Absecon station

NJ Transit rail station

39°25′27″N 74°30′06″W / 39.4241°N 74.5016°W / 39.4241; -74.5016Owned byNJ TransitPlatforms1Tracks1Connections

NJ Transit Bus: 508, 554, 559ConstructionStructure typeElevatedPlatform levels1Parking170 spaces plus 6 accessible spacesBicycle facilitiesYesAccessibleYesOther informationStation codeAmtrak: ABNHistoryOpenedJuly 4, 1854 (Camden and Atlantic Railroad)^[1]
May 23, 1989 (Amtrak)^[2]
September 17, 1989 (NJ Transit)^[3]ElectrifiedNoPrevious namesAbsecon–PleasantvillePassengers2012238 (average weekday)^[4] Services

Preceding station	NJ Transit			Following station
Egg Harbor City toward Philadelphia		Atlantic City Line		Atlantic City Terminus

Former services

Preceding station	Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines			Following station
Pomona toward Camden		WJ&S Main Line		Atlantic City Terminus

Absecon is a NJ Transit station in Absecon, New Jersey on the Atlantic City Line. It is located at South Station and Ohio Avenues.

In 1938, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities ordered the elimination of grade crossings in Absecon. The project was more than a mile long and covered five crossings. By this time, the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (who owned it at the time) was five years old. The railroad was already working on acquiring land in August of that year. Due to the need to span Absecon Creek and Shore Road, an 'unusual' concrete and steel trestle was planned. It appears that the project was funded, at least in part, by the Public Works Administration. In March 1940, the project reportedly cost $1.5 million and included a 'fireproof' station level with the elevated tracks. Even with the 1989 upgrade of the line owned by NJ Transit, most of the Absecon station still survives 72 years later.

Most commuters drive to Absecon station (or are dropped off by others in cars). In 2019, the Absecon town council applied for transit village status from the New Jersey state government. The program provides state funding for a variety of infrastructure improvements if high-density buildings are added near mass transit locations. In Absecon's case, the proposal would be to build more housing in its downtown within walking distance of the Absecon train station.^[5]^[6]

References

^ "City News and Gossip". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. July 8, 1854. p. 3. Retrieved September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Comegino, Carol (May 24, 1989). "Railroad Buffs Witness History in First Run of Gamblers Express". The Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. p. 6. Retrieved September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Gold, Jeffrey (September 15, 1989). "Commuter Rail Service Restored to Atlantic City". The Asbury Park Press. p. 3. Retrieved September 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "QUARTERLY RIDERSHIP TRENDS ANALYSIS" (PDF). New Jersey Transit. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
^ Absecon seeking Transit Village status as boost for downtown
^ Absecon City Council Minutes and Resolutions^{[permanent dead link]}