Extend The Light Rail To Bergen County And Stop Waiting, Gottheimer Says

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail train has revitalized underserved communities in the Hudson County towns it has run through since the year 2000, but a long-promised connection to Bergen County was recently delayed again. And Rep. Josh Gottheimer isn't having it.

He recently appeared in Leonia to urge that the connection come soon, saying it will allow people to get to and from Englewood Hospital more quickly, and that it will boost jobs, cut commutes, and curtail pollution.

The Federal Transit Administration said in late August that more information is needed about environmental impacts on the extension before it can move forward, due to changes in floodplains, traffic patterns, and more.

NJ Transit spokesperson Jim Smith said that as a result, the proposed 9-mile extention into Bergen County could now be delayed by 24 months.

The FTA's ruling said,"Based on FTA's most recent review of the Project, FTA has decided to rescind the NOI (Notice of Intent) due to all-encompassing changes in the Project design and environmental impacts in the following areas: floodplains, stormwater management, cultural resources, hazardous materials, traffic and parking, and air quality, all of which have occurred since 2007."

Gottheimer, who spoke out about the delay before, recently joined elected officials and labor leaders from across New Jersey to call on the U.S. Department of Transportationand Federal Transit Authority to, according to a release, "stop playing games, reconsider their misguided decision, and commit to expediting the environmental impact statement process and put the Bergen-Hudson Light Rail project back on track."

In 2018, NJ Transit submitted a full EIS in 2018, but now, USDOT rejected the decades-long in-depth study and demanded that NJ Transit start from the beginning, Gottheimer's office noted.

Leonia is among the planned stations for the light rail.

Gottheimer said that he, along with Reps. Andy Kim (NJ-3th) and Bonnie Watson-Coleman (NJ-12th), sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg calling on the DOT and the Federal Transit Authority to "immediately commit to expediting the environmental impact statement process and put the Bergen-Hudson Light Rail project back on track."

Full text of the letter can be found here.

Among the benefits, Gottheimer said the service will improve commutes for residents and hospital workers at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

“Unfortunately, despite all the dollars many of us fought for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to fund projects like this one, USDOT is holding it up," Gottheimer said. "Putting a wrench in NJ Transit and mass transit, and setting the timeline back for completion. It’s bureaucracy at its finest. The light rail is faster, cheaper, more reliable, and better for the environment. This expansion will also be a huge boost for economic development in the area."

“It’s unbelievable but we have been talking about the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail for my entire time in the legislature and somehow, between the FTA and NJ Transit, we can’t seem to get this railroad built to Bergen County,” said State Sen. Gordon Johnson. “It’s inexcusable and contrary to the environmental initiatives at the state and federal level.”

Read prior reporting here: Where's The 'Bergen' In The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail? Delayed Again