By Joshua Burd
NJ Transit is seeking would-be developers for two sites, including property at the busy Metropark station in Woodbridge and a parcel near Liberty State Park in Jersey City.
In Woodbridge, the agency said it was accepting statements of qualifications and expressions of interest to develop 12 acres adjacent to the Metropark station, one of the busiest in its system. Planners envision a transformative mixed-use development at the site that “creates a new community of place” anchored by the train and bus hub, according to a news release Friday.
In Jersey City, NJ Transit is soliciting interest for roughly two acres on Communipaw Avenue. The site, located near the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail’s Liberty State Park station, is zoned for mixed-use redevelopment.
Project information for both sites is available at https://www.njtransitdevelopment.com/.
“In line with our 10-Year Strategic Plan (NJT2030) goal to promote a more sustainable future, we must plan for regional growth and development in an environmentally responsible way,” NJ Transit CEO and President Kevin Corbett said. “That’s why we’re committed to promoting transit-oriented development, which connects NJ Transit service to local real estate development to create convenient, compact, livable neighborhoods and reduces our carbon footprint.”
The agency announced its new solicitation Friday while touting the upcoming start of two transit-oriented projects elsewhere in the state. In Somerville, Somerset Development is moving ahead with a proposal next to the Somerville train station, working alongside AvalonBay Communities Inc. and Pulte Homes to redevelop 31 acres.
Slated for completion by 2023, the project calls for 347 apartments and 156 townhomes, along with commuter parking and a roadway link to Route 206 that bypasses local streets, NJ Transit said. Seventeen acres near the station have also been set aside for open space.
“Through transit-oriented development, we are achieving the fullest potential for NJ Transit real estate and delivering the best value for the local taxpayer as well as for the commuting public,” said William Viqueira, the agency’s chief financial officer. “Situating mixed-use development near transit hubs helps reduce roadway traffic, improves safety, promotes a healthier, walkable lifestyle and cuts down on greenhouse emissions. We’re very excited about the projects already underway and look forward to more over the next few years.”
NJ Transit also announced that it has struck a project development agreement with the borough of Matawan that would pave the way for a residential and retail project adjacent to the Aberdeen-Matawan station. Plans also call for land to be set aside for open space, in an area near the Aberdeen border on the North Jersey Coast Line.
“I am very pleased with what our team has been able to achieve over the past nine months. These are critical steps toward delivering on our long-term commitment to monetize NJ Transit’s real estate assets and promote sustainable economic growth,” said Carmen Taveras, the agency’s chief of real estate, economic and transit oriented development. “We are encouraged by the momentum we have been able to build despite the economic challenges posed by COVID-19.”
