69th Street station (NJ Transit)
| Company type | Planned transit station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Headquarters | North Bergen, New Jersey , United States |
| Products | Passenger rail service (planned) |
69th Street is a planned interchange station situated in North Bergen, within Hudson County, New Jersey. It is intended to accommodate travelers on two NJ Transit lines currently under evaluation: the Passaic–Bergen–Hudson Transit Project and the Northern Branch Corridor Project, which extends the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail. The station would be positioned at ground level, just west of the North Bergen Yard and adjacent to Tonnelle Avenue.
Background
The proposed 69th Street station would be located immediately west of a railroad corridor at the foot of the western incline of the lower Hudson Palisades. Historically, this area was served by the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway (NYSW), Erie Railroad, and West Shore Railroad. Both Erie and NYSW formerly operated a shared station at Babbitt, situated below 83rd Street, and later utilized the Susquehanna Transfer station beneath the Lincoln Tunnel Approach.
Currently, this rail corridor functions as a significant freight route for the NYSW Main Line and CSX Transportation (CSXT). The former West Shore line is now known as CSX's River Subdivision, which also manages operations on what was once the Erie Northern Branch. The northern boundary of the Conrail Shared Assets Area is marked by the CSX North Bergen Yard. Additionally, the former West Shore Weehawken Tunnel has been incorporated into the infrastructure of the HBLR.
Initiated in 1996 by NJ Transit alongside various stakeholders, the West Shore Region Study examined transit possibilities throughout Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic counties. A 1999 alternatives analysis identified three key projects: Northern Branch light rail, Bergen Passaic light rail, and West Shore commuter rail; however, only the first two proceeded beyond planning stages.
In 2002, Federal Railroad Administration-approved self-propelled diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains were introduced. While these DMUs were excluded from plans extending the Northern Branch HBLR line, they remain viable for use on the Passaic-Bergen route.
The 2004 Tri-County Rail Concept Plan proposed by NJ TRANSIT aimed to combine existing freight corridors with new rail construction to establish an integrated passenger rail network spanning Hudson, Bergen, and Passaic counties.
HBLR Northern Branch and Passaic–Bergen–Hudson Transit station
Initial designs for the Hudson–Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) included a 69th Street stop with a terminus at the Vince Lombardi Park & Ride near the New Jersey Turnpike. Due to financial and operational constraints related to the North Bergen Yard, however, the terminus was relocated eastward to the Tonnelle Avenue station. The original environmental impact statement (DEIS) for extending the Northern Branch did not feature a 69th Street station because of routing complications through the rail yard. Subsequently, a supplemental environmental impact statement (SIES) suggested constructing two flyover viaducts above freight tracks to enable an at-grade 69th Street station positioned between them.
The NJ Transit-led Passaic–Bergen–Hudson Transit Project seeks to reinstate passenger rail service along the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway (NYSW) line traversing Passaic, Bergen, and Hudson counties by employing Federal Railroad Administration-compliant diesel multiple unit vehicles. Plans incorporate a potential 69th Street station. The project’s initial phase aims to connect service between Hawthorne and an area near the former Hackensack-River Street stop; phase two envisions extending service further toward Tonnelle Avenue.
Situated between HBLR’s existing endpoint near 51st Street and the proposed 91st Street on the Northern Branch Corridor Project, 69th Street could serve as a vital link enhancing regional transit integration. As of 2021, NJ Transit bus routes 121 and 127 provide limited service in this vicinity.
69th Street Bridge
Although not formally included in the rail initiatives, the 69th Street Bridge plays a vital role in ensuring their effective operation. This structure replaced the former grade crossing located at the northern boundary of the CSX North Bergen Yard and the NYSW siding between Tonnelle Avenue and West Side Avenue. The presence of lengthy trains frequently caused major traffic congestion, adversely affecting commuters and local shoppers. Construction began in October 2008; however, progress was hindered for several years due to contractor complications and the termination of contracts. The bridge was finally completed and opened in February 2019, significantly improving safety measures and reducing traffic bottlenecks.
