NJ Transit (NJT) is a state-run public transportation system serving New Jersey, parts of New York, and Pennsylvania. It provides bus, light rail, and commuter rail services, connecting major hubs within the state and to New York City and Philadelphia. In 2023, NJ Transit had over 209 million riders.
1908: Start of Construction on the Lackawanna Cut-Off
Construction began on the Lackawanna Cut-Off in 1908.
1911: Completion of the Lackawanna Cut-Off
The Lackawanna Cut-Off, a project by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad, was finished in 1911, establishing a direct route with minimal curves and grades between Slateford Junction and Port Morris Junction.
1941: Cancellation of CNJ Service on Proposed MOM Line Route
The Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) ceased operating Blue Comet trains (Jersey City-Atlantic City) and local trains on the route proposed for the Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) line in 1941.
1967: Last Year of Service to Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton
Passenger service to Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, previously provided by the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey, ended in 1967.
1970: Discontinuation of the Lake Cities Service
In 1970, the Erie Lackawanna made the decision to discontinue its long-distance Lake Cities service.
1976: Formation of Conrail
Conrail was established in 1976 through the merging of several financially struggling railroads.
July 17, 1979: NJ Transit Founded
On July 17, 1979, NJ Transit was established following the enactment of the Public Transportation Act of 1979. The organization's mission was to take over, manage, and contract transportation services to serve the public interest. This included acquiring numerous private bus services, with a significant acquisition being the bus operations of Public Service Electric and Gas Company.
March 1980: Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Line Proposed
The Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) line, a proposed commuter rail route in south and central New Jersey, was initially put forward by the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders in March 1980.
1983: Cessation of Service on West Trenton Line
Passenger service on the West Trenton Line was discontinued prior to 1983.
1983: NJ Transit Takes Over Commuter Rail Operations
In 1983, NJ Transit took over the operation of all commuter rail services in New Jersey from Conrail. These rail lines, originally managed by Conrail under contract with NJDOT, represented a network of commuter routes dating back to the mid-19th century. Since this takeover, NJ Transit's rail ridership has increased fourfold.
May 2001: New Jersey Acquires Right-of-Way of the Lackawanna Cut-Off
New Jersey acquired the right-of-way of the Lackawanna Cut-Off in May 2001, with the aim of restoring long-distance service.
October 21, 2001: New Station Opening at Newark Liberty International Airport
On October 21, 2001, NJ Transit inaugurated a new station at Newark Liberty International Airport.
December 15, 2003: Secaucus Junction Transfer Station Opens
On December 15, 2003, NJ Transit opened the Secaucus Junction transfer station, connecting its two commuter rail networks in northern New Jersey. This new station enabled passengers traveling on trains destined for Hoboken Terminal to transfer to trains headed to New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan, reducing travel time by an estimated 15 minutes compared to connecting through PATH trains at Hoboken.
2004: West Trenton Line Cost Estimate
In 2004, NJ Transit estimated the cost of the West Trenton Line project, connecting West Trenton Station with Newark Penn Station, to be $197 million. As of that date, no funding had been secured.
October 31, 2005: NJ Transit Takes Over Clocker Service
On October 31, 2005, NJ Transit assumed control of the Clocker (NY–Philadelphia) service from Amtrak. Four new trains were incorporated into the schedule but were truncated to Trenton.
2006: Opposition to Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Line
As of 2006, the proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) line faced opposition from Jamesburg and Monroe Township.
February 2008: Governor Corzine Withdraws Support for Monmouth Junction Alignment
In February 2008, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine withdrew his support for the Monmouth Junction alignment of the Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) Plan, favoring alternate routes via Red Bank or Matawan-Freehold.
November 2008: Study Commissioned for Raritan Valley Line Extension
In November 2008, a study was commissioned to explore the possibility of extending the Raritan Valley Line to the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. This would potentially reinstate passenger service to cities like Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, last served in 1967.
May 2009: Counties Reach Agreement on Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Line Route
In May 2009, representatives from Monmouth, Ocean, and Middlesex counties agreed to support a potential route for the Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) line running from Ocean County to Red Bank, ending years of disagreement.
June 2009: ARC Project Groundbreaking
The ARC (Access to the Region's Core) project held a groundbreaking ceremony in June 2009, marking the beginning of construction.
2009: NJ Transit Study Estimates Cost of Restoring the Lackawanna Cut-Off
A 2009 study conducted by NJ Transit estimated the cost of restoring the Lackawanna Cut-Off to operational status, extending service to Scranton, Pennsylvania, to be approximately $551 million. The study suggested the possibility of implementing service extensions in phases before reaching Scranton.
August 2010: NJ Transit Receives Funding for Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex Line Study
In August 2010, NJ Transit secured $534,375 in federal funding to examine the feasibility of a Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex (MOM) line. However, the project saw no further progress since then.
October 7, 2010: ARC Project Suspended
The ARC (Access to the Region's Core) project, despite receiving funding commitments, was suspended on October 7, 2010, due to concerns about potential cost overruns and New Jersey's financial responsibility.
October 27, 2010: ARC Project Cancelled
Governor Chris Christie made the decision to cancel the ARC (Access to the Region's Core) project on October 27, 2010.
2011: NJ Transit Implements Real-Time Bus Tracking
In 2011, NJ Transit announced it would equip its entire bus fleet with real-time location technology. This enabled "next bus" scheduling information at bus shelters and on web-enabled devices, an important feature of bus rapid transit (BRT).
2011: Initiation of the Lackawanna Cut-Off Restoration Project
The Lackawanna Cut-Off Restoration Project, covering the stretch from Port Morris to Andover, commenced in 2011.
October 2012: Hurricane Sandy Impacts NJ Transit Operations
Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 caused significant damage to NJ Transit's rail operations center. The center experienced flooding of up to 8 feet, submerging an emergency generator. The floodwaters also damaged a minimum of 65 locomotive engines and 257 rail cars.
October 2015: Federal Transit Administration Requests Preliminary Engineering Study for the Lackawanna Cut-Off
In October 2015, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requested a preliminary engineering study to update the cost estimates from the prior study. Funding for this study is currently being sought.
2016: West Shore Route Included in Transportation Improvement Program
The West Shore Route project, aimed at reactivating passenger service on the New Jersey-New York section of the West Shore Railroad, was included in NJ Transit's portion of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the fiscal years 2016–2019.
2016: Projected Restart of Construction on the Lackawanna Cut-Off Restoration Project
The resumption of construction on the Lackawanna Cut-Off Restoration Project, including significant work on the Roseville Tunnel, was anticipated to occur between mid-2016 and late 2016.
2018: Various NJ Transit Infrastructure Projects Underway
As of 2018, NJ Transit had several projects in progress. These included replacing Hurricane Sandy-damaged equipment on the HBLR, repairs to Hoboken Terminal (slated for completion by 2020), and upgrades to power and flood protection systems at various locations.
2018: Progress on the Hudson River Rail Tunnel Project
In 2018, the final design for the new Hudson River rail tunnel project, serving Penn Station, New York, and the rehabilitation of the existing North River Tunnels, was finalized. Partners in this project, including the FRA, PANYNJ, NJ Transit, and Amtrak, have collectively contributed $86.5 million in funding.
2018: Commencement of Preliminary Engineering for the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Extension in Jersey City
Preliminary engineering work for the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail extension in Jersey City started in 2018.
2019: Anticipated Completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail extension project was expected to be completed by the end of 2019.
2019: End of Fiscal Years for West Shore Route Inclusion in TIP
The West Shore Route project was included in the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the fiscal years 2016–2019.
2019: Glassboro–Camden Line Initial Completion Date
The Glassboro–Camden Line was originally expected to be completed by 2019.
2020: Ongoing Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Extension Project and Upgrades to West Side Avenue Station
As of 2020, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail extension project remained underway. Upgrades to the West Side Avenue Station were implemented as part of the project.
2020: Hoboken Terminal Repair Completion Target
Repairs to Hoboken Terminal, which were underway as of 2018, were expected to be finished by 2020.
2020: Projected Reopening of Service to Andover on the Restored Lackawanna Cut-Off
The reopening of service to Andover on the restored Lackawanna Cut-Off was projected to take place in 2020.
February 2021: Glassboro–Camden Line Environmental Assessment Published
In February 2021, an environmental assessment for the Glassboro–Camden Line was published. The project entered the design and engineering phase.
December 2022: Ongoing Design Phase and Federal Grant for Transit-Oriented Development Study
As of December 2022, the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail extension project was still in its design phase. NJT received a $600,000 federal grant to study transit-oriented development opportunities along the proposed extension route.
2023: Andover Service Updates
As of 2023, the projected completion date for the Andover service is 2027. Work is ongoing at Roseville Tunnel and Andover, NJ. There's a possibility of Amtrak extending service from New York City to Scranton, PA via the Cut-Off, but no official commitment has been made.
2023: Ridership Statistics
In 2023, NJ Transit recorded a ridership of 209,259,800 passengers across its various transportation services.
2027: Projected Completion of Andover Service
The projected completion date for the Andover service is 2027. This project includes work at Roseville Tunnel and Andover, NJ.
2028: Glassboro–Camden Line Projected Operational Date
The Glassboro–Camden Line, facing earlier delays, is now projected to be operational by 2028.