NJ Transit Vote Clears Way for Dinky Station Move

The Board of Directors of the New Jersey Transit Corporation on Tuesday unanimously approved a land transfer with Princeton University, clearing the way the relocation of Princeton's Dinky train platform.

The 6-0 vote took place during an afternoon telephone executive session.

“Today’s action  culminates the university’s plan to construct a new modern, ADA accessible Princeton Station which also will benefit NJ TRANSIT customers and provide for a more efficient bus transfer facility," NJ Transit Spokeswoman Nancy Snyder said in an email. "Clearing this critical path allows construction to proceed on schedule to ensure its opening by the 2014 school year.”

The University requested to move the existing Dinky station roughly 460 feet south of the current station in order to make room for its $320 million Arts & Transit project.

NJ Transit's approval included the following land transfers:

• NJ Transit will transfer to Princeton University 0.84 acres upon which the University will build new Dinky parking.
• The University will transfer to NJ Transit 0.06 acres to help realign the train tracks.
• NJ Transit’s easement will be lessened from 2.968 acres to 1.47 acres. 

Princeton University will pay NJ Transit $185,000 and an amount between $88,000 and $480,000 for the difference between the values of the easement as determined by a mutually agreed upon certified appraiser. 

The University will also pay to relocate the station. 

The Princeton Regional Planning Board approved the University's Arts & Transit project in December 2012, although the project has not been without its detractors. 

Most of the objections have come from those who argue there's no need to move the Dinky, which runs between downtown Princeton and the Princeton Junction train station. 

There are lawsuits pending against the Dinky relocation, including one by four Princeton residents- members of “Save the Dinky- who filed suit against Princeton University, Trustees of Princeton University and NJ Transit, claiming there is no legal basis to move the Dinky and seeking a court judgment barring them from doing so.

They argue an Oct. 30, 1984, agreement between Princeton University and NJ Transit allowed the university to move the Dinky terminus south from the north end to the south end of the existing platform and that New Jersey Transit, at the University’s request, has already made this move.   

The Dinky runs between Princeton Borough on University Place and the Princeton Junction train station in West Windsor, has been running since May 29, 1865. It takes four minutes for the train to travel 2.7 miles and is popular among daily commuters to New York, university students and residents.