Northern Branch
Encyclopedia
The Northern Branch Corridor Project is a proposed 11-mile long rail line that would offer a mass transit rail option to residents of eastern Bergen County
, New Jersey
, United States
, that has been unavailable for decades since passenger rail service ended on the Northern Branch
in 1966 and the West Shore Line in the 1950s. Currently, the track is a lightly used, stub-ended freight rail line owned by CSX Transportation
.
and transportation advocates proposed that the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
be extended onto the tracks of the Northern Branch, which could provide single seat access between Bergen County and Hudson County
municipalities along the Hudson River
. However, cost considerations led NJ Transit to consider alternative methods to provide the rail access. Because light rail cannot operate concurrently with freight service, the early plans would have required installation of additional track or scheduling freight traffic late at night or on weekends. Light rail would also require installation of catenary above the tracks and the required substations to feed those wires.
-compliant diesel multiple unit
(DMU) vehicles. DMUs would use the existing trackage and would minimize interference with freight service on the line. The DMUs would operate along the old Northern Railroad line and terminate in Tenafly
in central Bergen County.
If built, this would have been essentially a separate service, with stations on the reborn Northern Branch heading south from Tenafly located in Englewood
, Leonia
, Palisades Park
, Ridgefield
and Fairview before ending in North Bergen
, with a transfer station to the HBLR called North Bergen Junction.
On February 13, 2006, NJ Transit has received $3.6 million in federal funding to conduct engineering and environmental studies.
The alternative came under criticism from rail transit advocates, who argued that the plans to use DMUs would force a transfer for Bergen County commuters, and would not be efficient. They argued that the original plans should be implemented instead.
The proposal to use (DMU) vehicles instead of electrically powered light rail was dropped when the manufacturer of the DMU Colorado Railcar
went bankrupt.
approval.
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, that has been unavailable for decades since passenger rail service ended on the Northern Branch
Northern Branch
The Northern Branch Corridor Project is a proposed 11-mile long rail line that would offer a mass transit rail option to residents of eastern Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, that has been unavailable for decades since passenger rail service ended on the Northern Branch in 1966 and the...
in 1966 and the West Shore Line in the 1950s. Currently, the track is a lightly used, stub-ended freight rail line owned by CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
.
Initial light rail proposal
Originally, New Jersey TransitNew Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
and transportation advocates proposed that the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
The Hudson–Bergen Light Rail is a light rail system in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Owned by New Jersey Transit and operated by the 21st Century Rail Corporation, it connects the communities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City , and North Bergen.The system began...
be extended onto the tracks of the Northern Branch, which could provide single seat access between Bergen County and Hudson County
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
municipalities along the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. However, cost considerations led NJ Transit to consider alternative methods to provide the rail access. Because light rail cannot operate concurrently with freight service, the early plans would have required installation of additional track or scheduling freight traffic late at night or on weekends. Light rail would also require installation of catenary above the tracks and the required substations to feed those wires.
DMU alternative
NJ Transit was studying proposals for rail service, using FRAFederal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
-compliant diesel multiple unit
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
(DMU) vehicles. DMUs would use the existing trackage and would minimize interference with freight service on the line. The DMUs would operate along the old Northern Railroad line and terminate in Tenafly
Tenafly, New Jersey
Tenafly is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 14,488. Tenafly is an affluent suburb of New York City....
in central Bergen County.
If built, this would have been essentially a separate service, with stations on the reborn Northern Branch heading south from Tenafly located in Englewood
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
, Leonia
Leonia, New Jersey
Leonia is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,937. It is located near the western approach to the George Washington Bridge....
, Palisades Park
Palisades Park, New Jersey
Palisades Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 19,622....
, Ridgefield
Ridgefield, New Jersey
There were 4,020 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone...
and Fairview before ending in North Bergen
North Bergen, New Jersey
North Bergen is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 60,773. Originally founded in 1843, the town was much diminished in territory by a series of secessions. Situated on the Hudson Palisades, it is one...
, with a transfer station to the HBLR called North Bergen Junction.
On February 13, 2006, NJ Transit has received $3.6 million in federal funding to conduct engineering and environmental studies.
The alternative came under criticism from rail transit advocates, who argued that the plans to use DMUs would force a transfer for Bergen County commuters, and would not be efficient. They argued that the original plans should be implemented instead.
The proposal to use (DMU) vehicles instead of electrically powered light rail was dropped when the manufacturer of the DMU Colorado Railcar
Colorado Railcar
Colorado Railcar was a manufacturer of railroad rolling stock, railcars and diesel multiple unit commuter vehicles. Both products come in single- and double-level versions. It shut down in 2008, with its assets being purchased by US Railcar.-History:...
went bankrupt.
Current light rail proposal
The current proposal for the extension will utilize electrically powered light rail. The estimated cost of the project is $900 million. Currently $40 million have been allocated to the project. The project is expected to begin in 2012 and be completed in 2015. The branch is estimated to have 24,000 passengers daily. The project is currently awaiting approval of an environmental impact statement and Federal Transit AdministrationFederal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
approval.
External links
- New Jersey Transit
- Northern Branch Corridor Project, New Jersey TransitNew Jersey TransitThe New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
- Northern Branch & Proposals on Google Maps