About the Project

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and NJ TRANSIT are studying the restoration of rail passenger service on the Northern Branch Corridor between North Bergen and Englewood or Tenafly, NJ. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared under the direction of the FTA, in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and all NEPA requirements.

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Purpose & Need

The purpose of the Northern Branch Corridor Project is to address the transportation needs of eastern Bergen County, NJ through the re-introduction of rail transit service. The provision of new transportation service in the Northern Branch Corridor would address:

• Commuting to employment centers along the corridor, as well as to employment centers in other areas of New Jersey;
• Commuting to New York City from Bergen County; and
• Non-work trips to business, shopping, recreational, and educational destinations throughout the region
  

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Alternatives

Coming soon!

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Future Manhattan Connection

The potential for a future connection to Manhattan is a central element in a much larger transportation plan for northern New Jersey. In 2004, NJ TRANSIT proposed the Tri-County Rail Concept Plan. The major components of the plan are:

• DMU passenger service between Tenafly and North Bergen (Northern Branch)
• A future connection from the Northern Branch to THE Tunnel
• Future northern expansion of the Northern Branch to Closter, Demarest and the New York State line
• DMU passenger service on the NYS&W between Hawthorne and Hackensack (Passaic-Bergen)
• A future connection from the Passaic-Bergen line to THE Tunnel
• Future westward expansion of the Passaic-Bergen line to Sparta
• HBLR service west to the Meadowlands
• Commuter rail connections to the Meadowlands from the Bergen and Pascack Valley lines
  

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