SECAUCUS — A $16 billion eight-year transportation funding compromise plan was unveiled Friday, Sept. 30. The plan includes funding for the expansion of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto announced in the press release. The agreement will provide $2 billion in new annual revenue into the state’s Transportation Trust Fund. The trust fund pays for hundreds of projects throughout the state ranging from road resurfacing, major bridge improvements, and to finally expanding the Light Rail north into Bergen County.
“Hudson and Bergen counties are two of our state’s most important economic engines and expanding the light rail system will make them even more dynamic,” said Speaker Prieto in a press release. “This is an exciting day for the region and I’m very proud to have secured this needed funding.”
With the area still recovering from the crash of an NJ Transit train at Hoboken Terminal on Wednesday, Sept. 28, Speaker Prieto also emphasized the public safety benefits of the transportation funding deal.
“Transportation funding is not just an economic and quality of life issue, but it’s also a public safety issue,” said Speaker Prieto in the press release. “We do not yet know the cause of the Hoboken train crash, but we know that increased transportation funds will allow our public transit systems to be modernized and expanded, which will both serve commuters better and keep them safe.”
The proposed Light Rail expansion would add seven new stations to the existing system, including stops at 91st Street in North Bergen, Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia, Englewood Route 4, Englewood Town Center and Englewood Hospital. Initial studies have found that it would add over 20,000 new daily riders.
New stops may be added in the future in Jersey City as well.
Funds received for Hudson-Bergen Light Rail expansion into Englewood
