Northern Branch Corridor Project
Northern Branch Corridor Project | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Northern Branch Corridor Project is a proposed extension of the
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
Original proposals for the
Passenger and freight service
The region along the corridor was known as the
The stub-ended line is still used to serve industrial facilities along the route. Since Federal Railroad Administration regulations prohibit freight and light rail systems from operating concurrently, the new passenger service would be restricted to running between 5:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.[10]
A
The construction, operational conflicts and cost considerations led NJT to consider using FRA-compliant diesel multiple unit (DMU) vehicles, [2] which would have used the existing trackage and minimized interference with freight service on the line. On February 13, 2006, the agency received $3.6 million in federal funding to conduct engineering and environmental studies. Had it been built, it would have essentially been a separate service, with trains traveling south from Tenafly terminating in North Bergen, at a station providing connecting service to the separate electric-powered HBLR. The DMU alternative was criticized by rail transit advocates, who argued that a system which required an additional transfer for Bergen commuters would be inefficient and that the original light-rail plan be implemented instead.[13] The proposal was dropped when the manufacturer of DMUs, Colorado Railcar, went bankrupt.[14]
Terminal station
The proposal included two possible options for the northern end of the line.
Response to the proposal was met with mixed reactions, with those communities at its southern end generally favorable and those at its northern end much less so.[19] In Englewood, Fairview and Ridgefield, officials see the new stations as a positive addition to their public transportation system.[20] In an extensive survey conducted in 2009, Leonia residents questioned the benefit for the borough and expressed concerns about traffic and the location of the station at Fort Lee Road, believing it could be better-situated to avoid the congestion it might cause.[21] In Tenafly, residents and officials believe that quality of life in the towns will be negatively affected without much additional benefit.[20] While lending support for the new system in their written responses to the DEIS, the governments of Ridgefield, Leonia and Englewood all expressed the concerns about station locations and their parking facilities, suggesting that they would cause congestion.[22]
Opposition had been most vehement in Tenafly,[16][18] where voters had already rejected the plan to re-establish rail service to the town in a non-binding referendum in November 2010.[23][24] Residents and officials rejected plan as described in the DEIS at public hearings in January 2012.[25][26]
Despite local opposition, officials in Bergen County asked the
It was decided in 2013 to terminate the line at the Englewood Hospital and Medical Center[31] after another DEIS was performed.[32]
A Supplemental DEIS was released in March 2017, with a public hearing scheduled for April 24 in Englewood.[33]
EIS, estimated costs, and funding
The estimated cost of the project is approaching $1 billion.[34] Approximately $40 million has been allocated to the project, which was expected to begin in 2012 and be completed in 2015 and projected to have an estimated 24,000 passengers daily.[14][needs update] Nearly three years after its submission, the Federal Transit Administration authorized the release of a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) in December 2011.[35][36]
A February 2012 review of the DEIS by the
In a meeting held in September 2012 with NJT and 13 mayors from the region, NJT said that it had yet to complete review of responses to the DEIS and that no funding for the project had been identified.[38]
With the compromise to build the northern terminus between those originally proposed, the project can be advanced with the completion of a final environmental impact statement.[31][39] Initially, it was undecided whether or not a supplemental draft environmental impact statement (SDEIS) would be required for the Englewood Hospital terminus. State legislators petitioned the Federal Transit Administration to proceed with the existing impact statement to avoid additional delays to the project.[40]
In February 2014, NJ Transit was directed by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to prepare a SDEIS Supplementary Draft Environmental Impact Statement,[34] to be complete in the fall.[41] The FTA approved the SDEIS in March 2017[4] and it was released on March 17, 2017.[42]
The state can apply for federal funding but would have to provide matching state funds, according to Rep. Bill Pascrell's office.[43] It was expected that, with a new gasoline tax passed in 2016, the state's Transportation Trust Fund would provide funding for the line.[44] New Jersey Transit capital improvements budgets included $95 million in funding for environmental remediation for the project during 2018 through 2020.[45]
In August 2023 the FTA announced that it would not act on the 2018 supplement to the EIS, citing “all-encompassing changes” since then and requested more information about the extension. An NJ Transit spokesman estimated this additional work will delay the project by two years.[46]
69th Street
While not officially part of the HBLR Northern Branch extension project, the 69th Street Bridge in
Located midway between the current terminus near 49th Street and the first proposed station at 91st Street, the site was at one time planned to be a stop along the route, [51] though current Northern Branch plans do not include one.[48]
The Passaic–Bergen–Hudson Transit Project is a project by NJ Transit to reintroduce passenger service on a portion of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway (NYSW) right-of-way in Passaic, Bergen and Hudson counties, using newly-built FRA-compliant diesel multiple unit rail cars. Plans call for a potential station at 69th Street.[52]
Project status
In March 2014, the mayors of
In October 2016, state legislators passed a resolution to make the project a top transportation project for the state.[56] In 2020 NJ Transit projected the extension to cost $1.18B USD[57] As of December 2022, the project is still in its design phase, and NJT was given a $600K federal grant to study transit-oriented development along the proposed extension.[58] However the FTA's refusal to review the 2018 EIS supplement is estimated to delay the project into 2025.[46]
References
- ^ "Commuters Lose Bid to Keep Erie Trains". The New York Times. October 2, 1966. p. 58.
- ^ a b c "Northern Branch Corridor Project". Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ Higgs, Larry (January 17, 2017). "What's delaying extending light rail line into Bergen County?". Retrieved January 17, 2017.
- ^ a b "Public hearings set to start on long-promised Bergen Light Rail". NJ.com. March 9, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- ^ Dia, Hannington (May 10, 2017). "Light rail on track - NJ Transit holds public hearing for HBLR extension". Hudson Reporter. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ Berliner, Harvey L; Campo David, W.; Dickerson, Charl; Mack Glenn. Design and Construction of the Weehawken Tunnel and Bergenline Avenue Station for the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail Transit System (PDF) (Report). Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc. and New Jersey Transit. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
- ^ "Historic Englewood". City of Englewood. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
- ^
Sherman, Lauren; Gaulkin, Ellen Robb (February 2009). Weehawken. (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738562681.
- ^ Hanley, Robert (July 10, 2001), "Bergen Officials Call for Ambitious Rail Service Expansion", The New York Times, retrieved December 24, 2011
- ^ Rouse, Karen (January 23, 2011), "Plan to extend light rail service into eastern Bergen County faces test today", The Record
- ^ Federal Transit Administration (June 18, 2001). "Major Investment Study/Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Northern Branch Corridor Project". Federal Register. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
- ^ "New Jersey Transit". Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ Northern Branch HBLR (PowerPoint presentation), New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers, accessed July 7, 2006
- ^ a b Rouse, Karen (July 19, 2009). "Going with electric trains". The Record. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
- ^ "Northern Branch Corridor DEIS (December 2011)" (PDF). North Branch Corridor Project. New Jersey Transit. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Abstract" (PDF). Northern Branch Corridor Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Section 4(f) Statement in Bergen County and Hudson County, New Jersey. USDOT & NJT. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
- ^ Frasinelli, Mike (December 13, 2011), "NJ Transit's Hudson-Bergen Light Rail may extend to Bergen stops in near future", The Star-Ledger, retrieved December 19, 2011
- ^ a b Noda, Stephanie (December 15, 2011), "Light rail report released; Tenafly preparing response", The Record, retrieved December 19, 2011
- ^ Noda, Stephanie (January 19, 2012), "Many agree rail line is needed in northern region", Northern Valley Suburbanite, retrieved January 19, 2012
- ^ a b Davis, Tom (December 18, 2009). "North Jersey communities divided over $800M light-rail line". The Record. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
- ^ Gordon, Mark W.; Jessica L. Giorgianni (February 7, 2011). "Transit Survey Results Analysis Borough of Leonia Bergen County, New Jersey" (PDF). Urbana Consulting. Retrieved January 1, 2012.
- ^ Hayes, Melissa (February 22, 2012). "Parking Doubts Shadow Light Rail". Record, The; Bergen County, N.J. American Planning Association. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
- ^ Sudol, Karen (November 2, 2010), "GOP wins in Tenafly as voters defeat rail line ballot question", The Record, retrieved December 19, 2011
- ^ Hall, Douglas E. (February 3, 2011), Still waiting for light rail, retrieved January 19, 2012
{{citation}}
: Unknown parameter|agency=
ignored (help) - ^ Sullivan, S. P. (December 21, 2011), "As NJ Transit plans light rail for Bergen County, Tenafly officials look to divert the train", NJ.com, retrieved December 21, 2011
- ^ Noda, Stephanie (February 2, 2012). "At times contentious, Tenafly states objections to light rail plan at public hearing". NorthJersey.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- The Record. Archived from the originalon December 20, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
- ^ May, Jack (January 31, 2012). "Opinion: We need light rail in Bergen County". NorthJersey.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- The Record, retrieved February 29, 2012
- ^ Wall, David. "Inadequacy of Consideration of the Historic Factors" (PDF). Tenafly Historic Preservation Commission. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
- ^ a b Rouse, Karen (May 1, 2013). "NJ Transit scraps light rail proposal in Tenafly for potential new alternative". The Record. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
- ^ Pinto, Fausto Giovanny (January 29, 2017). "Town that derailed Bergen light rail plans reflects on decision to fight". NJ.com. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ Cichowski, John (March 22, 2017). "Road Warrior: A tiny step forward for Bergen light rail". The Record. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
- ^ a b Lueddeke, Kim (March 25, 2014). "NJ Transit proposes new light rail extension plan with Englewood as final stop". The Record. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ Davis, Tom (May 7, 2010). "Light Rail Line to Use Electric Cars". The Record. p. L1. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
- ^ Rouse, Karen (December 13, 2011), "Plan to extend light rail awaits public comment", The Record, retrieved December 21, 2011
- ^ EPA February 21, 2012 Archived November 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Simone, Stephanie; Noda, Stephanie (October 4, 2012), "NJ Transit discusses light rail with Northern Valley mayors", Northern Valley Suburbanite, retrieved October 10, 2012
- ^ Frasinelli, Mike (May 9, 2013). "NJ Transit studying extension of Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to Englewood Hospital". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
- ^ Noda, Stephanie (October 10, 2013). "New Jersey state leaders from Bergen County urge faster action on light rail plan in Northern Valley". Northern Valley Suburbanite. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ Lueddeke, Kim (March 25, 2014). "NJ Transit proposes new light rail extension plan with Englewood as final stop". The Record. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- ^ "Northern Branch Corridor Project". www.NorthernBranchCorridor.com. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
- ^ Rouse, Karen (April 21, 2014). "Englewood mayor hopes to jump-start Bergen County light rail plan". The Record. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
- ^ Sullivan, Al (October 16, 2016). "Light rail stops likely to be added in JC, NB, Bergen County". Archive of Hudson Reporter.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
- ^ "FY 2018-2022 Transportation Capital Plan NJ Transit" (PDF). NJ.com. State of New Jersey. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
- ^ a b "FTA tells NJ Transit to redo environmental report for light rail project". Trains magazine. Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Media. August 31, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ "Nj Transit".
- ^ a b "69th Street Bridge" (PDF). Final Scoping Document Northern Branch Corridor Project. USDOT, FTA, NJT. March 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
- ^ a b "WORK BEGINS ON 69TH STREET IMPROVEMENTS IN NORTH BERGEN New overpass will enhance safety and relieve traffic congestion" (Press release). New Jersey Transit. October 17, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
- ^ Elamroussi, Aya (February 7, 2019). "North Bergen's 'Bridge to Nowhere' opens after years of delays". The Jersey Journal. NJ.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
- ^ "Proposed West Shore Map". New Jersey Transit. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ "Passaic Bergen Hudson Transit Project". Projects & Reports. NJ Transit. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ "Jersey City and Englewood mayors will co-chair light-rail panel to push transit line into Bergen County". The Jersey Journal. March 19, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ "Mayors Commission" (Press release). News from Frank Huttle. March 18, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ Noda, Stefanie (July 14, 2014). "Englewood is hiring light-rail consultant". The Record. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ Pinto, Fausto Giovanny (October 25, 2016). "Extension of light rail to Bergen County seen as priority". NJ.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
- ^ "Capital Project Sheets - Light Rail" (PDF). NJT Plans.com. New Jersey Transit. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ Journal, Ron Zeitlinger | The Jersey (December 14, 2022). "NJ Transit awarded $590K grant to study development along possible light rail extension into Bergen". nj. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
Further reading
- "The Northern Branch - Exploring the Line". Lewis Bogarty. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
- Editorial (March 19, 2014). "The Record: Funding light rail". The Record.
- NJ Spotlight March 2015