Glassboro-Camden light rail line

[Boyd]

https://www.courierpostonline.com/s...camden-rand-center-redevelopment/79178304007/

I don't know anything about this project, it may be something great and I'm usually supportive of expanding public transit. But seems to me this kind of attitude may not go over so well...

“For those of you who may oppose this ... it isn’t that I don’t listen to your concerns or I don’t care about your concerns,” Kolluri said. “I’ve been through many battles.... But in the end, great projects happen because it fits the vision of what the state needs, not because of what people don’t think is right.”

Here is the proposed route

More info on their website

Glassboro Camden Line

www.glassborocamdenline.com

FWIW, I suppose this is par for the course...

 

[ecampbell]

I've used the River Line many times, it is convenient if you can survive it. No one buys tickets, no employees in the cars, no security and when it goes through Camden you'll be praying to get off.

 

[GermanG]

The proposal uses an existing ROW and is having a negligible impact of the environment. It seems like a good plan, moving people from congested roads in that area to the rails, but the quote certainly could have been stated more tactfully. I've heard railfans and rail transportation advocates too-often denigrate what they refer to as "NIMBYs" (Not In My Back Yard) on rail-related forums. My response is usually that people shouldn't be criticized for wanting a voice in the process if it will affect the area they live in. They just shouldn't ultimately get their way, if the greater public good is served by the project.

 

[Boyd]

They just shouldn't ultimately get their way, if the greater public good is served by the project.

Like I said, I know nothing about this and don't have an opinion. But seems the key is who decides whether "the greater public good" is being served... isn't it? I mean, when it comes to another issue, the PPA thinks closing roads serves the greater public good. In their minds, it serves the greater public good for 10 million (or whatever) New Jerseyans by "protecting" the environment, while (maybe) 10,000 pineys don't like it.

Working on my maps the other day, was thinking abandoned railroad beds could be a good resource for bringing mass transit to a variety of places. The more I thought about it, I realized it could get complicated however. For example, let's say they built a light rail line to Chatsworth. Now, all of a sudden, that area could get a whole lot more attractive to people who work in Philadelphia, spurring development that otherwise might not have happened.

 

[GermanG]

I guess I addressed only one side of the potential argument, but I'd criticize a lone stakeholder group, agency or individual for independently determining the public good as much as I would any one group for opposing it. There should be a reasonable process, and democracy never leaves everyone happy. The point is, pretty much every single thing that was ever attempted in this country, from ratifying the Constitution to whatever is in today's news, has had someone opposing it. And I'm the last one to always be happy with so-called progress, but it does have to move forward every now and then. Heck, I might even get my next vehicle with an automatic transmission.

 

[Boyd]

So... the Medford-ization of Chatsworth is inevitible? (history would suggest that it is)

 

[this_is_nascar]

It's an absolute horrible idea and many towns are opposed to it. It brings absolutely nothing to the communities but traffic jams and additional noise as well as potential undesirables to their neighborhood.