NJ TRANSIT announced it has been awarded a $592,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to study equitable transit-oriented development (TOD) along the proposed nine-mile extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) into Bergen County. 

The plan will build on efforts to establish neighborhoods and employment centers along the corridor and provide a framework for coordinated actions, according to NJ TRANSIT's news release.

“Transit-oriented development helps to unlock the full range of benefits that new mass transit corridors can provide,” said Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, New Jersey Department of Transportation commissioner. “Thank you to the FTA and our Congressional delegation for securing this funding to explore how these developments can work in coordination with the proposed HBLR extension, providing a sustainable future for the region.”

The extension of the HBLR into Bergen County, known as the Northern Branch, will further NJ TRANSIT’s 10-Year Strategic Plan goals of a more sustainable future. 

“The extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail would be an essential asset to decrease congestion and traffic, allowing residents who live in the area to have a better quality of life,” said Senator Gordon Johnson. “As we continue to develop new and innovative modes of transportation, it is important that we also consider how we can make our pre-existing infrastructure more equitable and accessible for everyone. I am looking forward to seeing how this grant will help enrich and improve the lives of Bergen County residents.”

The TOD study will assemble analysis and opportunities that will provide solutions for the entire corridor located through portions of North Bergen, Fairview, Ridgefield, Englewood, Leonia, and Palisades Park, and pinpoint more customized solutions tailored to the unique character, constraints, and needs of specific communities. 

The plan will engage local communities, governments, and regional and state agencies in transit-oriented development. The study will also contain community engagement through outreach to members of the public and other stakeholders.

The Northern Branch extension is a proposed nine-mile route through eastern Bergen County from the current terminus of Tonnelle Ave. up to Englewood Hospital and Medical Center with seven proposed station stops. The project, currently in the design phase, will decrease roadway congestion and improve overall mobility in the region.