Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Getting Money To Study Improvements
HOBOKEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - Federal money will go towards studying transit upgrades between Jersey City and Hoboken.
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It was announced Thursday that the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system has received a $400,000 grant.
One of the challenges the line faces is where the tracks cross Paterson Plank Road in Hoboken.
"Especially when we have bad weather, it's a very challenging situation getting through this area right now. So, added transportation options will certainly help," Mayor Dawn Zimmer told WCBS 880's Levon Putney.
Zimmer is happy with a grant to look into improvements like easing traffic, adding light rail tracks and, perhaps, even adding a new 18th Street station in neighboring Jersey City.
"Our county is a very small piece of land with hundreds of thousands of people jammed in," said Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy.
"Where light rail stops have gone, where mass transit is, development follows," he said, noting that more light rail options help take more cars off the roads.
"Transit projects like this are critical to the state of New Jersey where we have the highest population density of any state in the country, vital to our economy," said U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who was joined by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez.
There are 42,000 riders a day on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, which connects North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken, Hoboken, Jersey City and Bayonne. It is run by NJ TRANSIT.
It is currently only in Hudson County, but there have been proposals over the years that would take service up to Tenafly in Bergen County.
What improvements would you like to see on the rail line? Sound off below.
