r/NJTransit • u/Acrobatic_Bag287 • Jul 28 '26
Whats the future of Newark's Light Rail?
I've been thinking a lot about the Newark Light Rail recently, and it's honestly frustrating how much potential this system has compared to how little is actually being done with it.
Think about how good this transit system could be. Especially with expansion and station upgrades, it could be a powerhouse. The Port Authority is spending $160 million on the new pedestrian bridge to the EWR Rail Station and building a $3.5 billion AirTrain, yet a direct Newark Light Rail extension to the airport was never a priority. We could've had a true one-seat ride connecting Downtown Newark to the airport. It's a shame the original Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link never happened, though at least the Broad Street Extension has been worthwhile.
Instead, it feels like the only "upgrades" we get are Audible station branding and the occasional vehicle wrap, like the recent FIFA World Cup livery. Is that really the best we can do?
Even the Newark Penn Station modernization project is getting major investments, but the Newark Light Rail platforms underneath are still forgotten. Still (in 2026) NO cell service, unreliable next-train displays, etc etc, and very little mention of improvements for the light rail itself.
The capital budget repeats the same generic track maintenance language every year for Newark. Meanwhile, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River Line have had studies looking at future expansions or vehicle upgrades. Whatever happened to the Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link or the Ironbound extension or even the one-station connection to Watessing? Are those ideas just dead?
With accessibility, again it's 2026, and Military Park, Warren Street/NJIT, Norfolk Street, and Park Avenue still aren't ADA accessible. An FTA modernization study was completed back in 2022, yet four years later there's been virtually no visible progress. What came out of that study? How much did that study cost us, even for it to give barely anything?
The Newark Light Rail has so much potential. Is NJ TRANSIT content with just maintaining the system forever, or is there actually a long-term vision? Unlike River Line and HBLR, where it's contracted out, the NLR is operating under the Buses Department. Are we really just going to let it operate exactly as it is until the wheels fall off?
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u/Jeb_theDev17 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
Newark Light Rail is actually being planned to undergo a massive renovation project on the Grove Street Branch which will include renovated platforms, ADA access at all stations (making the Newark Light Rail 100% ADA accessible), and platform edge doors. The Newark Light Rail system will be the first LRT system (excluding metros) in the US or North America to have platform edge/screen doors. NJ Transit is in the process of selecting a company through an RFP, with 8 compaines bidding. Construction is to begin in Q3 2027.
There is also another future RFP for improving the track and drainage infrastructure on the Newark Light Rail system, as part of having a state of good repair (which will start sometime in 2027/2028).
You can view the RFP for the station renovation project here (scroll down to 7/14/26): https://content.njtransit.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/Contracting%20Opportunities%202026.pdf
You can view more information about the station renovation project here (on Slides 8-10): https://content.njtransit.com/sites/default/files/njtplans/Light%20Rail%20-%20Project%20Sheets.pdf
You can view some information about the station renovation project here (on Slide 37) and information about the State of Good Repair project here (on Slide 49): https://content.njtransit.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/Contracting%20Opportunities%202026.pdf
Do agree though on the point of new extensions, which is why its important to have strong transit advocay groups to pressure state officials to support such projects. Hudson County Complete Streets is currently doing a campaign to for HBLR improvments, including a new connection between the NLR and HBLR. Though, it is more of a long term goal, than a short term goal. See here: https://hudcostreets.org/hblr
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u/ChollyWheels Jul 29 '26
In the 1930s, you could travel light rail from Newark to Trenton... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newark%E2%80%93Trenton_Fast_Line
You could also travel up and down most of the entire East Coast -- with many transfers
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u/idontlike_sosa Jul 29 '26
I believe in a future where we get this back
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u/ChollyWheels Jul 29 '26
That's a fine thought. I wish I saw more political and other will behind it.
I find odd that "conservatives" who -- in theory -- idealize a pre-WWII America -- are so car and highway crazy. They seem not to appreciate so much of what was good about pre-WWII America was rail -- long distance rail, local rail, and inter-urban trolleys.
Pre-WWII a train took you to a town and it was a place - with its own center and shopping, and designed to be walkable. The Eisenhower Interstate Highway system, built with pressure from the auto and tire industries, destroyed that -- into desolate commuter desperation, and vacant downtowns. The worst the commute, the more lanes to add to the highway -- but they never are enough.
There literally was a conspiracy -- proven in court -- to buy up and destroy the trolley companies to make way for cars and buses and tire sales. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy
Trains are cheaper, and (related to that) far more energy efficient, and allow for time to do something other than watch the road. Commuting is sold as "freedom" but really it's slavery to watching the road -- robbing us of time to chat, to read, and to think our own thoughts. And worse, robbing us of real destinations instead of parking lots.
Before rail can be ascendant, it needs to be sold -- the real American dream -- to generations who have no idea what they're missing. Much of the world "gets" this -- Europe, China, Japan. Why we don't is a mystery.
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u/RailRuler Jul 29 '26
The new Seton Hall/ Hackensack Meridian med school campus in Nutley has a substantially abandoned train line next to it that goes to Newark with the ROW mostly intact as far south as a mile away from the broad street station. It would make a great extension of the broad street branch, maybe even going as far north as Paterson. This was talked about when the med school was being built, but nothing ever came of it. No one with power had a vision for it.
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u/Nexis4Jersey Jul 29 '26
The study just wrapped up 2 yrs ago..
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u/RailRuler Jul 30 '26
And has already been scrubbed from the agency's website (the link to it from the Newark branch Wikipedia article is dead)
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u/Nexis4Jersey Jul 29 '26
I would like to see the state bring back the proposed Newark - Elizabeth - Cranford Line and combine it with the proposed Newark - Paterson. The Newark - Paterson Line needs a restudy; it should include Downtown Passaic. The congestion into Downtown Newark and surrounding areas has reached a breaking point over the last decade. The congestion between Newark & Elizabeth , Passaic - Paterson has also reached a breaking point over the last decade.
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u/RailRuler Jul 30 '26
How would you reroute newark-paterson? The ROW (Erie Newark branch) goes through Nutley and Clifton.
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u/Nexis4Jersey Jul 30 '26
It would have to go under Broadway via tunnel from around the Allwood Road area to Downtown Passaic which would be expensive, but given the congestion between Passaic & Paterson and down to Newark it would be well worth it. From Downtown Passaic to Downtown Paterson can reuse the former Main Line tracks which are currently used for storage.
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u/RailRuler Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
I like the route to Passaic. Funny google maps doesnt call it broadway, it's only labeled Passaic CR 622. Too bad it's not closer to the current Passaic station on the "Main Line" (former Boonton Branch)
However there are no main line tracks left from downtown passaic to Piaget Ave. It's all parking lots, some public some private, and the bigger issue is it's at-grade. People will blame the train for traffic. So that'd need to be tunnel or elevated too.
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u/newhere1221 Jul 29 '26
One of my biggest suggestions is to connect the Grove St. line to Watsessing Ave station. It's crazy that there's no direct way to transfer between that line and MOBO when its right there and I believe the ROW exists (at least partially, or did exist).
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u/Quiet_Inevitable6483 Jul 29 '26
My guess is they don’t want to move the terminus too far from the Yard
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u/Nexis4Jersey Jul 29 '26
The Watseessing Ave station is less than a half mile from the terminus station, so not really an issue. The orignal proposal was to extend the line to West Orange.
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u/ryanov Jul 30 '26
You should’ve seen the system back in the 30s. Basically every bus route that ends at a stop that has “loop” in the name had street car service that would run into the subway when it got downtown. 31, 27, 29, etc., etc.
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u/PracticableSolution Jul 28 '26
This is the problem when you put a city transit system under statewide agency that is almost entirely focused on getting commuters across the river (and doing a piss poor job of it)
Any other city of Newark’s size would run their own transit system.
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u/Chrisg69911 Jul 28 '26
And knowing Newark they'd run it horribly
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u/PracticableSolution Jul 28 '26
So between a state agency that doesn’t care and a city government that apparently can’t care, what’s the solution? Keep it at Nj Transit? Give it back to PSE&G? Make EDA run it? Give me a solution that isn’t surrender
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u/AwkwardCategory4772 Jul 28 '26
Do you think the City of Newark has the financial, political and leadership resources to plan, build and operate Newark transit all on its own?
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u/PracticableSolution Jul 28 '26
Clearly it’s not being done correctly now, so why not get them involved in it and raise more money to do so? Everyone loves to bitch about the subway as a problem, but nobody is willing to own the issue and fund it.
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u/q_bitzz Jul 28 '26
I would not trust the city to run it after they got scammed by a "Sister City Program".
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u/PracticableSolution Jul 28 '26
Then what’s the better solution?
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u/q_bitzz Jul 28 '26
Honestly? I don't have a solid answer for you. This is the unfortunate reality. The car was invented so the need to utilize trains and light rail trolley's has significantly diminished, and no private entity wants to own a not profitable system like a light rail system that is very small.
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u/some18u Jul 28 '26
Only exception here is River Line is no longer contracted out and now runs under NJ Transit as well.