The New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority approved a $300,000 study to examine the feasibility for an extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail into the Meadowlands Sports Complex on Wednesday. It would serve trips to both the Xanadu entertainment complex and a new Giants Stadium. State officials estimate its cost at $750 million to $1 billion, but expect the benefits to be worth it. Still, critics of Xanadu’s likely traffic impacts were unimpressed. One day after the SEA announced its new study, Hudson County joined three Bergen County municipalities (see MTR #496) in calling for a transportation study of the Meadowlands Sports Complex that would take an encompassing look at bus, bus rapid transit, light rail and train access to see what the best mix of modes and projects stands the best chance of maximizing mass transit use. This proposal stands in contrast to the SEA’s approach of looking at several expensive rail projects in isolation, and ignoring relatively inexpensive and easy-to-implement bus options completely.

The New York Giants also have many concerns about Xanadu’s effect on site traffic and have retained their own traffic experts to conduct an independent analysis. Their report is expected shortly.

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