The future does not look bright for the long line of shrubbery that runs parallel to the railroad tracks through this community and its sister borough, Riverton.

The yews and forsythias were planted in the 1970s to beautify the main thoroughfare and shield residents living near the track from noise and pollution.

Last month, however, the contractor building the South Jersey light rail line began cutting back the bushes to make room for machinery to excavate a ditch along the track.

The cutting was halted after residents in both communities objected.

It is now resuming, with the South Jersey Rail Group having decided it is necessary after studying the alternatives.

And there is a good chance that the bushes will have to be removed altogether for safety reasons.

Before the light rail line is opened, it must undergo "an extremely thorough safety certification process," said Walker Kimball, the project director for the South Jersey Rail Group.

While there are no set distances required, the "operator must have a clear line of vision," Kimball said. "Bushes that zig-zag down the right of way will not be allowed to remain."

In a letter to Palmyra Mayor Bob Leather dated June 11, John Sutton, NJ Transit's project director on the South Jersey light rail line, made no mention of safety issues, saying that the pruning is necessary to facilitate the " excavation of a trench for the installation of a duct bank."

"It's actually both," Kimball said, explaining that the immediate challenge was to install the duct pipe, which will hold wires for the railroad's signal system as well as AT&T fiber optic cable.

The pipe will be laid in a trench approximately two feet wide and four feet deep, Kimball said.

"The normal procedure would be to just remove the bushes, but we respect the community's desire to keep those bushes in place."

The safety analysis will be conducted by a committee composed of officials from NJ Transit, the South Jersey Rail Group and the state Office of Safety Oversight.

Clara Ruvolo, president of Riverton's borough council, said council would like to retain the bushes, but understands that safety is the paramount consideration.

"If they have to go," she said, "we certainly hope we can replace them with something else."

The safety analysis should be completed within six months, Kimball said.