NJ TRANSIT is moving forward with two major initiatives aimed at expanding transit access, reducing road congestion, and supporting environmental and economic goals across northern New Jersey. These efforts include progress on the long-planned Hudson-Bergen Light Rail extension into Bergen County and a newly approved contract to advance the Meadowlands–Jersey City Transitway project.
- NJ TRANSIT has issued a Request for Proposals to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a 10-mile Hudson-Bergen Light Rail extension into Bergen County.
- The Federal Transit Administration required a new environmental review due to changes since 2007 involving floodplains, stormwater management, and air quality.
- NJ TRANSIT approved a Phase 2 design contract valued at no more than $22.28 million, plus 10 percent for contingencies, for the Meadowlands–Jersey City Transitway.
Environmental Review Process Reopened for Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Extension
NJ TRANSIT, the nation’s largest statewide public transportation system, has issued a Request for Proposals seeking a contractor to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail extension into Bergen County. The action restarts the environmental review phase for the long-standing Northern Branch project.
The proposed extension would add roughly 10 miles to the current light rail system. Service would begin at the existing terminus at Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen and continue north to a proposed endpoint at Englewood Hospital. Trains would operate along West Side Avenue in North Bergen and then transition onto an existing railroad right-of-way owned by CSX Transportation, running between 91st Street in North Bergen and the northern boundary of Englewood.
The project plan includes seven new station stops located within North Bergen, Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia, and Englewood. NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kris Kolluri stated that issuing the RFP reflects the agency’s commitment to extending light rail service into Bergen County and to expanding mass transit access throughout New Jersey.
Federal Transit Administration Action Drives New Environmental Impact Statement
The renewed environmental review follows a 2023 decision by the Federal Transit Administration to withdraw its previous Notice of Intent related to NJ TRANSIT’s earlier environmental impact statement for the project. The FTA cited changes in environmental conditions that have taken place since 2007, including issues related to floodplains, stormwater management, and air quality.
NJ TRANSIT concluded that the scope of work needed to address these updated conditions required a new environmental impact statement rather than revisions to the existing document. Following that determination, the agency began preparing the requirements that are now outlined in the current Request for Proposals.
State and county officials expressed support for continuing the project. State Senator Paul Sarlo described the Northern Branch as critical to the economic health of northern New Jersey and an important transportation option for Bergen County residents. Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, who chairs the Assembly Transportation Committee, said the extension aligns with the original goal of connecting Bergen and Hudson counties through a modern light rail system. Bergen County Executive James Tedesco said the project would provide needed mass transit options in one of the state’s most densely populated counties.
Phase 2 Design Work Approved for Meadowlands–Jersey City Transitway
In addition to the light rail project, NJ TRANSIT is advancing the Meadowlands–Jersey City Transitway after its board approved an extension of its contract with engineering firm HNTB Corp. The approval, announced on December 11, allows Phase 2 engineering and design work to move forward.
The Phase 2 contract authorizes spending of up to $22.28 million, with an additional 10 percent allocated for contingencies. This phase focuses on designing the section of the Transitway that would connect Secaucus Junction and Jersey City, including a dedicated right-of-way.
The Transitway initiative began in 2021 and is intended to improve travel between Jersey City, Secaucus, and the Meadowlands Sports and Entertainment Complex. Destinations served by the corridor include MetLife Stadium, the Meadowlands Racetrack, the Meadowlands Arena, and the American Dream complex.
Route Features and Environmental Standards for the Transitway
The planned Transitway will include multiple stops and support several vehicle types, excluding rail. The route will make use of the former Boonton rail line and the Bergen Arches corridor. NJ TRANSIT has identified two primary objectives for the project: increasing capacity and efficiency for travel between the Meadowlands Entertainment Complex and Secaucus Junction, and creating a new transit route through a heavily populated section of North Jersey.
Environmental considerations are a central part of the design criteria. NJ TRANSIT has stated that vehicles operating along the corridor must be capable of zero-emission operation or be easily converted to zero-emission technology in the future. The design is also expected to allow for a transition to fully autonomous vehicle operations as technology advances.
NJ TRANSIT Board Chair and State Transportation Commissioner Fran O’Connor said the project’s advancement represents an important milestone. Kris Kolluri, who is set to assume the role of NJ TRANSIT President and CEO effective January 15, 2025, described the Transitway as a key public transportation project that supports environmentally responsible travel and economic growth.
NJ TRANSIT first selected HNTB for work on the Transitway in 2021, awarding the firm a $3.42 million contract for conceptual development and preliminary design during Phase 1.
