WESTFIELD, N.J. (Union County) — U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. toured the Westfield Train Station last week with officials from the Federal Transit Administration and NJ Transit as he continued advocating for a one-seat ride between the Raritan Valley Line and New York City.
Kean said implementing one-seat service during peak commuting hours would eliminate the need for passengers to transfer trains on trips to Penn Station, reducing travel time for commuters.
The congressman has also backed the Hunter Flyover Project in Newark and the Gateway Project, both of which are considered key to expanding one-seat service on the Raritan Valley Line. In June, Kean wrote to the Federal Railroad Administration in support of NJ Transit’s grant application for the Hunter Flyover Project.
“I am leading the fight in Congress to make sure the Gateway Tunnel Project is built to completion,” said Congressman Kean. “I have made Gateway a top priority because it is indispensable to our state’s economy and the daily lives of thousands of commuters. From Gateway to the Hunter Flyover and improvements throughout the Raritan Valley Line, I will continue bringing federal, state, and local leaders together, fighting for the necessary investments, and keeping these projects moving forward until the job is done. I will not allow anyone to delay, diminish, or push aside any of New Jersey’s critical transit priorities.”
“FTA is proud to partner with Congressman Kean in delivering safe, reliable, and efficient transportation systems to New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District,” said FTA Associate Administrator for Communications and Government Affairs Connor Torossian. “He remains a strong advocate for the Garden State’s needs in Washington. His advocacy here in Westfield this morning is a testament to that.”
Kean has also supported other transportation initiatives in New Jersey, including advocating for a fare-free shuttle between the Lyons Train Station and the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Bernards Township for veterans. In 2024, he secured $1 million in federal funding for a senior transportation bus in Linden and has continued to advocate for additional Amtrak service at the Trenton and Metropark stations, as well as federal funding for passenger rail and other transportation projects.
