Long-term planning should include a central New Jersey rail line
Your article on the Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex (MOM) passenger train line ("County Wants Updated Numbers Used in Rail Study," News Transcript, July 2, 2008) is a sad reminder of the slow pace we are making in expanding much needed rail service in New Jersey.

As reported by the Newark Star-Ledger on Jan. 24, 2008, a majority of residents living near the proposed MOM line want the service in order to reduce their commute time and ease congested roads.

The reason that trains make so much sense is because of the high level of road congestion in New Jersey, while hundreds of miles of railroad tracks have little or no usage. Putting light rail trains on them would give commuters a choice, thus giving those who take them a shorter drive and giving those who don't drive - but live close to these rail systems - the opportunity to travel. Also, rail travel is safer than car/bus travel, and adding rail service could bring commerce to many businesses.

So why are there people against the MOM line? Many don't see a personal benefit. But taking cars off the roads helps everyone because of a reduction in road congestion. Cost is certainly a major issue. However, building more roads may cost even more and requires additional real estate.

A reduction in home values has also been used as an argument against the MOM line, but that hasn't been proved. Instead many home values could actually increase, as has happened along the Hudson-Bergen light rail line. In either case, this issue should be moot because the rails existed before many of these homes were built.

But now we have a new issue. The historic [Monmouth] battlefield in central New Jersey is used as a reason not to expand service through Middlesex County. So why do trains threaten history, but cars do not? This makes no sense. But with recent increases in the price of gasoline, there should be even a greater motivation to introduce the MOM line. It's time to go back to the future by spending money with the long-term in mind. Our children and grandchildren will love us for it.
Bob Ahlers
Lakewood