4 Developers Are Finalists For MetroPark Development Plan

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Four developers have now been chosen as finalists for NJ Transit's proposal to build multi-story apartments and ground-floor retail at the MetroPark train station.

NJ Transit will ultimately select one developer to build at the site.

Only the final developer selected will be named by NJ Transit. How a public agency, like NJ Transit, selects a developer is usually kept highly confidential to avoid any appearance of unfairness or favoritism in the bidding process, although any developer was publicly invited to submit a proposal last fall.

"The request for proposals is an ongoing deliberative procurement process, so NJ Transit is unable to disclose the parties which are directly involved," said Mariluz Garcia-Diaz, a spokeswoman for NJ Transit.

Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said the town "has seen proposals" from developers and that whatever will be built there will be built with Woodbridge's input and approval. However, how much input Woodbridge can give is limited, as NJ Transit owns the land.

In October of 2020, NJ Transit announced it wanted to develop a 12-acre plot of land right next to the train tracks at MetroPark. This is the area that currently houses the MetroPark outdoor parking lot, and two very large covered parking garages. NJ Transit put out a public bid for proposals, and developers could submit their proposals here: https://www.njtransitdevelopme...

NJ Transit said it envisions transforming the site into a mixed-used residential/commerce development "that creates a new community of place," all centered around the MetroPark station.

The apartments that would be built there are called "transit-oriented development" or TOD. It remains unclear if those covered parking garages would be torn down.

"This development will create brand-new housing that is connected to New York City and other key economic centers in our area," said Gov. Phil Murphy, who backs the plan.

Both NJ Transit and Amtrak trains stop at MetroPark and it is an express stop, so it is a major transit hub that connects the entire Northeast Corridor of the U.S. NJ Transit says MetroPark is its fifth busiest station in its system, behind New York Penn Station, Newark, the Trenton Transit Center and Secaucus Junction.

Woodbridge is already trying to make the area around the MetroPark station much more walkable and pedestrian friendly, such as when the town announced in June it will be installing sidewalks along Magnolia Road for commuters who walk to MetroPark. Read: Woodbridge Puts Sidewalks On Magnolia Rd. For MetroPark Commuters (June 9, 2021)

NJ Transit Wants To Build At Metropark Station; Developer Sought (Oct. 30, 2020)

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