The Trenton Times published the following article on November 10, 2013. To read the full article, click here.

Editorial: NJ Transit River Line growth has helped regional economy

By Times of Trenton Editorial Board
on November 10, 2013 at 5:45 AM, updated November 10, 2013 at 5:48 AM

In the nearly 10 years since it transported the first commuters along the tracks linking Trenton with Camden – and 21 stops in between – the NJ Transit River Line hasn’t earned a nickel.

In fact, while the number of riders continues to grow – up from 6,100 on an average weekday in 2005 to 9,000 in 2013 — the line is operating at a substantial loss. In the past budgetary year, it lost $24.4 million while bringing in only $2.84 million, as Matt Hammond reported last week in the Times.

While such dismal returns would doom most other ventures, the River Line was never intended to be a money maker or even to break even.

Its value lies in the economic development surrounding the tracks stitching the river side towns together. And in that, officials say, it has been an unqualified success.

Major development projects have broken ground near River Line stops in Trenton, Bordentown and Florence, as well as Camden and Cinnaminson, Hammond reported, and local leaders credit the line with making such growth possible.