Kean, Watson Coleman Re-Introduce the ‘One-Seat-Ride Act’
Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) re-introduced the One Seat Ride Act, a bipartisan bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a cost/benefit analysis of a one-seat-ride trip versus a transfer trip option during “peak hours” on NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line.
“Long, inefficient rush-hour commutes mean lost time at kids' sporting events and missed family dinners for countless households in our area,” said Congressman Kean. “No one should have to switch between multiple trains just to get to New York City. This study will be the first to highlight on a national scale the inefficiencies of multi-stop journeys and the impact on our economy. Commuters in New Jersey deserve better.”
“The Raritan Valley Line serves over 23,000 commuters each day – and many of those commuters have to switch trains at Newark Penn Station during peak commuting hours, unnecessarily extending an already lengthy commute. This report is a necessary step towards a more efficient system that better serves the hard working people of New Jersey, allowing them to spend more of their valuable time with their families,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman.
The One Seat Ride Act, led by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and cosponsored by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), would direct the Secretary of Transportation to analyze various obstacles to implementing single-seat trips on certain commuter passenger rail services during ‘peak hours,’ including ‘one-seat-ride' trips on New Jersey’s Raritan Valley line.
Currently, Raritan Valley Line passengers are forced to change trains at Newark Penn Station to access New York City and make the same change heading westbound. A ‘One-Seat-Ride’ allows passengers to take one time-efficient train directly into New York City.
Full bill text can be found HERE.