Assemblymen John Armato and Vince Mazzeo (both D-Atlantic) recently introduced a measure to urge Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Transit to dedicate a portion of the $457.5 million in funding allocated to NJT in the State budget to conduct a marketing and investment campaign for the Atlantic City Rail Line.
Armato and Mazzeo released the following statement:
“After years of underfunding and neglect, New Jersey Transit will finally get the support it needs to make improvements to re-establish itself as the premier transportation service it was years ago. The agency will receive a total of $75 million more funding than last year, which thanks to our advocacy is $50 million more than the Governor proposed.
“We are calling on NJ Transit to use part of it to conduct a marketing and investment campaign for the AC Rail Line to ensure that South Jersey receives our fair share of funding. Service was suspended on the AC line for a majority of this past year. We can only imagine the negative effects the closure had on its long term viability, not to mention the daily riders who for months needed to seek alternate – and often incredibly inconvenient – forms of transportation. They deserve to see substantial improvement in the AC Rail Line.
“It won’t happen overnight, but with robust investment and marketing, the AC Rail Line could flourish. It already serves as a vital connection between Philadelphia, Camden and Southeast New Jersey, and improved service could boost this connection and Atlantic City’s economic recovery.
“An investment in the AC Rail Line is an investment in the future vitality of Atlantic County.”