New Jersey boasts an extensive freight rail network, with nearly 2,800 miles of track operated by Class I, Local, Regional, Canadian and other rail roads as of 2003, the most recent year for which data was available from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
 |
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics. State Transportation Profiles. Miles of Freight Railroad Operated by Class of Railroad. |
We attempted to examine trends in rail freight mileage over time, but data from previous years proved unreliable.
Northern New Jersey port expansion will significantly increase the demand for rail capacity — by 300 percent according to the North Jersey Transportation and Planning Authority. But the state has not made rail freight a priority, allocating just $10 million per year in recent Capital Programs.
Nevertheless, some progress is being made to expand rail freight capacity. New Jersey DOT has identified 25 projects (at a cost of $27.6 million) that are eligible for state funds. Some of the major projects currently in the pool include Woodbine Secondary Track Expansion on the Cape May Seashore Line ($2.1 million), upgrading the CSX crossover at the West Trenton Rail Station ($2.4 million), the addition of six tracks at the Jak-Jon Property for short line expansion ($4.2 million) and upgrading the Salem Running Track from Swedesboro to Woodbury on a Conrail line ($6.6 million).