GLASSBORO, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey Transit’s new president says the agency is pushing forward on its plans to build the Glassboro-Camden Light Rail line.
Speaking to a crowd at Rowan University in Glassboro, Kris Kolluri, NJT’s president and CEO said there’s no time to waste on a generational opportunity to develop an eds and meds corridor in South Jersey.
“As Rowan begins to grow, as Rutgers-Camden begins to grow, as the hospital systems in the area begin to grow, as employers begin to migrate here, we are going to need a system that can rival that of North Jersey and that of New York,” he said. “That's why GCL is important.”
The design phase is about 30% complete and Kolluri explained it’ll be very similar to the RiverLine. The Delaware River Port Authority has led development of the 18-mile project, which has an estimated cost of $1.8 billion.
He also said it’s time to get to work on renovating the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden as the money dedicated for that is just sitting in the bank. “I intend to advance construction of that thing this year, not two years from now, not five years from now,” he said.
Kolluri said he is open to hearing concerns from towns and residents who fear the GCL will disturb their peace and quiet, noting that there are new technologies that could help create quiet corridors.
“The only thing I’m going to ask is that we all keep an open mind on why this is so central because investments like this come once in a century,” said Kolluri. “Great projects happen because it fits the vision of what the state needs.”
The project has also faced pushback in the past from state lawmakers, including Assemblywoman Bethanne McCarthy Patrick, who called the investment foolish in 2022.