NJ Transit Awarded FTA Grant to Study Transit Oriented Development Along Proposed HBLR Extension

NJ TRANSIT has been awarded a $592,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to study equitable transit oriented development (TOD) along the proposed nine-mile extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) into Bergen County. The comprehensive plan will build on efforts to establish neighborhoods and employment centers along the corridor and provide a framework for coordinated actions, creating a blueprint for success for all stakeholders. The extension of the HBLR into Bergen County, known as the Northern Branch, will further NJ TRANSIT’s 10-Year

The TOD study will assemble analysis and opportunities in a comprehensive manner that will provide holistic solutions for the entire corridor located through portions of North Bergen, Fairview, Ridgefield, Englewood, Leonia and Palisades Park, and pinpoint more customized solutions tailored to the unique character, constraints and needs of specific communities. The plan will engage local communities, governments and regional and state agencies in the many facets of transit oriented development in crafting a collective vision for the corridor. The study will also contain robust community engagement through outreach to members of the public and other stakeholders.

The Northern Branch extension is a proposed nine-mile route through eastern Bergen County from the current terminus of Tonnelle Ave. up to Englewood hospital and Medical Center with seven proposed station stops. The project, currently in the design phase, will decrease roadway congestion and improve overall mobility in the region.

Strategic Plan goals of powering a stronger and fairer economy and promoting a more sustainable future.

-via Press Release

MTA Reaffirms Balanced Budget for 2026 As Increased Operating Efficiencies Further Reduce Out-Year Deficits

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today released its final 2026 operating budget and four-year financial plan, introducing a new round of operating efficiencies over the next four years that significantly reduce out-year deficits announced in the July Financial Plan by a total of $418 million. New cost savings of $675 million are the primary driver of this achievement and raises the cumulative total to more than $2 billion in operating savings through 2029.