https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com


Hudson-Bergen project is on track

Hudson-Bergen project is on track

In April, New Jersey Transit opened the first segment of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, a system that eventually will span 20.5 miles between Bayonne and
  • Written by AMERICAN CITY & COUNTY STAFF
  • 1st November 2000

In April, New Jersey Transit opened the first segment of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, a system that eventually will span 20.5 miles between Bayonne and Ridgefield. The agency expects to open another segment this month, placing it one step closer to its goal of completing the line in 2010.

NJ Transit provides bus, rail and light rail service to 352,000 daily commuters throughout the state. It operates the third largest transit system in the country with 161 rail stations and more than 17,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail began to take shape in 1996, when NJ Transit hired Washington, D.C.-based Washington Infrastructure Partners to design, build, operate and maintain (DBOM) the new system. The line eventually will link 30 stations in eight communities, providing commuters with convenient access to businesses, health care facilities, retail and recreational destinations, and transit connections.

The first segment of the system, a 7.5-mile, 12-station stretch between Bayonne and Jersey City, serves 2,650 riders each day. (Ridership numbers reflect one-way travel.) The segment completed this month will link Jersey City to the Newport Center mall. When the line reaches Hoboken in spring 2002, daily ridership is expected to jump to 10,000.

For the Bayonne-Jersey City line, NJ Transit purchased 20 low-floor, light rail vehicles from Kinki Sharyo, based in Wellesley Hills, Mass. Each unit is 90 feet long and features four double doors on each side, 68 seats, two wheelchair stations, and room for 122 standing patrons. The initial investment was $3.1 million, and additional vehicles will be purchased as the system expands.

As construction on the Hudson-Bergen project has proceeded, the DBOM contract has proven beneficial. “The contract allowed us to shave seven years off the construction schedule and an estimated $300 million off construction costs,” says Jeffrey Warsh, executive director for NJ Transit. Because the contracting company will operate and maintain the system for 15 years, Warsh says “it is in their best interest to build a quality system with low O&M costs.”

In addition to making substantial investments in construction and technology, NJ Transit is investing in artwork to enhance the aesthetics of the Hudson-Bergen system. That portion of the project is funded by the Transit Arts Program (TAP), which was launched in 1994, when NJ Transit allocated $2.5 million for “community-based” artwork in its transit stations.

For the Hudson-Bergen stations, a Transit Arts Committee was formed to develop system-wide guidelines for station art. It included representatives of NJ Transit; the New Jersey Council on Arts, Trenton, N.J.; Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, the New York-based firm that served as the owner’s representative for the light rail system; and Wallace Roberts & Todd, the Philadelphia-based architecture firm that served as a subconsultant on the project. For the first 12 stations, TAP has purchased more than 50 works of art from 30 artists.

Working in a variety of media – including tile, enamel, glass and metal – artists have left their unique marks on elements such as seating, platforms, plazas, windscreens, kiosks, canopies and signage. From a bronze bust of Martin Luther King Jr. to images from nature, commerce and street life etched in glass and expressed in murals, the artwork reflects each community’s distinct values and identity.

“The Transit Arts Program gives the local community a sense of ownership of Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, with local themes playing a prominent role in different forms of artwork,” says Jeffrey Warsh, executive director for NJ Transit. “It has helped us achieve community participation and acceptance, and it provides a higher quality of commute for our riders.”

For the Bayonne-Jersey City segment, an open competition elicited approximately 100 proposals from artists. An invitational competition was used to develop proposals for some sites, and a small number of works were acquired through direct commissions.

When it is complete, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail will serve 40,000 customers each day. Already, it is sparking redevelopment and revitalization along the Hudson River waterfront. According to NJ Transit, more than a dozen commercial or retail properties, 4,000 residential/rental units, four hotels and a new medical center are planned, under construction or completed along the line.

Tags:

Most Recent


  • NYC wants to convert unused offices into housing units through relaxed regulations, incentivization
    Since the start of the pandemic, cities across the United States have seen a dramatic increase in residents working from home, and in correlation, more unused offices. While local governments are still grappling with the best way to overcome this challenge, converting vacated commercial space into residential dwellings is a clear solution, as it simultaneously […]
  • podcasts
    Tuning into your community: Top reasons why your agency needs a podcast
    Podcasts are more popular than ever. In fact, in the United States, podcasts attract more than 100 million monthly listeners (according to demandsage.com). Are you tapping into the power of the pod to deliver important news on your city or county’s programs, projects, initiatives and community partnerships? If not, you may miss out on a […]
  • 25 of the best city flags flying over American metros and towns
    When it comes to city flags, “form follows function.” A simple, well-designed city flag creates community cohesion, fosters civic pride, and support’s the commuinity’s branding. It also costs less and more residents are apt to use it, according to a survey ranking the best city flags in the United States from the North American Vexillological […]
  • sustainability
    Residents ask government leaders to show measurable sustainability results and triumphs
    There’s a growing urgency for cities and counties to go green, says Sol Salinas, executive vice president, sustainability lead at Capgemini Americas, a service-based company that provides consulting, digital transformation and outsourcing services to many organizations, including government agencies. It partners with organizations to transform and manage their operations by harnessing the power of technology. […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Harris County deploys next-generation security in 150 public buildings
  • Public procurement can be transformative for stakeholders in a community
  • The 10 Most Sustainable Large U.S. Cities
  • How local governments can get ahead of the infrastructure wave: Strategies to mitigate risk

White papers


Modernizing government services for today’s resident expectations

24th January 2023

Preparing Your Community Now for the Next Generation of Older Adults

18th October 2022

Helping Government Fleets Achieve Their Goals

30th September 2022
view all

Webinars


Future-proof Your State and Local Government Finance: 5 Key Trends for 2023

6th February 2023

How To: Evaluate Digital Government Service Delivery Technologies

23rd January 2023

Using Technology to Enhance Communications

29th November 2022
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


25 of the best city flags flying over American metros and towns

7th February 2023

These 10 American cities are well prepared for a tech-based future

1st February 2023

Report: While remote work is causing offices to empty out, walkable cities are still in high demand

26th January 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

NYC wants to convert unused offices into housing units through relaxed regulations, incentivization dlvr.it/Sj7ls5

8th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Tuning into your community: Top reasons why your agency needs a podcast dlvr.it/Sj7578

8th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

25 of the best city flags flying over American metros and towns dlvr.it/Sj2RyK

7th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Residents ask government leaders to show measurable sustainability results and triumphs dlvr.it/Sj1znw

6th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Future-proof Your State and Local Government Finance: 5 Key Trends for 2023 dlvr.it/Sj1KxB

6th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Amid spike, federal transportation department launches initiative to curb traffic-related deaths dlvr.it/Shvs31

3rd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Engaging businesses to strengthen your community dlvr.it/ShvZn0

3rd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: Some public employees face financial hardship; comprehensive pay packages proved ‘a pathway toward economic… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

2nd February 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.