More than 3.6 million New Jersey residents live within the evacuation zone of a hazardous materials train route, yet the state lacks basic safety rules and transparency measures, according to a new report from New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP). The report comes one week before the 13th anniversary of the Paulsboro derailment, which released 23,000 gallons of vinyl chloride into the air and water.
The report, “Millions of New Jerseyans at Risk from Hazardous Materials Transported by Rail,” documents how New Jersey’s dense population faces unique threats from trains carrying hazardous materials. In 2024, New Jersey had 55 rail incidents, far more than the previous year. Five involved hazardous materials where toxic chemicals spilled or were vented.
“Freight rail companies have spent years lobbying against safety rules while prioritizing their own profits over better infrastructure. Meanwhile, millions of New Jerseyans live in evacuation zones without knowing what chemicals are rolling past their kids’ schools. Lawmakers need to stop letting corporate interests block protections that could save lives,” said Alex Ambrose, NJPP Policy Analyst and author of the report.
The report finds that Hudson and Bergen counties have the largest at-risk populations, with nearly half a million residents each living within an evacuation zone. The statewide evacuation zone includes 1,306 schools, 119 hospitals, 170 long-term care facilities, and 9 airports, including Newark Liberty International.
“Safety must always be our top priority,” said District 18 Senator Patrick J. Diegnan. “This legislation requires improving oversight and strengthening emergency response requirements to manage the risk of high-hazard rail shipments with the goal of protecting lives, communities, and the environment.”
“More than a decade after the Paulsboro train derailment, too many New Jersey communities continue to live with the daily risk posed by freight lines that transport hazardous materials through their neighborhoods,” said Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, Chair of the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee. “A4460 would deliver long overdue and commonsense reforms by requiring appropriate crew staffing, addressing unsafe train lengths, enhancing oversight of bridge inspections, and expanding the use of preventative wayside detector systems. While federal action has stalled, New Jersey cannot wait for another public health emergency to remind us of what is at stake. This bill would provide the tools we need to strengthen rail safety and protect our residents before another preventable disaster occurs.”
“Far too many people, including state decision makers, are not truly aware of the risk associated with the thousands of trains carrying hazardous materials throughout every corner of our state,” said Debra Coyle, Executive Director of the NJ Work Environment Council. “More than just a report, today’s release is a call to action for decision makers to address the current shortcomings of state policy and take all steps possible to prevent another major rail disaster in New Jersey.”
The report recommends lawmakers pass legislation requiring increased transparency on cargo information, mandatory safety upgrades including wayside defect detectors and two-person crews, specialized first responder training, and financial accountability requirements for rail companies. These policies cost the state little to implement. Freight companies — not taxpayers — would bear the costs.
Read the full report at njpp.org.
