Passaic–Bergen Rail Line
The Passaic-Bergen Passenger Rail Project is a dormant project by New Jersey Transit (NJT) to reintroduce passenger service on a portion of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway (NYSW) right-of-way in Passaic and Bergen counties.[1][2][3] Plans call for service to run from Hawthorne south to Paterson, then east to Hackensack using newly built, FRA-compliant diesel multiple unit rail cars.[4][5] When announced in the mid-2000s NJT stated construction could begin in early 2009 and last approximately 3 years and estimated the cost of the project to be $156 million.[4] In a memorandum of understanding NJT agreed to pay NYSW more than $20 million for a 75-year easement for trackage rights on its freight line.[5] In January 2016, the local governments of the involved municipalities passed concurrent resolutions to restart the project.[6] and in October 2016 join with state legislators in creating a coalition to revive the project.[7]
NJ Midland and NYS&W
The ROW was originally developed by the New Jersey Midland Railway in 1872.[8] The NYS&W ran passenger service until June 30, 1966.[9] The line terminated at Pavonia Terminal in Jersey City until 1961, and until 1966 at Susquehanna Transfer in North Bergen, which had opened on August 1, 1939 to allow transfer to buses through the Lincoln Tunnel.[10] NYSW freight operations terminate at the Landbridge Terminal south of the North Bergen Yard near Secaucus Road.[11] While outside of the scope of the project the railroad and the city of Hackensack replaced a rail trestle to the east of the proposed terminus with a contingency for a future additional track and passenger platform.[12]
Route
Passaic-Bergen Rail Line (proposed) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The line would run for approximate 8.3 miles in a generally east-west alignment, creating a cross-county corridor running between Hawthorne, where transfer to the Main Line would be available, and Hackensack, about two blocks from the Hackensack Bus Terminal. There would be five stations in Paterson, one station in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, and an additional station in Hackensack. It would also cross Saddle Brook, Rochelle Park and Maywood, but would not have any station stops in them.[1]
Proposed stations
- Hawthorne
- 6th Avenue – Paterson
- Lafayette Street
- Madison Avenue
- 20th Avenue
- Vreeland Avenue
- Boulevard – Elmwood Park
- American Legion Drive – Hackensack University Medical Center
- State St. – Hackensack
See also
- NYSW-(passenger 1939-1966)
- Operating Passenger Railroad Stations Thematic Resource (New Jersey)
References
- 1 2 "NJ Transit design and engineering services for the Passaic-Bergen Passenger restoration project". Systra Consulting. Retrieved 2012-05-05.
- ↑ Freemark, Yonah (May 14, 2009). "Making Links in North Jersey". The Transport Politic. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
- ↑ http://www.stpaulscdcnj.org/downloads/Passaic-Bergen%20Rail%20Map.pdf
- 1 2 "Passaic-Bergen Rail Plan Advances" (Press release). New Jersey Transit. April 1, 2007. Retrieved 2005-05-21.
- 1 2 "NorthJersey.com: NJ Transit to expand passenger train service". 2009-05-19. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
- ↑ "MUNICIPALITIES PASS RESOLUTIONS SUPPORTING PASSAIC-BERGEN RAIL PROJECT" (Press release). Passaic County. January 15, 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
The governing bodies of Elmwood Park, Hackensack, Hawthorne, Paterson, and the County of Passaic passed concurrent resolutions voicing support to restart the Passaic-Bergen Rail Project on the New York Susquehanna & Western freight tracks running across Passaic and Bergen Counties. The first phase of the project would originate in Hawthorne (Passaic County) adjacent to the existing Bergen Main Line Passenger Service station and end in the City of Hackensack (Bergen County) with stops in Paterson and Elmwood Park. The second phase of the project would extend into Hudson County, offering a seamless connection to the Hudson Bergen Light Rail at the Tonnelle Avenue Station
- ↑ http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2015/10/rail_coalition_to_revive_three_county_light_rail_p.html
- ↑ "Maywood Railroad Station" (PDF). National Park Service. April 6, 2003. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
- ↑ Mohowski, Robert E. (2003). The New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad. Baltimore: JHU Press. p. 175. ISBN 9780801872228.
- ↑ Kaminski, Edward S. (2010), NEW YORK, SUSQUEHANNA & WESTERN RAILROAD IN NEW JERSEY, Arcadia Publishing, ISBN 978-0-7385-7367-0
- ↑ "NYSW in North Bergen". New York Susquehanna and Western. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
- ↑ Boswell Engineering. "River Street Rail Trestle" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Transportation.
External links
- Restore Passenger Service on the New York, Susquehanna and Western Rail Line official site
- Major Investment Study Notification