Dear Editor:
Thank you for your continued coverage of the Secaucus/Transfer Station situation. I would like to comment on the latest article by Al Sullivan, “No Parking Planned,” in your January 26 issue. I have followed this project with interest as a Secaucus resident and user of mass transit from Secaucus to downtown New York. What was a simple commute has in the last two years become a challenge and we can now envision more complications, namely the elimination of the Harmon Cove train station and parking facility. This will be a major inconvenience unless NJT is made to honor its commitment to Secaucus.
Parking for Secaucus residents has not been seriously discussed as yet but with the opening of the new train facility becoming a reality, the time has come for Mayor Elwell to push for his constituents. According to an article in The Record last week, commuters north of Secaucus, Ramsey, Mahwah, etc. will have large parking areas so they can avail themselves of the convenience of taking the train to Transfer Station thereby relieving traffic congestion on the roads. The citizens of these towns were not asked to make sacrifices for the new train station but will certainly receive the benefit of this station. NJT has invested millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money to provide this parking. The residents of Secaucus have given up their train station and parking rights with nothing in return as yet.
NJT has used the law of eminent domain to acquire property for its new station but the residents of Secaucus have not received the true spirit of eminent domain in that the public affected has not been adequately compensated. The bypassing of Secaucus by NJT will have a negative impact on our property values, complicates our commute, and eliminates a method of transportation we have come to expect and rely on to travel to work. This must be replaced with a system at least as viable as the one we have. We must demand at least as many parking spaces adjacent to Transfer Station, for Secaucus residents and without charge, exactly as we have now. Any other proposal would be discriminatory to Secaucus residents by denying them the same amenities given to other municipalities by NJT.
I trust the Mayor of Secaucus is ready to fight for his constituency and procure the services from NJT to which they are entitled.
Angela Scafidi