Plans for NJT Elizabeth station upgrade touted

With a public relations flourish, but no money yet identified to commit to the deed, New Jersey Transit on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015 announced "preliminary design plans" for an upgraded and restored station in Elizabeth, N.J., located on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor (NEC).

“The project includes construction of a new station building, new elevators and stairs, vendor space, and reconstruction of the passenger platforms. The project will be funded through state and federal sources,” the announcement read.

Said NJ Transit Chairman and NJDOT Comissioner Jamie Fox in a statement, “This project is a prime example of Governor Christie’s commitment to invest in our public transportation system.” He added, “Working with our partners at Amtrak, which owns the Northeast Corridor, this station will be primed to promote economic development in a city that continues to work hard at improving the quality of life for its residents.”

The design of the station includes a two-story station building with a street-level ticket office, waiting room and vendor space. New, extended high-level train platforms will accommodate longer, 12-car trains and the platforms will feature covered, heated and air conditioned waiting areas. The station will include upgraded passenger information and security systems, NJ Transit said.

Notably, the plan includes NJ Transit coordinating with Amtrak “to accommodate Amtrak’s future plans to add a fifth track to the Northeast Corridor, which affects station platform placement and final design approval. Upon final Amtrak approval, NJ TRANSIT will procure a design-build contractor to construct the project, with an expected completion date in 2018,” NJ Transit said.

Less clear is whether the project incorporates or otherwise involves the moribund Central Railroad of New Jersey Elizabeth station, located below and to the west of the NEC’s ex-Pennsylvania Railroad site.

NJT’s Elizabeth Station serves nine NJ TRANSIT bus lines, and handled an average of 7,526 weekday passenger trips in fiscal year 2014, which ended June 30, 2015, NJ Transit said.