MTR 260, Monthly Pass, NJ Fare Card for New Light Rail

Mobilizing the Region
Issue 260 March 10, 2000

Monthly Pass, NJ Fare Card for New Light Rail

In preparation for opening the first phase of the new Hudson-Bergen light rail system in mid-April, NJ Transit announced fares this week. Frequent trains will run on a 7.5 mile track between 24th St. in Bayonne and Exchange Place and West Side Avenue in Jersey City, serving 12 stations between 5:30 a.m and 1 a.m. weekdays, and slightly shorter weekend hours. The system is expected to serve 27,000 daily riders by the end of 2000. It will eventually grow (in two subsequent phases) to 20 miles, at an overall cost of about $1.1 billion.

The one-way fare of $1.50 is comparable to other transit systems in the region, creating opportunities for multi-agency partnerships. The Hudson-Bergen $53 unlimited monthly pass will double as a monthly pass for NJ Transit buses. NJ Transit also aims to work with the Port Authority to develop a fare card usable on both the light rail and PATH lines, making transfers at Hoboken Terminal and Exchange Place easy and a strong reason to use the new line. The second phase of the project, a link from Newport station to Hoboken Terminal, is slated for completion by 2002.

The Hudson-Bergen line has already brought a boom of industry and jobs to the Hudson County waterfront. NJ officials estimate the system helped spur over 2.8 million square feet of new office space development and creation of at least 4,200 jobs.