Reconstruction Of Historic Summit Site Being Opened To New Bids

SUMMIT, NJ — The city is reauthorizing a bidding period for developers to complete the next step in the Park Line Project to transform an old railroad line into an elevated green space.

Reauthorization and readvertising was approved at Wednesday night's Common Council meeting after one bid that "substantially exceeded the City's appropriation and engineer's estimate" was opened on Sept. 10.

The 1.2-mile-long path begins a few hundred yards from downtown Summit, and continues through eastern Summit to Orchard Road in Springfield Township. The trail runs along the old Rahway Valley Railroad with a clear view of the Manhattan skyline.

The Park Line is intended to serve as a "gateway feature" that provides a place for both active and passive recreation. It also includes a new pathway that connects local attractions, parks, major employment centers, and Jefferson Elementary School.

Phase 2 involves new fencing and planting landscape buffers on Henry Street. According to Resolution 12208, the project is tentatively set to be awarded in March 2026.

Phase 1 and 1A of the project have been completed and included creating a path between Broad Street and Morris Avenue.

The old Rahway River Railroad is considered a historic landmark and connected the Lehigh Valley Railroad in Roselle Park and the Central Railroad of New Jersey in Cranford with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western in Summit.

The railroad operated for 95 years, from 1897 to 1992 in Union County, and was recognized as one of the most successful short-line railroads in U.S. history, generating a profit during the Great Depression. It was eventually sold to the Delaware Otsego Corporation, with little revitalization to follow, and traffic continued to decline until service ended in 1992.

According to the Park Line Foundation, the railroad line was quickly overtaken by the natural environment around it. Dr. Robert J. Rubino, former City Council member and former President of the Summit Common Council first championed the Park Line vision in 2014 as a unique way to bring green space to Summit.

New advertising for Phase 2 will take place in January 2026 with bids being received the following month.

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