6 New Light Rail Stops Are Coming To Bergen County, NJ Transit Says

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Why doesn't the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line — which runs along North Jersey's Gold Coast — actually stop in Bergen County?

The original plan for the slow-moving waterfront train was for it to run from Bayonne to Englewood — but the extension stalled. Currently, the train stops in North Bergen.

On Friday, NJ Transit announced that it has taken a new step to extend the line from Hudson County to Bergen County.

The agency said it has issued a Request For Proposals for contractors to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed 10-mile extension to Englewood Hospital.

Currently, the train runs through Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City, and North Bergen. The first stops were finished in the early 2000s.

New Stops In Hudson And Bergen

The 10-mile Northern Branch will include seven new station stops, including a stop at the hospital. Six of the stops will be located among four Bergen County towns, with a new stop added in North Bergen (in Hudson County).

The line will operate on West Side Avenue in North Bergen, and then on existing railroad right-of-way owned by CSX Transportation (CSX) between 91st Street in North Bergen and the northern border of Englewood.

It will introduce new station stops in North Bergen, Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia, and Englewood.

“NJ Transit remains committed to extending the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail into Bergen County,” said agency President and CEO Kris Kolluri. “This RFP is a concrete demonstration of that commitment. Providing mass transit options to all regions of New Jersey takes cars off the road, cleans the air we breathe, and drives economic activity."

“As one of the most densely populated counties in the state, Bergen County welcomes additional mass transit options,” said Bergen County Executive James Tedesco. “The Northern Branch project will fulfill that need and enhance the lives of all who call Bergen County home."

Setback In 2023

In 2023, the Federal Transit Administration said it wouldn't consider NJ Transit's previously submitted environmental impact statement because of changes since 2007, including in flood plains and storm water management.

The transit agency then began preparing the requirements for the new RFP.

Three of Bergen County's state legislators said Monday that they're pleased to see the project moving forward.

“We are encouraged to see movement on the long-overdue extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, with NJ Transit issuing an RFP to prepare a draft environmental impact study last week," said State Sen. Gordon Johnson, Assemblywoman Shama Haider, and Assemblywoman Ellen Park in a joint statement. "We have been advocating for this vital public transit project for years, and while it has hit roadblock after roadblock, this RFP brings us one step closer to the rail line finally living up to its name."

They added, "We recognize just how transformational these stops will be for Bergen County commuters."

NJ Transit is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system, with 253 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines, and Access Link paratransit service.

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