Passaic–Bergen–Hudson Transit Project

The West Shore Region Study was initiated in 1996 by NJ Transit and other stakeholders to examine multiple modal opportunities in the region that had once been served by the West Shore Railroad and the other railroads in Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties. An alternatives analysis report published December 1999 identified three projects: the Northern Branch corridor (LRT), the Cross County corridor (LRT), and the West Shore corridor (commuter rail), the last of which did not advance.[8] The Vince Lombardi Park & Ride was seen as a potential interchange station for the HBLR, the Cross County, and West Shore.

The Cross-County LRT was originally conceived as an extension of the HBLR with service running in Bergen County from Maywood to Hoboken Terminal under the assumption that HBLR would terminate at the Vince Lombardi Park & Ride, as had originally been planned.[9] (A western terminus at Saddle Brook/Interstate 80 was also discussed, as was running the line through the Edgewater Tunnel to the Hudson Waterfront.[10])

By 2001 the concept had evolved to extend the line to Paterson and eventually the Hawthorne station in Passaic County.[11] An Investment Study/Draft Environmental Impact Statement was announced for the Bergen-Passaic Cross County Corridor[12] and by 2002, the project was referred to as the Bergen-Passaic Rail Line.[13]

Also by 2002, cost, construction and operating complications of running the line through the North Bergen Yard led to a decision for the HBLR terminus being located east of that yard at the Tonnelle Avenue station in North Bergen and was decided to extend the HBLR along the Northern Branch.[14][15]

The Hawthorne terminus would be a short distance to the Hawthorne Main Line station for transfers

By 2003, and the project was referred to as the Passaic-Bergen Rail Line. With clarity about the terminus of the HBLT terminus and the availability of FRA-compliant vehicles the project was re-conceived as running from Hawthorne to an eastern terminus in Hackensack along the NYSW corridor using the new equipment.[16]

In 2004, NJ Transit proposed the Tri-County Rail Concept Plan, a passenger rail initiative designed to combine existing rail infrastructure, the majority of which is the reuse of freight lines, with new construction to create an inter-connected network of rail lines serving Hudson, Bergen, and Passaic counties.[17]

By 2006, NJ Transit, the Passaic-Bergen Rail project sponsor, was exploring planning the availability of Federal Railroad Administration-compliant diesel multiple unit rail cars and changes in the alignment.[18]

In 2007, NJ Transit stated construction of the Passaic-Bergen Passenger Service Restoration Project could begin in early 2009 and last approximately 3 years; estimated the cost to be $156 million. In a memorandum of understanding NJT agreed to pay NYSW more than $20 million for a 75-year easement for trackage rights on its freight line.[19][20] The scope of the project ran from Hawthorne to Hackensack. It engaged SYSTRA for planning and design.[21][19] The line would run for approximate 8.3 miles in a generally east-west alignment, creating a cross-county corridor running between Hawthorne, where transfer to the Main Line would be available, and Hackensack. There would be five stations in Paterson, one station in Elmwood Park. It would pass through Saddle Brook, Rochelle Park and Maywood, without stops. Two stations were planned for Hackensack, including a terminus at State Street.[21][22] A new track would be laid for the line along the ROW, the existing track reserved for freight. The river crossing at Hawthorne would remain single track and shared.[23] While outside of the scope of the project, in 2013 the city of Hackensack replaced a rail trestle at River Street close to the proposed terminus with a contingency for a future additional track and passenger platform.[24]

Passaic–Bergen–Hudson Transit
MAIN to Suffern NYS&W Main Line Hawthorne MAIN to Hoboken Terminal Passaic River 6th Avenue Lafayette Street Madison Avenue 20th Avenue Vreeland Avenue Passaic River Boulevard Bergen County Line BCL Bergen Line Transfer Rochelle Avenue Maywood Avenue American Legion Drive Pascack Valley Line PVL Pascack Valley Line Transfer State Street (alternative) Downtown-River Street (alternative) Hackensack River West Fort Lee Road Central Avenue – Bogota Mount Vernon Street CP5 Overpeck Creek Bridge 10.73 N.J. Turnpike Western Spur Vince Lombardi Park & Ride N.J. Turnpike Eastern Spur HBLR Northern Branch 91st Street (Edgewater Branch alternative) 69th Street – North Bergen Tonnelle Avenue NYSW / HBLR

• Hawthorne (Main Line Transfer)
• 6th Avenue – Paterson
• Lafayette Street
• Madison Avenue[25]
• 20th Avenue
• Vreeland Avenue
• Boulevard – Elmwood Park
• Bergen County Line Transfer
• Rochelle Avenue
• Maywood Avenue
• American Legion Drive – Hackensack University Medical Center
• Pascack Valley Line Transfer
• State Street – Hackensack or Downtown-River Street

• West Fort Lee Road – Bogota
• Central Avenue – Bogota
• Mount Vernon Street – Ridgefield Park
• Vince Lombardi Park & Ride (Ridgefield)[37]
• 91st Street (Edgewater Branch alternative)
• 69th Street – North Bergen
• Tonnelle Avenue