See Carteret's Massive Grand Plans For Its Waterfront

CARTERET, NJ — On Tuesday — for the first time ever — the town of Carteret revealed this map of everything it has planned for the Carteret waterfront.

Not only does Mayor Dan Reiman want to bring New York City ferry service to Carteret, but he also has grand plans for a waterfront hotel and waterfront residential apartments to one day follow.

However, no funding has been secured for either the hotel or the proposed apartments.

All of this would be located in the area around Carteret Waterfront Park on the Arthur Kill. What currently exists there is a marina with 185 boat slips to rent, a fishing pier and a 2-mile Riverwalk, plus the public park.

But Reiman has a much larger vision for the formerly hardscrabble, industrial town, and he's using the waterfront to entice more people to move to that town. This is also notable because for more than the past century, there was no public access to Carteret's waterfront.

Reiman also announced Tuesday the borough has received its final permit from the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers to dredge the area where the ferries will dock, and build bulkheads.

The federal permit allows Carteret to begin one-time construction dredging along the Arthur Kill to a maximum depth of 17 feet. The permit also allows the borough to install approximately 130 feet of bulkhead, a 40 x 40-foot pier with two gangways for passengers to access the ferry, steel pilings, bumpers and a 200-foot-long wave screen.

However, there is still no set date when construction on the bulkhead or dredging will begin, a town spokesman said Tuesday.

“This is a great day for Carteret and the residents of our region,” said Reiman, a Democrat. “After years of inching forward and fighting bureaucratic agencies at every level, we can finally begin construction on the long-awaited Carteret Ferry Terminal. Soon commuters and others traveling to Manhattan will have a fast and direct route from Carteret, avoiding the high costs of gasoline and the frustrations of driving into the city through the tunnels or bridges.”

In January, Carteret announced it bought one singular ferry boat from NY Waterway, paying $2.25 million to purchase one single 149-passenger ferry boat from them.

A ferry service provider has not been secured. Carteret also still needs to obtain additional funding to build the actual ferry terminal building itself.

"That would be the next phase of this project,” said Reiman.

This also comes at a time when more and more people are choosing to work from home after the pandemic, and companies are allowing employees to work from home.

"I am excited for the residents of Carteret to see this project get off the ground and provide fast, easy and a more environmentally friendly transportation to Manhattan for work and pleasure," said this area's congressman Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ6), who for years has worked to secure state and federal grants for Carteret ferry service.

The Reiman administration has secured more than $30 million in federal and state grants for its ferry service, including:

• $2,213,833 from TEA-21 SAFETEA-LU Congressional Priority Earmarks
• $5,037,000 from an NJDOT FY’21 Smart Move Program Grant
• $6,000,000 from a USFTA-NJ 2017 Transit Ferry Boat Grant through NJ Transit
• $1,000,000 from an NJ FY’22 NJT State Budget
• $2,321,640 from FY’22 NJDOT Transportation Trust Fund for Dredging
• $4,426,155 from NJDOT FY’22 Transportation Trust Fund
• $678,973 from NJDOT FY’21 Local Aid
• $750,000 from US ARA Sewer/Water Explain Extension
• $6,000,000 from USDOT for Ferry Terminal Building

“Carteret is quickly becoming one of the most desired locations for commuters to call home,” said Reiman. “New residential and commercial opportunities, combined with our future ferry service, newly constructed Performing Arts and Events Center, upgraded parks, and stable tax rates solidify Carteret as a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Prior: Carteret To Buy Its First Boat From NY Waterway For Ferry Service (Jan. 18, 2022)

Carteret Performing Arts Center Opens This Saturday (Nov. 30, 2021)

Carteret, South Amboy Move Forward With NYC Ferry Service (Jan. 21, 2021)

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