Unique Rail

Riverside Township has also approved the redevelopment of a former hosiery mill that will produce 250 condominiums in two seven-story towers. The developer cited the location near the River LINE station as a major factor in purchasing the 1.5-acre property.

Further down the line, a developer has invested $50,000 to retrofit the Cinnaminson River LINE station to improve access to its Villages at Cinnaminson Harbour, a new 911-unit subdivision that will include townhouses, carriage homes, condos, villas, shops and a marina on the Delaware River. Developer-funded improvements to the River LINE station include pedestrian crossings of the tracks and the River Road (Highway 543), sidewalks, a handicap ramp and additional lighting.

The River LINE seems to be making the impact originally envisioned by its champions, but no one is willing to rest on existing laurels. Service improvement plans are evolving constantly. Bombardier's Hardt says this is the only way such a service can reach its full potential and satisfy all the players, from owner to operator to passenger. "No one is willing to accept mediocrity or the status quo. We're all coming up with new ways to do it better, to learn from our experience. NJ Transit has been outstanding in seeing the benefits and funding them."