The New Jersey towns of Carlstadt, Lyndhurst and Wallington have all recently passed resolutions calling on the state to launch a study of mass transit needs and opportunities at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, where construction of the Xanadu entertainment center and new Giants Stadium are pending. The resolutions call for an examination of options in addition to the planned NJ Transit rail connection from the Pascack Valley Line, including light rail, bus and bus rapid transit. Most of these options probably have greater ridership potential than the Pascack Line, which generally connection runs to low density suburbs. It is possible that a light rail connection to the urban areas served by the Hudson Bergen line, for example, would be more successful in forestalling car trips to the site.

Nonetheless, the NJ Sports Authority, in coordination with NJTransit, are moving ahead with the proposed Pascack Valley rail project. A "scoping" meeting for it was held earlier this month. While it may be good news that train service will be coming to the Meadowlands, transit advocates still believe that the traffic impacts of Xanadu is going to be so large that New Jersey must do all it can provide additional travel options for the project.

Preliminary study documents do not provide any data on ridership or capital and operating costs for the Pascack spur. NJTransit officials say the number exist, but MTR wonders why they have never been released in any of the many debates over Xanadu.

Major questions about travel to the Meadowlands seem to be growing in number, not shrinking. Will the new Giants stadium expand parking? What is the market for the additional restaurants, training facilities, and museum now proposed to accompany the stadium by Acting Governor Codey? Can anything be done to reduce the sea of pavement on the site and improve the pedestrian environment enough to encourage walking between its various venues?

Not only nearby towns are alarmed at the prospect of Xanadu and related traffic. The NFL Giants refuse to relinquish their lawsuit against Mills/Mack-Cali that cites the potential traffic impacts of the Xanadu complex on game days. The Giants still want the recreational mega mall to close down on Sundays to reduce game day traffic. 

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