Riverton, NJ Transportation

Please voice your opinions on how the excessive train noise is effecting your quality of life:

At long last, the waiver request for a Palmyra-Riverton bell zone has been posted on the Docket Management System.

Please send comments in support of the waiver request, ASAP, to:

Mr. Grady C. Cothen, Jr.
Deputy Associate Administrator
Federal Railroad Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, DC 20590

Reference: Docket No. FRA-2007-0030

Petition summary and background:
Citizens living along the NJ Transit's River Line have recently noticed the that the Light Rail's horns are sounding louder and more frequently. Supposedly, in March 2007, the Federal Railroad Administration mandated that the River Line must comply with the Federal Regulations. Remedies to minimize this problem must be found.

Editorial by Catherine Kovac Wheelhouse, printed in the Burlington County Times:

Once again, NJ Transit dodges the issue of their beloved
RiverLine...conveniently placing the blame on the Federal Railroad
Administration. The noise of the horns was just something that
NJTransit never addressed in any detail during all the years of
planning, prior to pushing this train into our then quiet neighborhoods.
Mr. Stessel sounds like all the front-men for NJTransit, never offering
any solutions, just the same old story, it's up to the communities to
remedy this noise, on our dime. I am outraged by his suggestion to speed
up the train between crossings, wasn't "safety" NJTransit's big sell to
our towns for allowing this train into our lives? How could it zooming
through any faster be safe! It comes down to what they want, getting
from point A to point B, to make it profitable. Who and what it
interfers with inbetween isn't their concern!

I say we should hold the State of New Jersey responsible for what may
result in real estate values dropping, in ear shot of the rail line.
More importantly, as stated in the recent article, the health effects
that can occur with the constant noise. It's been three years, you
never "get used to it!"

We need to demand that NJTransit, who knew from the start, the impact
the horn noise would have, to PAY for and INSTALL the quad gates needed
for Quiet Zones, which should have been in place from the very
beginning. What, with the mis-management of the money on this rail
project, I guess NJTransit figured to keep that option close to the
vest, and let the communities deal with it later.

NJTransit should be held accountable for the noise, not the Federal
Railroad Administration. NJTransit, STOP passing the buck, and put up
the bucks to make this right. According to all your propaganda, your
precious RiverLine is so successful, you can afford it!!!

Action petitioned for:
We, the undersigned residents of the Borough of Riverton & Palmyra that are located along the route of the River Line, hereby protest the excessive noise generated by the train horns at the various intersections in Riverton and Palmyra. The high decibel blasts occur from early morning until late in the evening and adversely affect the ability of our residents to enjoy their properties. We feel that this is a serious health concern. We call upon our local, county, state and federal officials to take action immediately to correct this situation.