4 Newark Light Rail Stations Aren’t Accessible. Study Aims For Change

NEWARK, NJ — The federal government is giving NJ Transit more than a half-million dollars to study how to improve four stations on the Newark Light Rail system: Military Park, Warren Street/NJIT, Norfolk Street and Park Avenue.

The study will also examine ways to make the stations accessible to people with disabilities. Currently, they’re the only ones not accessible in the Newark Light Rail system, according to NJ Transit.

See a map of the system and its stations here.

The agency announced the $519,750 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Tuesday.

The project is one of 40 from 32 states and two U.S. territories selected to share $16.2 million to “reassess, redesign and improve transportation services in marginalized communities across the country” through the FTA's Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) program.

NJ Transit president and CEO Kevin Corbett said the agency will use the funding as a first step in implementing a series of accessibility, service and customer experience improvements on the Newark Light Rail system.

NJ Transit Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, who also serves as New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner, said that “reliable and accessible public transportation” is a lifeline for underserved communities in New Jersey.

“These federal funds will help ensure that Newark Light Rail customers have optimal access to public transportation,” Gutierrez-Scaccetti said.

• See related article: NJ Transit Trying To 'Reimagine' Bus System In Newark

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