Meeting This Week About Nonstop Trains From Cranford, Westfield

CRANFORD AND WESTFIELD, NJ — Residents of Cranford, Westfield, and other Union County towns have been asking for full-time direct NJ Transit train service to Manhattan, rather than just during off-peak hours. After Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill on Jan. 13 to study restoring direct service, local mayors will meet later this week with Transit representatives to discuss the matter.

At a Westfield Town Council meeting on Tuesday night, Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle said the meeting will include some of the 32 mayors who make up the Raritan Valley Line Mayor's Alliance, as well as representatives from Murphy's office, as well as the offices of Sen. Corey Booker and Rep. Tom Malinowski.

A customer care advocate and other NJ Transit officials will attend as well, Brindle said.

NJ Transit has suffered numerous problems over the past few years, including a recent four-hour delay on the commuter trains home to the suburbs, which stoked tempers.

Brindle said on Tuesday, "Priorities for the meeting are to receive an update on the Raritan Valley Line peak one-seat ride feasibility study, request for potential of offering one-seat ride weekend service, and an update on NJ Transit’s efforts to improve overall service and communication."

On Jan. 13, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill to study restoring the Raritan Valley Line direct to Manhattan full-time, so that riders won't have to change trains in Newark. The study is to be completed by July. The line does have direct off-peak service to New York Penn Station, but riders and officials in the affected towns would like nonstop service during peak commuting times as well.

Brindle, Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, officials from Cranford, and many other elected representatives have championed the full-time "one-seat" ride.