The project will cost well over a billion dollars.
The new line will be similar to the Delaware River line, which runs between Camden and Trenton.
"We need to make sure this gets going, and I look forward to this," said Gov. Jon Corzine.
The work is expected to start in late 2010 and take at least five years to complete.
The new tracks will run alonside existing Conrail freight tracks.
The price tag: $1.3 billion. Half a billion is already committed.
"We have a commitment for funding in the transportation trust fund, we have the support of our board, we have the support of our federal legislators and we have heard from the residents of South Jersey that they want, and support, expanded mass transit in our region," said John Matheussen of the DRPA.
Public hearings on the proposed project will start in June.
There were other transportation projects announced Tuesday: One is a bus-only lane during rush hours on the 42 Freeway, parts of Route 55, and the Atlantic City Expressway. Its called "Bus Rapid Transit," and would be a 'park and ride' system.
That could be ready to go in less than two years.
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