South Jersey’s proposed $1.8 million Glassboro-Camden Line is just 18 miles long, but many see the light rail corridor as a possible economic engine that could be a boon to the region and serve an area that is craving for public transportation access.

The Delaware River Port Authority is managing the project on behalf of NJ Transit. Michael Venuto, DRPA’s chief engineer, said it would take three to four years for construction after the procurement documents go out, which is about a year away. Given the timeline, the current 2028 completion deadline may seem optimistic.

John Hanson, DRPA’s CEO, said that a track coexisting agreement still has to be worked out with Conrail with the added rail traffic. Engineering designs and other approvals are also in the works.

The proposed light rail line would be similar to the current River Line that connects Camden and Trenton through Burlington County. It would connect Glassboro to Camden’s Walter Rand Transportation Station, the hub for Philadelphia rail connections and the River Line.

Communities such as Pitman, Sewell, Deptford, Westville, Brookhaven, Gloucester City and Woodbury would have stops, similar to the commuter trains of the past. In fact, many of those tracks will be used in the new route with numerous upgrades and improvements.

It’s the route Rowan University professor John Hasse, director of the Geospatial Research Lab, suggested in a paper he published a decade ago. Hasse proposed the light rail line instead of a high-speed elevated and underground train, such as PATCO’s Lindenwold Speedline.

His paper takes into account the area’s demographics and recommends using the Conrail line going through the populated routes of Glassboro rather than building new tracks away from population centers.

“We don’t necessarily need a high-speed train to Philadelphia, but a community connector that connects all the towns and can get to Rowan and other important locations without a car,” he said. “I feel good that the idea is actually moving forward.”

South Jersey’s commuter rail history

Much of South Jersey has never had train connectivity despite its proximity to Philadelphia. In 1983, NJ Transit Rail Operations, Inc. sparked a resurgence of commuter train service throughout the Garden State. But, a vast swath of South Jersey was left out. The only exceptions were the Atlantic City rail route that connects the resort city to Philadelphia and the River Line that ties Camden into Trenton.

NJ Transit started its commuter service after Congress ordered Consolidated Rail Corporation, or Conrail, to end its passenger operations and it tied its rail service into New York City and  Philadelphia.

Light rail became an option after 2003 with the Hudson Bergen Light Rail, which connected Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City and North Bergen. The River Line went into service in 2004.

For South Jersey, some say the wait will be worth it.

Philadelphia was considered an anchor station on the proposed Glassboro Camden Line. But, that changed with Rowan University becoming an important economic driver in the region, Hasse said.

The university’s student population has more than doubled, from 9,667 in 2003 to 22,903 in August 2024. Its faculty has also doubled in the same time period.

The university reported in 2024 that its current annual statewide economic impact is $1.9 billion.

“You’ve had a good amount of economic development along the River Line as a model and the River Line doesn’t have quite the population density [as the Glassboro Camden Line],” Hasse said. “It doesn’t have quite the same anchors as Rowan University. Anchoring the Glassboro side, I see a lot of the faculty that might use it. Maybe people living in Philly or live nearby, along with all the students who would use it. It creates an alternative to driving where you can take your bike even and not have to drive.”

Hasse said the rail stops will eventually become real estate hot spots because of the connectivity,  convenience and frequency the trains would offer for people to travel to Newark Liberty Airport, New York City and Philadelphia.

“The great thing will be that you won’t have to drive to do all of those things,” Hasse said. “There are many studies around the country that show how such transit-oriented design, while it has to be done well and in a thoughtful way, can really be an advantage for the towns they’re in.”

Christina Renna, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, said the excitement in the business community, and residents in general, has continued to build over the GCL.

“Residents and businesses in South Jersey are acutely aware of the fact that we are void of mass transit options in this region of the state,” Renna said. “This project, if completed, will undoubtedly prove the need and only increase enthusiasm for future potential projects.The line would spur economic development across the two counties, specifically tying together the ‘eds and meds’ hubs of both anchor cities. But additionally, each stop along the line brings an opportunity to create an economic hub where small businesses can locate and thrive.”

Some residents worry about safety, pollution

Last August, the River Line experienced two deaths, one involving a teenager crossing the tracks and another involving a train operator who died after the train hit a tree that had fallen on the tracks. Some residents worry that constantly running trains through the populated communities increases the chances of such tragedies.

Residents are also concerned about a potential spike in crime.

Hanson said DRPA will work with law enforcement early in the process to pinpoint potential security issues.

“We’ve got the benefit of learning the lessons of the River Line,” Hanson said. “As the project manager, we’re charged with maintaining the safety of it. We hope that it’s a relationship that will extend even until after the line is built, that maybe we’ll get to oversee it on behalf of New Jersey Transit. We’ve got a record of safety along the PATCO Line and we’re very, very familiar with the operation and the safety along it.”

DRPA will install “four quadrant gates” to make it difficult for people or any vehicle from entering the tracks, Hanson said. He said they are addressing issues about “quiet zones” in municipalities and other concerns raised by communities during public hearings.

“These accidents that you’re talking about are unquestionably tragic but are pretty rare when compared with the types of accidents that happen in motor vehicle traffic, both pedestrians and with riders,” he said.

DRPA is also considering clean diesel cars to mitigate pollution concerns.

“There are no electric vehicles that will meet our needs right now,” Hanson said. “It’s entirely possible that by the time we make vehicle selection, there will be electric vehicles available that will work for us, but as it’s imagined, the vehicles have a clean diesel generator on them that generates electricity.”

A Facebook page dedicated to opponents of the light rail system, titled “Say No to GCL,” has comments dating back to 2022, urging voters to reject South Jersey gubernatorial candidate Steve Sweeney in the Democratic Primary because of his support for the rail line. A headline on the page called the plans “Careless, Useless, Dangerous.”

“There have been some outspoken critics of the project,” Renna said. “As with all large-scale projects like this, education and informational campaigns are key to gaining public support and the GCL is no different.”

The final hurdle for the GCL may emerge in November, depending on who takes over the governor’s seat. According to The Courier-Post, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill said she supports the project’s completion. Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli said he “would not force” communities who have voted down the project to accept it.