Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Southern New Jersey to Philadelphia Expansion Alternatives Analysis Study?
Why study the Southern New Jersey to Philadelphia Mass Transit Expansion?
What is the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)?
What is PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation)?
What is the DRPA (Delaware River Port Authority)?
How can I get more information on the project?
How do I get involved?
What is the Southern New Jersey to Philadelphia Expansion Alternatives Analysis Study?
A. This study is an Alternatives Analysis, or AA, which is the first phase of project development for major transit investments that seek federal funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The study consists of a purpose and needs analysis; the development of alternatives that address that need; technical work including ridership estimates, conceptual design, environmental screening and cost estimates for these alternatives; alternative evaluation and selection of a preferred alternative. Detailed project information is compiled and submitted to the FTA at the conclusion of the AA with a request to proceed into the preliminary engineering phase of the project.
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Why study the Southern New Jersey to Philadelphia Mass Transit Expansion?
A. The improvement and expansion of public transportation in Southern New Jersey has been discussed since the inception of the Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) in 1969. Studies have been conducted over the years in order to address the developing needs of the region including population growth, congestion on existing highways, roadways and air quality. In 2005, The Southern New Jersey to Philadelphia Transit Study was completed and recommended the expansion of PATCO-type transit service via three outlined alternatives (NJ1, NJ2 and NJ3).
Click here to link to MAP depicting the Southern New Jersey Alternatives.
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What is the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)?
A. The FTA assists transit agencies nationwide with the implementation of public transportation, including passenger bus, rail and ferry systems. The Federal government, through the FTA, provides financial assistance to develop new transit systems and improve, maintain and operate existing systems. The FTA oversees thousands of grants to hundreds of state and local transit providers.
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What is PATCO (Port Authority Transit Corporation)?
A. The Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) is a subsidiary of the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA). PATCO operates train service from Lindenwold, New Jersey, to Center City Philadelphia. PATCO began providing service on February 15, 1969 and carried 21,200 people per day. Today, more than 34,000 people rely on the system to get them to work, school, sporting events, shopping and anywhere else they need to go-quickly, easily and without the hassles of driving.
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What is the DRPA (Delaware River Port Authority)?
The Delaware River Port Authority of Pennsylvania and New Jersey is a regional transportation agency serving serving the people of Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey. DRPA owns and operates the Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry, and Betsy Ross bridges.
Through a subsidiary, the Port Authority Transit Corp., DRPA runs PATCO. DRPA also owns the RiverLink Ferry and the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal.
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How can I get more information on the project?
A. We will be conducting frequent public open houses in various communities to keep people informed on the progress of this study. These meetings will be publicized in local papers and through other local media, so please look for our announcements. Additional information can be found on our website www.ridepatco.org.
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How do I get involved?
A. You just started by using this site to learn about the study and the important role of public involvement. We encourage you to attend the Public Open Houses that will be scheduled at various points throughout the study. We want your ideas and input. Please visit www.ridepatco.org for upcoming public meeting and event information along with the most current news on the project.
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