Work Begins On New Bike, Pedestrian Path In Morris County

PEQUANNOCK TOWNSHIP, NJ — Construction recently began on a project that will repurpose an abandoned stretch of railroad into a recreational path for cyclists and pedestrians. The long-awaited project will create a 4.8-mile trail from Pequannock Township to Wayne.

Morris County officials, who are spearheading the project, expect to complete the trail in 2024. The path will begin at River Drive in Pequannock near Route 23 — connecting with the township’s Aquatic Park — and runs southward to Mountainview Boulevard near NJ Transit’s Mountain View rail station in Wayne.

The project — officially called the New York Susquehanna & Western (NYS&W) Railway Bicycle and Pedestrian Shared Use Path — got underway with brush clearing and preliminary work on lifting old railroads. The federally funded endeavor costs $20 million.

Find more project information here.

The path will eventually tie into Passaic County’s Morris Canal Greenway. Officials will provide periodic updates on construction as the project reaches certain milestones, according to a news release from the Morris County government.

"This project has been eagerly anticipated by many people in the region, particularly in both Morris and Passaic Counties, and we’re pleased that work is underway," said Tayfun Selen, director of the Morris County Board of Commissioners. "This will provide another unique recreational opportunity for our residents — one that connects different greenways while providing bicyclists and hikers easy access to downtown amenities that are a short distance from this path."

Officials envision the path connecting residents, commuters and visitors with parks, schools, libraries, businesses and transit facilities. The asphalt-covered trail will be 10 feet wide, representing a similar concept to the Traction Line — a path that runs from Morristown to Madison.

Trains haven't run on the route for more than a decade. The stretch was once a commuter line and was later used as NYS&W’s Pompton Industrial Spur, serving freight customers along the path.

Parts of the southern section of the path, which will stretch south of Ryerson Road to Mountain View in Wayne, will be elevated through wetlands. The path will be separated from automobile traffic, but it will contain path crossings on streets along the corridor.