How much funding has NJ TRANSIT approved for the first phase of improvements?

NJ TRANSIT has approved $65.6 million for the first phase.

Over what time period will the $250 million investment be made?

The $250 million investment is planned to be made over five years.

What improvements will be made to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail under this project?

Improvements will include modernizing stations, overhauling vehicles, and enhancing system reliability and passenger safety.

NJ TRANSIT Approves $65.6M for Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Improvements

Q: What are the primary goals of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail improvement project?

The primary goals are to modernize stations, overhaul vehicles, and improve system reliability and passenger safety.

The funding marks the first phase of a planned $250 million investment over five years to modernize stations, overhaul vehicles, and improve system reliability and passenger safety.

Alex Roman・Executive Editor

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November 13, 2026

A wide shot of Alstom's Multilevel III commter railcar for NJ TRANSIT — The capital investment is separate from NJ TRANSIT’s existing 15-year, $1.6 billion contract with ACI-Herzog Joint Venture of Boston, which assumed daily operations and maintenance of the system in September 2025.
Credit:
Alstom

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NJ TRANSIT has approved $65.6 million for the initial phase of upgrades on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system.
The project is part of a larger $250 million plan over five years targeting station modernization and vehicle overhauls.
Improvements aim to enhance system reliability and increase passenger safety.

*Summarized by AI

NJ TRANSIT’s board authorized $65.6 million for capital improvements to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) system, the first allocation of a planned $250 million investment over the next five years.

The funding will support elevator upgrades at the 8th Street, 9th Street, and Bergenline Avenue stations, light rail vehicle overhauls, and right-of-way improvements, among other projects aimed at improving the customer experience.

“The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail serves 48,000 customers a day, and we plan to invest $250 million over the next five years to improve reliability across the system,” said NJ TRANSIT President/CEO Kris Kolluri. “This initial round of capital investment will fund elevator modernization at three priority stations, vehicle overhauls, upgrades to the Weehawken and Bergenline tunnels, and improvements to passenger safety, so our customers can look forward to a smoother, more reliable ride for years to come.”

Funding Systemwide Upgrades

The capital investment is separate from NJ TRANSIT’s existing 15-year, $1.6 billion contract with ACI-Herzog Joint Venture of Boston, which assumed daily operations and maintenance of the system in September 2025.

Funding for the capital improvements is expected to come from the Federal Transit Administration, Transportation Trust Fund, and NJ TRANSIT Light Rail Operating Budget.

The HBLR system includes 24 stations along 20.6 miles of track serving communities along the Hudson River waterfront in Hudson County. Its fleet of 52 light rail vehicles serves approximately 48,000 customers daily.

ACI-Herzog began operating the system on September 13, 2025, under a contract covering operations, maintenance, and a capital asset replacement program.

NJ TRANSIT's board anticipates authorizing additional capital improvement funding over the next five years, as needed, up to the planned $250 million investment.

In addition to elevator modernization, vehicle overhauls, and tunnel improvements, planned projects include technology and communications upgrades and a passenger safety initiative.