Commuters Can Send One-Seat Ride Petitions Through New Website

The Raritan Valley Rail Coalition recently launched a new website for towns working to get a one-seat ride into New York City.

Town officials and residents of all towns on the Raritan Valley line can send a letter or email through the website in order to petition legislators to show their support for the one-seat ride.

Kenneth Wedeen of the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition encouraged commuters and officials to send a note to legislators when he announced the website’s launch in an email today.

“I encourage all Raritan Valley line commuters, municipal officials, interested persons and organizations to visit the web site AND to take all of the ACTIONS located under the action button to encourage NJ Transit to operate one seat ride service during the a.m. and p.m. weekday peak periods and on weekends,” he explained.

New Jersey Transit has purchased 36 dual-locomotives, which can run on either diesel or electric power. Currently, the Raritan Valley Line cannot run electric trains and the Hudson River tunnels cannot accommodate the smoke from diesel-powered locomotives, so by having trains that can switchover it would eliminate the need for Raritan Valley Riders to transfer.

The Raritan Valley Line is NJ Transit’s only major line without direct service to New York City, according to the coalition.

“While a one-sear ride may seem like just a convenience for some commuters, the reality is that it would foster great economic growth along the whole corridor,” Peter Palmer, Somerset County Freeholder and RVRC Chairman said. “These are fateful decision for the Raritan Valley. We need the groundswell of support from the people living along the Raritan Valley Line.”

To visit the new website, follow this address: raritanvalleyrail.com.