Jersey Avenue station

Jersey Avenue station

Company type	NJ Transit rail station
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	October 1963
Headquarters	New Brunswick , United States
Products	Commuter rail services

Jersey Avenue serves as a New Jersey Transit stop on the Northeast Corridor Line situated in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Positioned close to Jersey Avenue within an industrial zone next to a NJ Transit rail yard, it stands out among stations on this line due to its low-level platforms and absence of wheelchair accessibility. Established in October 1963 under an experimental park and ride initiative, it remains the sole station along the Northeast Corridor Line without service during weekends.

This station consists of two platforms: a southbound platform on the main track catering to trains bound for Trenton Transit Center, and a northbound platform located on a siding behind it serving trains traveling toward New York Penn Station. These platforms are divided by a parking area, and there is no platform on the northbound main track; thus, northbound trains arriving from Trenton do not make stops here. Roughly one-third of southbound trains terminate at Jersey Avenue by utilizing the siding.

In April 2014, NJ Transit authorized a design contract aimed at relocating and reconstructing the station with features such as high-level boarding platforms, a pedestrian overpass, vertical circulation elements, expanded parking facilities, and improved bus connectivity. The proposal also included enhancements to five miles of the Delco freight line to enable passenger trains to operate at speeds reaching 130 km/h (80 mph). By 2015, additional funding for design and engineering was secured, although construction timelines had not been finalized.

Initial proposal and inauguration (1962–1965)

In March 1962, Hebert Thomas, head of rail transit for the New Jersey State Highway Department, unveiled a $400 million plan to develop several park and ride locations along the Pennsylvania Railroad main line. This plan featured a new station west of downtown New Brunswick intended to replace the existing downtown facility.

By May 1962, the Tri-State Transportation Committee—which included representatives from New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut—recommended establishing a park and ride near Van Dyke Avenue and Jersey Avenue in New Brunswick adjacent to the local railroad yard. This new stop was designed exclusively for local trains while express services would continue calling at the downtown station.

The Committee observed that New Brunswick had experienced greater commuter losses to buses compared to other Pennsylvania Railroad areas. The new station aimed to recapture these riders by incentivizing rail use, with funding partly sourced from the Federal Housing Act of 1961 alongside support from New Jersey authorities and the railroad company.

Local business reactions were divided: some anticipated increased patronage from commuters, whereas others expressed concern that commercial activity might shift away from downtown—already affected by closures such as Mack Trucks and Camp Kilmer.

By June 1962, Thomas announced that the $183,250 station would provide complimentary parking for 300 vehicles and maintain fares equivalent to those at downtown New Brunswick. Officials stressed that express trains would continue stopping downtown while local services from Jersey Avenue would also serve that station.

In December 1962, Senator Harrison A. Williams secured a federal grant of $170,790 for this pilot station project. It was intended to operate for at least one year before becoming permanent if proven successful. Additional financial support came from New Jersey’s Division of Railroad Transportation and the Tri-State Committee.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 16, 1963, attended by Governor Richard J. Hughes and Senator Williams. The total project cost was $256,185, including an $81,499 contract awarded to Rule Construction of New Brunswick. Governor Hughes emphasized a $750 million state bond issue aimed at supporting transportation infrastructure and education.

The station officially opened on October 27, 1963, featuring a prefabricated steel structure housing a waiting area, ticket office, and restrooms. Service commenced with nine morning and thirteen afternoon trains running between Jersey Avenue and New York Pennsylvania Station. Initial usage proved robust—by 8 a.m., 110 commuters had utilized the facility with 92 cars parked onsite. Starting October 29, Suburban Transit extended eight bus routes from downtown New Brunswick directly to Jersey Avenue.

By January 1964, ridership on Pennsylvania Railroad trains increased by 7% following the station’s opening. Daily average users at Jersey Avenue steadily rose while downtown ridership remained stable. On April 26, 1964, service expanded further with five additional trains between Jersey Avenue and Penn Station alongside reduced travel times.

By November 1964, average daily parking occupancy reached 211 vehicles amid calls to extend operations beyond the initial eighteen-month trial period.

In April 1965, State Highway Commissioner Dwight Palmer announced that Jersey Avenue station would continue operating after the experimental phase concluded. The state requested that New Brunswick assume financial responsibility for park-and-ride management; however, city officials declined this offer. Consequently, parking transitioned from free to paid status with a fee of 50¢. Despite this change, authorities later pledged to maintain free parking availability at the station.

Enhancements (1971–1986)

On April 20, 1971, the newly formed Penn Central Railroad declared a 25% increase in fares, effective January 1 of that year, alongside intentions to enlarge Jersey Avenue station's parking capacity from 380 to 440 spaces in response to strong commuter demand. Additionally, a new eastbound train scheduled for departure at 8:20 a.m. was added, and a westbound platform was built to support service toward Trenton. Service was further expanded with the reintroduction of a late evening train at Jersey Avenue beginning May 24, 1971.

By November 14, 1971, the station’s new platform allowed for an additional 41 weekly train stops at Jersey Avenue, raising weekday service by six trains and weekend service by ten. In October 1974, J&L Parking—the lot’s operator—implemented a parking fee of 50¢ due to rising operational costs and the impact of the 1973 oil crisis, simultaneously increasing lot capacity to 450 spaces while prohibiting overflow parking along the railroad tracks.

The introduction of this parking fee sparked immediate resistance; South Brunswick Township passed a resolution opposing the charge in November 1974. State authorities questioned its legality, citing concerns over potential misuse of public funds and the absence of public hearings. As a result, New Brunswick revoked Penn Central’s tax exemption for the parking lot and other properties in February 1975. Subsequently, state legislation banned parking fees on publicly funded land, making enforcement of the fee impossible.

Following Conrail’s establishment in 1976, ownership of Jersey Avenue station transferred to Amtrak. In February 1979, New Brunswick Mayor John A. Lynch Jr. proposed leasing both Jersey Avenue and downtown stations from the state for $1 per year, with hopes that parking fees would help cover maintenance expenses. Due to vandalism-related security costs, J&L increased the parking fee to 60¢ in February 1980; meanwhile, Amtrak recommended employing full-day attendants for better oversight.

Ownership of the station was subsequently handed over from Amtrak to NJ Transit, which planned to lease operational control to New Brunswick. The city pursued a $6 million federal grant aimed at renovating the downtown station and expanding parking and transit infrastructure. By March 1980, New Jersey allocated $350,000 in state funding toward improvements at both stations.

In December 1982, NJ Transit contemplated service reductions at Jersey Avenue due to budget constraints, prompting city officials to seek full operational control. Proposed upgrades included adding 50 parking spaces, extending platforms from 300 feet to 500 feet, and installing protective canopies.

By February 1983, NJ Transit had acquired both stations and leased them to New Brunswick through 1988 with an option for extension. Revenue distribution assigned 25% toward Jersey Avenue’s operations—including plans to expand parking from 440 to 700 spaces—with priority given to improvements there first. The City Council formalized these leasing arrangements in July.

In January 1984, NJ Transit pledged $3 million for station enhancements; construction commenced that spring on a new station building at Jersey Avenue along with expanded parking facilities. In December 1984, local firm Triangle Fidelco leased land providing an additional 140 parking spaces for $650 per month; NJ Transit and the Department of Transportation installed lighting and amenities. This lot opened on January 28, 1985, serving as temporary commuter parking until the upgraded station was completed.

The refurbished Jersey Avenue station officially reopened in April 1986.

Station layout and services

Jersey Avenue station presents a distinctive configuration along the Northeast Corridor Line, consisting of two low-level side platforms: one positioned on a siding track adjacent to Jersey Avenue, and the other located on the westbound mainline track. Notably, there is no platform for eastbound trains along the main Northeast Corridor tracks. Eastbound services heading toward Penn Station depart exclusively from rolling stock stored at County Yard, while the westbound platform accommodates trains bound for Trenton Transit Center. This station is not served by Amtrak trains, which pass through without stopping. Due to its low-level platform design, Jersey Avenue remains the sole station on the Northeast Corridor Line without facilities compliant with handicap accessibility standards. The station building, situated on the inner eastbound platform, is staffed by a ticket agent during morning peak hours and is equipped with two ticket vending machines.

Parking facilities are operated by the New Brunswick Parking Authority and include three separate lots: two primary lots offering 844 spaces along with 22 designated handicap spots, and an additional lot across Jersey Avenue providing 540 spaces plus six handicap-accessible spots. Permit parking is required in the main lots except during nighttime hours; meanwhile, the lot across Jersey Avenue allows free parking on weekends.

Both Jersey Avenue and downtown New Brunswick stations fall within NJ Transit fare zone 14.

See also

• New Jersey Route 91
• County Yard
• Millstone Branch