Mercer County Leaders Express Opposition to SEPTA Cuts
Trenton, NJ – Mercer County elected officials and business leaders denounced the potential SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) cuts to New Jersey rail-lines. At the end of last week, SEPTA announced that if their budget shortfall is not addressed by the Pennsylvania Legislature that they would be forced to make major cuts in service, increase costs for riders, and layoff personnel.
The decrease in service would include closure of the SEPTA rail lines at Mercer County’s own Trenton and West-Trenton stations
"SEPTA’s proposed cuts would have a devastating impact on Mercer County residents and those in the surrounding areas who rely on this line for their daily commute," said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson. "As both County Executive and former Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, I’ve always believed in investing in—rather than divesting from—quality mass transit. That’s why my administration continues to prioritize issues like multi-modal transportation in Trenton and the redevelopment of Trenton-Mercer Airport in Ewing, which is already a regional asset. We will continue to strongly advocate for SEPTA to maintain its service to Mercer County."
“The West Trenton Line is an essential transit link for Ewing residents and the greater Mercer County region. Many of our residents rely on this service to commute to work, attend school, access medical care, or connect to larger transit hubs,” said Ewing Township Mayor Bert H. Steinmann, “Reductions in SEPTA service would not only disrupt the daily lives of countless riders but also undermine the economic and environmental benefits of regional rail.”
"Trenton Train Station serves tens of thousands of commuters and is a critical transportation hub. The news of SEPTA shutting down service to Trenton will have a detrimental impact not only on our residents, but also on the economy of the greater Philadelphia region," said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, "My administration is committed to making the preservation of SEPTA service to Trenton a top priority."
“SEPTA’s latest news would be horrible for commuters going back and forth from Trenton to Philadelphia. With the price of cars and oil going through the roof at the same time, this will have a devastating effect,” said Hal English, President of the Princeton-Mercer Chamber of Commerce, “Economically, it will seriously hurt Philadelphia’s concert and sports business.”
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For additional information, please reach out to Theo Siggelakis at TSiggelakis@Mercercounty.org.
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