JERSEY CITY, NJ – Congressman Rob Menendez partnered with Hudson County Complete Streets and local transit advocates to elevate key community priorities for the continued expansion and modernization of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (“HBLR”). In a letter to New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kris Kolluri, and New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Priya Jain, Menendez urged state leadership to prioritize critical infrastructure upgrades and advance service expansions.
The HBLR serves more than 55,000 people daily commuters across New Jersey’s most densely populated region, where roughly one in three Hudson County households rely on public transportation.
“Investing in public transit directly improves daily quality of life for New Jersey families,” said Congressman Menendez. “Partnering with Hudson County Complete Streets and state leadership to modernize the HBLR means faster, more reliable commutes and better access to jobs and economic opportunity across our region. I am grateful to our transit advocates for their continued commitment to strengthening our transit network and look forward to continuing our work together.”
“The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail does more than simply move 55 thousand daily riders to their destinations, it supports economic growth, connects communities, and creates opportunity for both individuals and businesses,” said Jack McKee, Campaigns Manager, Hudson County Complete Streets. “It’s for these reasons that Hudson County Complete Streets is committed to realizing the asks laid out by our campaign.”
“Approximately 1 in 3 households in Hudson County do not have access to a vehicle at home. The Hudson Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) is a vital connector for communities across Hudson County,” said Dana Haymon, Campaign Lead, Better Light Rail. “Expanding this essential service to Bergen County and deeper into Jersey City is absolutely necessary to connect us with jobs, reduce our environmental impact, and just make getting around safer and easier for the thousands of folks that want to ride the HBLR. This is why we are asking for service expansion and investment at all levels to make our campaign goals happen.”
To accelerate ongoing planning and build on the state’s existing efforts, Congressman Menendez urged state leaders to prioritize the following key actions:
Read the full letter by clicking here.
Congressman Rob Menendez consistently champions mass transit infrastructure, securing millions in federal funding to modernize transit across New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District. Recently, he successfully partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to expand PATH service frequencies. To learn more about his work, click here.
