Every weekday, after long hours at work, I join hundreds of my SOMA neighbors on the 6:19 pm train out of NY Penn Station. This direct service has been a given for decades for those of us commuting back to Mountain Station and Maplewood. New Jersey Transit (NJT) has announced a plan to combine two currently already-packed trains — the 6:19pm and 6:22pm trains — into one train at 6:20pm, subsequently dropping 2 major SOMA stations from the schedule: Mountain Station and Maplewood.

For many, our work commitments prevent us from leaving the office before 6pm. The 6:19 train currently offers the only direct option to return to Mountain Station after 6pm. The announcement from NJT to remove this essential stop is alarming and would cause unnecessary hardships for commuters who are already struggling with poor service and lack of reliability from NJT.

Mountain Station and Maplewood are more than just local stops; they are crucial hubs for countless commuters. The neighborhoods surrounding Mountain Station and Maplewood are full of families and working professionals who have relied on this specific route for a decade or more. Removing these stops is forcing commuters to seek alternative, indirect, and longer routes. This not only increases travel time but will potentially lead to increased congestion on other trains, subsequently affecting service quality.

We urge New Jersey Transit to review this decision, consider the adverse impacts, and retain Mountain Station and Maplewood on the 6:19 pm train schedule. The community depends on it, and together, we can make a difference by voicing our concerns.

Please sign this petition to show your support in maintaining essential services for the South Orange and Maplewood community.