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AR 35

Urges Congress to examine operations of Amtrak at New York Pennsylvania Station.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rob Clifton and 1 co-sponsor

NJ Assembly AR35 urges Congress to review Amtrak's Penn Station operations and consider involving NJ Transit and LIRR in station decisions to address capacity and aging infra

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee
#memorializat #publictrans
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Bill Summary · AR 35

Summary of AR 35 (New Jersey Assembly)

Overview

AR 35 is a Memorializing Resolution introduced in the New Jersey Assembly on January 9, 2024. It is classified as a resolution and has been referred to the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee. The resolution urges the United States Congress to examine Amtrak’s operations at New York’s Penn Station and to consider involving the commuter rail systems that use the station in its decision-making processes.

Purpose and intent

  • Primary goal: Request Congress to review how Amtrak operates Penn Station and to assess whether commuter rail operators that rely on Penn Station should be included in decision-making about the station.
  • Rationale: Penn Station is a critical hub for regional rail service (Amtrak, NJ Transit, and LIRR) and has been operating beyond its capacity. The resolution frames increased traffic, aging infrastructure, and under-investment as justification for Congressional scrutiny.

Key provisions

  • The Assembly respectfully urges the United States Congress to examine Amtrak’s operations at Penn Station.
  • Specifically, it calls for evaluating the advisability of requiring that the commuter rail systems using Penn Station (notably NJ Transit and LIRR) be involved in the decision-making processes concerning the station.
  • The text directs that copies of the resolution be transmitted to:
    • Majority and Minority Leaders of the U.S. Senate
    • Speaker and Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives
    • Every New Jersey member of Congress
    • Amtrak’s President and CEO
    • Executive Director of New Jersey Transit Corporation

Background and context (as presented in the bill)

  • Penn Station is owned and operated by Amtrak and is the busiest train station in the United States, with ridership exceeding 10 million in 2016.
  • Penn Station handles over 1,300 train movements per week (Amtrak, NJT, LIRR combined), on infrastructure not designed for today’s traffic.
  • Since 1976, total movements have roughly doubled, with Amtrak regional operations up 72% and NJT commuter operations up over 200%.
  • Under-investment and aging infrastructure have been linked to reliability issues and notable derailments in 2017, prompting major track repair and switch renewal projects that sometimes reduced capacity and caused service delays.
  • The resolution highlights concerns about transparency and inclusion of NJT and LIRR in Penn Station decision-making.

Impact and who is affected

  • Affects federal decision-making and oversight of Amtrak operations at Penn Station.
  • Signals NJ legislative interest in ensuring commuter rail operators (NJT and LIRR) have a seat at planning and operational decisions affecting Penn Station.
  • Does not itself impose new funding or operating requirements; rather, it seeks Congressional examination and possible policy action.

Procedural timeline

  • Introduced: January 9, 2024
  • Status: Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee

Note: As a memorializing resolution, AR 35 expresses the Assembly’s position and urges federal action, but it does not enact law or authorize new funding.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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