New Jersey Transit unveiled its latest rail expansion projects last week – the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail extension to Hoboken and the Montclair Connection. The latter provides more direct access to Penn Station for commuters in Montclair and along the Boonton Line, which previously terminated in Hoboken. Although it is unclear how many cars the projects will take off New Jersey roads, they both provide strong new transit options to important destinations. 

The projects serve very distinct purposes and markets, showing the variety of roles mass transit can play in the region’s core.  The new Midtown service is a boon to both the Manhattan economy and the residential communities it serves.  The still-emerging Hudson-Bergen light rail shows that transit need not enter Manhattan to serve critical functions. It connects business sub-centers and urban neighborhoods, linking other transit lines on its way.  ts current segments in some ways mirror the Brooklyn-Queens G-train, two rivers away.

An MTR correspondent riding the light rail from Hoboken to Jersey City last Wednesday morning noted that the newly opened station appears to be attracting more southbound passengers than northbound.60 passengers boarded the train at Hoboken, primarily disembarking at Exchange Place and Harborside Financial Center. It was not clear whether they were New Yorkers switching from ferries to a PATH-light rail trip, or Hoboken residents switching from intra-Jersey PATH trips.  On the northbound trip, an initially crowded train contained only a few riders by the time it reached Hoboken.

NJ Transit’s earlier “Midtown Direct” project — on the Morris and Essex Line — attracted more bus riders than motorists, but many riders told reporters the switch would be a big improvement in comfort and reliability. Montclair-Midtown service will add pressure to the capacity crunch at Penn Station, highlighting the need for a second rail tunnel under the Hudson and additional midtown station capacity.

These new services and riders they will attract will also exacerbate pressures on NJ Transit’s budget.  The agency is already raiding its capital budget to fund day-to-day operations (MTR #374).  NJ Transit continues to deliver projects and ridership growth.  Trenton will have to do its part in future state budgets, or the agency’s performance will falter.

Change of Route for Hudson-Bergen Light Rail 
(Sept. 23, 2002)

Warrington's Candid on Bad Budget Practices (July 15, 2002)

Montclair Connection Will Add to Ridership, Capacity Pressure (July 15, 2002)

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