LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION MOVES FORWARD Governor Corzine supports multimodal regional initiative to boost mobility and economic development

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1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: May 12, LIGHT RAIL EXTENSION MOVES FORWARD Governor Corzine supports multimodal regional initiative to boost mobility and economic development Woodbury, NJ The Port Authority (DRPA) today presented its recommendations for the extension of southern light rail from Camden to Glassboro. DRPA conducted an extensive transit planning study that focused on identifying transportation needs and solutions for southern. The agency recommended a multimodal approach to meet the transportation needs of s residents. At a gathering of business and community leaders today, Governor Jon S. Corzine endorsed the extension of the light rail system from Camden to Glassboro, as recommended by the DRPA. Mass transit promotes smart growth by connecting people to jobs and stimulates the economy by attracting business, said Governor Corzine. We want to develop better rail and bus choices for the southern region to improve the quality of life for its residents. The endorsement comes at the end of a two-year alternatives analysis and planning study undertaken by DRPA to identify transportation needs and solutions for Southern. The study concluded that expanding transit choices would improve accessibility to jobs and employment centers, reduce roadway congestion, better utilize existing highway medians/shoulders and railroad rights of way, and enhance connectivity to recreational areas. Expanding the light rail to serve even more South Jersey communities and commuters will help lessen highway congestion, create much-needed new jobs and infrastructure improvements and spark crucial economic growth and centralized development, said Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts (D- Camden). This plan is also forward-thinking, laying the groundwork for more improvements that have potential to benefit the region for years to come. I look forward to seeing the economic opportunities this plan will create. These kinds of infrastructure expansion projects not only serve as an economic magnet for the region to attract business, they create construction-related jobs as well as long term career opportunities for residents in our region, said State Senator Stephen M. Sweeney (D- Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem). This project will equate to one of the largest transportation improvements this area has seen in years and is great news for South Jersey, said Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden). This expansion will help reduce congestion on our highways and roads and enhance mass transit options for our commuters, but it will do much more than that. It will create jobs and spark economic growth DRPA is an equal opportunity employer Mailing Address: PO Box 1949 Camden Telephone: Fax:

2 and sensible development centered around transit hubs. The benefits will spread far and wide and position South Jersey s economic to thrive. The DRPA also recommended that a study in partnership with NJ TRANSIT be conducted to include Express Bus-type service utilizing routes and, with dedicated lanes and park-and-ride lots for service from southern to Walter Rand Transportation Center and Downtown Philadelphia. In addition, NJ TRANSIT and the DRPA will review options to improve the Rail Line with the goal of improving the connection between southern communities, and Philadelphia; and to increase access to. According to DRPA CEO and PATCO President, John J. Matheussen, I am personally proud of what all of us working together have accomplished, where we are today and what our actions here today will mean for South Jersey. There can be no finer example of a region coming together to address its transportation, environmental, and economic issues and developing a solution that will make a difference. South Jersey, IT S OUR TURN! Having a rail system that is situated so that a large number of residents can walk to the train rather than take a car is a winning situation for us and all of the surrounding municipalities with downtown businesses that are struggling, said Woodbury Mayor Rob Curtis. The DRPA will initiate the next round of public outreach on the light rail extension and the recommended options and will continue the next phases of the planning process. The Port Authority is a regional transportation agency. DRPA owns and operates the Benjamin Franklin,, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross s, PATCO and the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal. The DRPA also owns the RiverLink Ferry.

3 Rail Transit Network Regional Disparity Legend PATCO Hi-Speed Line Southern Rail Transit Northern Rail Transit Rail Transit Immediate Study Area Southeastern Comprehensive Network including: Miles Of Heavy Rail 225 Miles Of Commuter Rail 33 Miles Of Light Rail Extended Study Area Miles NORTHERN NEW JERSEY Northern Comprehensive Network including: 15 Miles Of Heavy Rail 532 Miles Of Commuter Rail 36 Miles Of Light Rail Southern Limited Network including: 14 Miles of PATCO Heavy Rail 50 Miles Commuter Rail AC Line 34 Miles Light Rail - River Line PHILADELPHIA SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY

4 R SEPTA Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA COUNTY 6 Cooper Hospital Camden Atlantic Avenue Walter Rand Transportation Center 6 NJT River LINE PATCO 1 Woodlynne NJT Line Moorestown Maple Shade BURLINGTON COUNTY Mount Laurel Audubon Brooklawn Mount Ephraim 44 National Park West Deptford Crown Point Road 1 Westville Woodbury Red Bank Avenue Cooper Street Component 1 Diesel Light Rail Transit Service (DLRT) Camden to Glassboro along Conrail (Alt. 4) Runnemede Voorhees Somerdale Deptford Woodbury Heights East Greenwich Berlin Gloucester 45 Mantua Boulevard Mantua Sewell Mantua / (Potential) Washington Township Winslow Rowan University Glassboro Glassboro Monroe 77 Elk

5 R SEPTA Philadelphia PHILADELPHIA COUNTY 6 Walter Rand Transportation Center Camden 6 NJT River LINE 1 PATCO Woodlynne NJT Line Moorestown Maple Shade BURLINGTON COUNTY Mount Laurel Audubon Brooklawn Mount Ephraim National Park 1 Westville West Deptford Runnemede Somerdale Voorhees 44 Woodbury Deptford Center Road Deptford Rt 168 / Black Horse Pike East Greenwich Berlin Delsea Drive Gloucester College Drive 45 Mantua Washington Township Winslow Cross-Keys Road Component 2 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Glassboro / Express Bus Along I-/6, NJ-, NJ-, AC Expressway Monroe Williamstown Road 77 Elk

6 95 1 th Street Station 12/13 St 15/16 St 8th 9/10 St 6 City Hall Broadway / Walter Rand Transportation Center Ferry Ave Westmont Cherry Hill Ashland Woodcrest 73 Component 3 Line Rail Service Improvements, Expansion of Woodcrest Station to major multimodal Transportation Hub and Connection to BURLINGTON COUNTY OCEAN COUNTY Atco GSP Hammonton 561 ATLANTIC COUNTY Egg Harbor City SALEM COUNTY Absecon CUMBERLAND COUNTY Convention Center Atlantic Ocean

7 95 1 th Street Station 12/13 St 15/16 St 8th 9/10 St Atlantic Avenue 6 Crown Point Road Ferry Ave Westmont Red Bank Avenue Cooper Street Deptford Center Rd Woodbury Heights Mantua Boulevard City Hall Broadway / Walter Rand Transportation Center Sewell Delsea Dr Cherry Hill Ashland Woodcrest College Dr Rt 168 / Black Horse Pk 73 Cross-Keys Rd Component 2 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) / Express Bus Along I-/6, NJ-, BURLINGTON NJ-, AC COUNTY Expressway Atco Component 3 Line Rail Service Improvements, Expansion of Woodcrest Station to major multimodal Transportation Hub, and Connection to OCEAN COUNTY GSP Mantua / (Potential) Williamstown Rd Rowan University Glassboro Hammonton Component 1 Diesel Light Rail Transit Service (DLRT) Camden to Glassboro along Conrail (Alt. 4) 561 ATLANTIC COUNTY Egg Harbor City SALEM COUNTY Absecon CUMBERLAND COUNTY Convention Center Atlantic Ocean