Although the study has, on its face, maintained neutrality among the three lines -- the Northern Branch, West Shore Line and the NY Susquehanna & Western (NYS&W) line -- sources following the study say NJ Transit favors commuter rail on the West Shore line. There are compelling reasons for this, especially West Shore's ability to make optimal use of the big train station now under construction in Secaucus, and commuter rail's ability to move more passengers than light rail.

Still, Bergen County indicated earlier this year that it was interested in a network of the three lines, and was especially interested in serving intra-county travel with the Cross-County Connector, a segment of the NY Susquehanna & Western line. Others argue that light rail service could be more quickly implemented on the Northern Branch.

Proponents of the different lines have gone outside of the study process to advance their views. Bergen County appears to have been highly effective promoting the Cross-County Connector to NJ's Congressional delegation, which is submitting projects as part of the multi-year federal transportation funding authorization that will take place this fall. NJ Transit says it's possible the West Shore Line could be included in the "Urban Core" package of projects it is pushing with Congress. And in Trenton, State Senator Gerald Cardinale, unimpressed by NJ Transit's inclusion of the line in the Bergen rail MIS, pushed a law through requiring a NJ Transit study of the Northern Branch. The Northern Branch could see service in two years, as opposed to 10 or 20 for the West Shore line, says Cardinale's office.

Some of the potential alignments now under scrutiny also look toward different futures for the northern end of the Hudson-Bergen light rail line (like extending the whole system up the Northern Branch), whose Bayonne-Hoboken segment is under construction now. Other questions are whether the Meadowlands Sports Complex and other major sites should be incorporated into any new line near Secaucus. The study's "Community Liaison Committee" will meet next in the fall. NJTransit is aiming to complete the MIS by the end of the year.