The NJ TRANSIT board has approved $22.2 million, plus a 10% contingency, to complete engineering and design for the Secaucus–Jersey City segment of the Secaucus–Meadowlands Transitway extension. 

The project will provide environmentally friendly transit access between the Meadowlands Sports and Entertainment Complex, Secaucus Junction, and Jersey City.

“I am pleased to see the progress on such an important, environmentally friendly public transportation solution. This critical initiative supports New Jersey’s economic growth while providing new transportation options for residents and visitors as they enjoy the state’s premier sports and entertainment destinations,” said NJ TRANSIT President/CEO Kris Kolluri.

Next Steps

The agency’s board approved extending its existing contract with engineering firm HNTB to complete the next design stage of Phase 2 — Transitway Jersey City — for no more than $22,283,241.90, plus 10% contingency.

Phase I of Transitway began in 2021, when the board authorized entering into a contract with HNTB for $3,542,944.75 to complete conceptual development and preliminary design. 

Phase 2 includes designing a dedicated right-of-way between Secaucus and Jersey City, with multiple stops along the route. This right-of-way will accommodate multiple vehicle forms, excluding rail. The route will use the former Boonton rail line and the Bergen Arches.

Benefits of the Projects

The goal of the overall Transitway project is two-fold. 

The project increases service capacity, enabling more customers to travel between the Meadowlands Sports and Entertainment Complex and Secaucus Junction Station more efficiently. 

Beyond the benefits of Phase 1 of the project, which will increase capacity to some of the world’s most significant events at MetLife Stadium, Phase 2 creates a brand-new service corridor in one of the most densely populated areas of North Jersey through the adaptive reuse of existing right-of-way owned by NJ TRANSIT.

As part of the overall project, the transit modes considered in this work shall be configured. Hence, they can be implemented with zero-emission vehicles or readily transitioned to them in the future, and can scale to fully autonomous vehicle operation as industry advances allow.