Philadelphia Inquirer | 07/27/2003 | N.J.'s $1 Billion Gamble
In part 1 of 3 the Philadelphia Inquirer describes the big gamble that is the Southern New Jersey Light Rail Transit. Supporters say the new light rail line will promote community development. Transit officials say a rail line should not be expected to serve that purpose.
Among the obstacles in its path, experts say, is that the line does not connect directly into Philadelphia, the area's major job center. At its northern end, in Trenton, the line will stop 1.5 miles from the Statehouse complex, library and state museum, and more than a half-mile from the Hughes Justice Complex.Posted by aetchells at July 27, 2003 10:15 PMThe number of expected riders has plummeted to 2,950 a day, about half the original estimates.
If those numbers hold, the line's fare-box revenues, when measured against operating expenses, would tie it with Detroit's for dead last among the nation's 25 light rail lines, according to figures supplied by the American Public Transportation Association, the transit industry's lobbying arm.
Given such numbers, the line is expected to generate only about $1.5 million in revenue in its first full year of operation. Meanwhile, taxpayers will be handing over $73 million annually to pay for it, according to state officials.