The long, slow process of bringing a Glassboro-to-Camden passenger rail line to fruition moved forward this week.

Delaware River Port Authority officials report that preparations have begun to study the environmental effects of building 17 miles of new tracks connecting up to 15 new stations in Gloucester and Camden counties.

The environmental study, required to secure federal funding for half the cost of the $1.6 billion endeavor, will take approximately 18 to 24 months, and will include public hearings in Gloucester County in which the public will be able to offer feedback.

Speaking before the Rowan University Board of Directors on Wednesday, DRPA CEO John Matheussen and Vice Chair Jeff Nash stated the proposed light rail system would bring “transit-oriented development” near stations in places such as Woodbury, Pitman and Glassboro, while stations in smaller towns could spark residential and commercial development near walk-up and park-and-ride centers.

“If you turn the clock back 60 years, the way the car became the primary way of travel and South Jersey became more suburban and spread out, the train became an outmoded way to get around,” said Matheussen on Thursday. “North Jersey has different demographics and is more densely populated, and more rail lines.

“But the time has come to plan and begin building more rail here — there’s more connectivity between communities now,” he added. “The DRPA has been working toward this for about a decade, and it had the support of [former Gov. John] Corzine and has the support of Gov. [Chris] Christie.”

South Jersey currently contains just 50 miles of commuter rail along the NJTransit Atlantic City Line, as well as 14 miles of PATCO heavy rail from Philadelphia to Lindenwold, and 34 miles of light rail via NJTransit’s River Line leading from Camden to Trenton.

In contrast, North Jersey boasts 532 miles of commuter rail, 15 miles of heavy rail and 36 miles of light rail.

The new South Jersey light rail line would connect passengers from Glassboro to the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden, where riders can catch a PATCO train or transfer to the River Line.

Stops along the way include Rowan University, Pitman, Sewell, Mantua Boulevard, Wenonah, Woodbury Heights, two stops in Woodbury, and Crown Point Road in Westville.

Additional stations in Gloucester City and Camden — including one at Cooper University Hospital — will also be built, according to the proposal Matheussen and Nash presented Wednesday.

Matheussen estimated the total travel time from Glassboro to the Walter Rand Transportation Center would be 35 to 40 minutes.

“People will absolutely be able to get off the Glassboro-Camden line and just head downstairs at Walter Rand to get on PATCO to Philadelphia,” said Matheussen.

He later added, “There could be a connection to the River Line in the future that could mean one continuous light rail ride from Glassboro to Trenton.”

Annual operating costs for the proposed transit line are currently estimated at $29 million. While the DRPA has been pushing for a Glassboro-Philadelphia rail connection since 2003 — and specifically a Glassboro-Camden light rail line since 2009 — the authority has no interest in owning or operating the system.

Instead, the DRPA is taking on the role of “project manager,” according to Matheussen.

NJTransit is currently paying for the environmental study, which the DRPA awarded to STV Incorporated with an $8.3 million contract in February 2012.

According to Matheussen, ownership of the rail line, once completed, could fall under a public-private partnership.

The River Line falls under one such partnership, operated for NJTransit by Bombardier Transportation, a private company based in Germany, under the name Southern New Jersey Rail Group.

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Contact Jason Laday at 856-845-3300 ext. 228 or jladay@southjerseymedia.com.