On NJ Transit’s website for the proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) passenger rail line, a banner headline proclaims that the draft environmental impact statement will be completed by the end of the year and hearings held next March or April. However, proponents of the line aren’t taking this assurance lying down.

Local newspapers—the North Brunswick and East Brunswick Sentinels—reported they had heard rumors that the project will be put on ice after the draft environmental statement is released, members of the Central Jersey Rail Coalition are seeking to apply pressure to keep the project going by having township committees pass resolutions supporting it.

A NJ Transit official told MTR that there are no plans to postpone the project.

The MOM line, one of several commuter rail extensions under study at NJ Transit, would run from central Ocean County through western Monmouth County and into South Brunswick. At South Brunswick, passengers could connect to the Northeast Corridor Line for service south to Trenton and north to Newark and New York City.

Other options for new rail service are routes following an eastern alignment coming out of Ocean County to either the Matawan-Aberdeen or Red Bank train stations on the North Jersey Coast Line.

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