Dear Editor:
Within this year the New Jersey Transit Light Rail Station on the Jersey City/Hoboken border of Congress Street will be in operation. This stop will be a blessing to many of our city’s commuters going to Downtown Jersey City and eventually north to Weehawken. It will also aid in alleviating traffic on our congested streets.
Now to even further improve the success of this stop, being that parking is at a premium we should expand it to our residents of the “Western Slope.” We should ask our city council to work out an agreement with New Jersey Transit to provide transportation along various stops on JF Kennedy Boulevard, Nelson Avenue and Liberty Avenue. We can make this an “old style” type trolley that makes it visible for potential Light Rail users to see and give them a sense of pride and desire to want to use this transportation. We can also seek corporate and small business sponsorship to assist in the cost by advertising inside and outside of the trolleys.
Initiating operation of this concept can be on a trial basis. It can start off by operating the hours of 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday stopping at evenly divided stops on the streets mentioned. Each passenger can then purchase their Light Rail ticket when entering the trolley, which will ensure that this system will be used solely for Light Rail commuters. After evaluating this method during its first six months of operation we can then evaluate and make any needed adjustments to adapt to the community needs.
Sean Connors