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Congressman Van Drew Incensed at News of 5-month Delay of Atlantic City Rail Line Fix

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 25, 2019

CONTACT – Mackenzie Lucas – 1(202) 225-6572 – mackenzie.lucas@mail.house.gov

Upon learning about the news that New Jersey Transit will delay completion of the Atlantic City Rail Line (ACRL) by up to 5 additional months, Congressman Van Drew said the following: “The lack of communication and the delay of the ACRL’s restoration line is completely unacceptable, causing extreme frustration for South Jersey commuters and impacting our regional economy.”

Since September of 2018, New Jersey Transit has been installing Positive Train Control (PTC) equipment on its rail fleet throughout the state and all service on the ACRL has been suspended. The repair work was government mandated, but New Jersey Transit promised that this will be done by January 2019 because of the disruption it causes to the nearly 2,000 daily commuters who depended on the rail. January 2019 is now coming to a close, and there is no end in sight to the construction.

Congressman Van Drew said at the closing of the rail; “If they don’t get it done in January, or real close to January, I will tell you just from my personal point, there is going to be a firestorm because I’m going to do everything I can, and it may not be pleasant.”

“It feels like South Jersey is getting the short end of the stick and I will not tolerate this. I am immediately going to call New Jersey Transit and find out what the hell is going on and respond accordingly,” said Van Drew addressing the issue today.

Jeff Van Drew is the Representative for New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District. His office in Washington, D.C. is in Cannon House Office Building Room 331 and his District office is in Mays Landing. Van Drew was a practicing dentist in South Jersey for more than 30 years and was previously Senator for New Jersey’s 1st Legislative District. He took office on January 3, 2019.

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