie theatres, and businesses now stand where 
there were once boarded up buildings and vacant lots. The redevelopment 
actually follows the path of the rail line. Although this turnaround 
did not happen overnight--in fact it took over 20 years--it shows the 
dramatic and long-term impact rail service can have on a community.
  Unlike starting up a bus line, the initiation of rail service signals 
a long-term commitment. It makes a community more attractive to real 
estate developers who are looking to invest in areas with a potential 
to grow and prosper. Investing in the community means more jobs and a 
more desirable place to live.
  This rail line could be the spark that says, ``Plainfield is back and 
open for business.''
  There's another equally compelling reason for moving ahead with this 
project: Improving the quality of the air we breathe. Our State--the 
most densely populated in the Nation--has some of the most serious air 
quality problems in the country. The major east-west highways in the 
area--Routes 22 and 78--are jam-packed at rush hour. They're not 
equipped to handle the expected surge in traffic as population in the 
region continues to grow and once the Elizabeth waterfront development 
is complete.
  But that's only part of the problem. New Jersey is under a Clean Air 
Act mandate to reduce our dependence on the automobile. New Jersey 
residents could face some draconian changes in their commuting habits 
and lifestyles, as well as a massive loss of Federal highway funds, if 
we don't reduce air pollution by getting more cars off the road.
  Expanding rail service, which minimizes pollution, is the logical 
alternative. It's the best way for New Jersey to reduce air pollution 
without sacrificing mobility. And under federal law, we simply have no 
choice.
  While we may have few options in terms of compliance with the Clean 
Air Act, we do have a choice in determining what rail projects should 
be given priority.
  New Jersey Transit, in its environmental impact statement on the 
Newark to Elizabeth rail link, is considering not only the trolley 
extension to Plainfield but also the concept of bringing light rail 
service to Summit, via Springfield. As the Congressman for Summit, 
Springfield, and Plainfield, I always want to do what is best for all 
communities involved. However, because of the overwhelming show of 
support for this project by the people of Plainfield, as well as the 
long-term economic benefits it can bring to this city and its environs, 
I believe it would be in the public's interest to build the Newark-
Elizabeth rail link extension to Plainfield first, before extending it 
to other areas of Union County.
  In addition, elected officials in Springfield, one of the stops of 
the proposed Summit extension, have expressed serious concerns about 
the project. Township Committeemen Jeff Katz and Joe Cappa have 
questioned the viability of additional mass transit service and believe 
that it would create a danger to residents, as well as a financial 
hardship. Given the reluctance of local officials in that area, 
Congress should be very wary about committing substantial taxpayer 
dollars to support a Summit light-rail extension.
  I have long been a supporter of expanding mass transit opportunities 
for New Jerseyans. In fact, earlier this year I was successful in 
having the House of Representatives pass legislation providing funding 
to reestablish commuter service on the West Trenton Line in Somerset 
and Mercer Counties.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Public Works and Transportation 
Committee, I will be working hard to bring trolley service to 
Plainfield. Not only would it ease traffic congestion, help New Jersey 
meet its mandate under the Clean Air Act and provide greater mobility 
for the people of Plainfield, it can be the catalyst for new jobs and 
new commerce--a new beginning for the Queen City.

                          ____________________