The Northern Branch Corridor Project calls for improvements in northeastern Hudson and southeastern Bergen Counties through the restoration of passenger service on an existing freight rail line. The electric light rail service would operate on West Side Ave in North Bergen and on an existing railroad owned by CSX Transportation between 91st Street in North Bergen and the northern border of Englewood. The project would create new stops at North Bergen, Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia and Englewood.
The Northern Branch is a freight rail line that is owned by CSX Transportation, which travels Hudson and Bergen Counties, all the way to the New York State border. The rail line runs through a densely populated environment that has not been served by passenger rail service since the 50’s and 60’s.
The increase of automobile usage and roadway congestion within the area has left planners searching for solutions for a long time. The Northern Branch Corridor DEIS were prepared by NJ Transit in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to evaluate the impacts, benefits and costs of constructing a rail service on the Northern Branch. The DEIS was published in November 2011, with public hearings starting in January 2012.
After hearing public feedback, FTA and NJ Transit developed a new alignment that extended Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) service from North Bergen to Englewood Hospital. The development looks to serve areas that have been in need of more accessible transportation for decades. The eventual goal of the project is to provide more transportation and eliminate the constant concerns of heavy traffic that plague the area.