Planning to Build on Light Rail Success

November 1st, 2012 by Peter Kasabach

Sens. Lautenberg, left, and Menendez flank New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach at the press conference announcing receipt of a $400,000 grant to examine the possibility of building a new light rail station in Jersey City. Photo courtesy Sen. Lautenberg

By all measures the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line has been a success. Ridership is high, vehicle ownership in the adjacent neighborhoods is low and the area is benefiting from a steady flow of mixed-use real estate development projects that promise to perpetuate the cycle.

On Thursday, Oct. 25, U.S. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) were joined at the 2nd Street Station in Hoboken by Jersey City Mayor Jerremiah Healy, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, and New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach, to announce a $400,000 federal grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The grant will fund an examination of the possibility of building a new Jersey City Light rail station, adding capacity to the system and reducing street traffic congestion where the rail line cuts across the street grid. The grant will be leveraged with an additional $80,000 from NJ Transit.

This Hudson-Bergen Light Rail investment demonstrates another tangible commitment to advancing economic development and community-building through transit-oriented development and transit capacity expansion. More details about the projects can be found in Sen. Menendez’s press release and more information about the event can be found in this Jersey Journal article.