North Brunswick station
| Company type | Planned rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Headquarters | North Brunswick, New Jersey , United States |
Area served | North Brunswick, New Jersey |
| Owner | New Jersey Transit Rail Operations |
North Brunswick is a planned rail station on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) located in North Brunswick, New Jersey. It is being developed by New Jersey Transit Rail Operations (NJT) to serve the Northeast Corridor Line. The project received approval in 2013, with an original opening date targeted for 2018 and an estimated budget of $30 million. This station forms part of multiple initiatives along the NEC's "New Jersey Speedway" segment.
The designated location for the station occupies the former Johnson & Johnson site at the intersection of Route 1 and Aaron Road, owned by the property's developers. It plays a central role in the transit-oriented development named Main Street North Brunswick, which has been identified as a transit village. Funding for the project was included in NJ Transit's Fiscal Year 2015 capital plan.
As of mid-2017, construction had yet to commence. In October 2017, $50 million was allocated from the Transportation Trust Fund to support the project. By October 2019, NJ Transit and Middlesex County, New Jersey had committed $70 million to initiate construction activities. In 2021, the Middlesex County Improvement Authority contracted WSP USA to undertake station design work. Preliminary designs were unveiled in March 2023, with construction anticipated to begin in 2025.
Although the station's development has experienced delays, progress on Main Street North Brunswick's transit village continues, featuring retail and hospitality establishments such as Costco, Target (opened 2014), Panera Bread (2017), Courtyard by Marriott (2019), Shake Shack (scheduled for 2024), along with a fully leased community of 100 townhomes.
Mid-Line Loop and County Yard
NJT intends to construct a Mid-Line Loop—a flying junction combined with a balloon loop—positioned between mileposts 36 and 37 on the NEC just south of the future station. This infrastructure will facilitate train turnarounds and allow entry or exit from service without track crossings, functioning as a staging location for a mid-line terminal. Presently, NJT operates peak-period trains to Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station originating from Jersey Avenue station in New Brunswick.
Additionally, NJT is enhancing "train haven" capabilities at County Yard by reconfiguring and expanding it into the adjacent inactive Mile Run Yard. This upgrade will provide secure storage for equipment during severe weather events, thereby improving operational reliability.
As of 2019, plans for constructing the new station did not incorporate the Mid-Line Loop.
High-speed corridor
In August 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation pledged $450 million toward a six-year enhancement project covering 24 miles of the Northeast Corridor between New Brunswick and Trenton, known as the "New Jersey Speedway." The Next Generation High-Speed initiative aims to modernize electrical systems, signaling, and overhead catenary infrastructure to improve dependability and increase train speeds up to 160 mph, with new rolling stock capable of reaching speeds of 186 mph.
See also
External links
- North Brunswick Transit Village, North Brunswick Township
- NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ MAIN STREET 2300 US HIGHWAY 1, Garden Commercial (property developer)
- The North Brunswick Transit Village Home Page, North Brunswick TOD Associates, LLC