Plauderville station
| Company type | NJ Transit train station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 1913 |
| Headquarters | Garfield , United States |
| Products | Train services on Bergen County Line |
Plauderville serves as a NJ Transit train station situated in Garfield, New Jersey, operating on the Bergen County Line. Positioned along Midland Avenue between Plauderville Avenue and Outwater Lane, it has functioned as a fully equipped station since April 2012, offering high-level platforms that provide accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Construction of these elevated platforms at Plauderville commenced in 2009, financed through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Train operations continued on the original low-level platform until October 10, 2011, when services transitioned to the newly built high-level platforms. The construction contract was fulfilled by Anselmi & DeCicco, Inc., based in Maplewood, New Jersey.
History
Back in 1913, a boxcar body was repurposed at Plauderville at a cost of $150. In 1995, NJ Transit revealed intentions to develop a new station at the intersection of Midland Avenue and Outwater Lane, the site now recognized as Plauderville station. A tragic incident occurred in 2002 near this location when a woman died by suicide on the railway tracks.
High-level platforms
With funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, NJ Transit obtained $16 million (in 2009 dollars) to construct modern high-level platforms at Plauderville station, improving compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. On August 12, 2009, a contract valued at $7.9 million was awarded to Anselmi and DeCicco Inc. for building two 450-foot-long side platforms adorned with glass panels illustrating Garfield’s history. Garfield’s city manager, Tom Duch, mentioned plans to install a statue honoring President James Garfield, after whom the city is named.
Prior to October 11, 2011, Plauderville’s low-level platforms were located slightly farther along the track near the Garfield–Saddle Brook line, featuring minimal amenities and lacking disability access. The inaugural revenue train to utilize the new high-level platforms was the 5:43 am Hoboken-bound service on October 10, 2011; subsequent to this shift, the former platform was decommissioned.
Historically, both Plauderville and Garfield’s Passaic Street stations operated limited peak-hour service only; trains bypassed these stops during early afternoons despite outbound trains running throughout the day. The upgraded Plauderville station facilitated NJ Transit’s expansion of evening and nighttime Hoboken-bound service options.
On September 21, 2012, an $83,000 pilot safety system was implemented at the Outwater Lane crossing. This system incorporated electronic signage and audio warnings designed to alert pedestrians of approaching trains.
Station layout
Plauderville station consists of two tracks, each served by a high-level side platform.
Located between Outwater Lane at Henrietta Street and Midland Avenue at Plauderville Avenue in Garfield, the station provides three free parking lots with a total of 259 spaces managed by New Jersey Transit. The largest parking area lies beside the Suffern-bound platform and contains 224 spaces, including seven designated accessible spots. Another lot situated at Midland Avenue and Hartman Street offers 21 non-accessible spaces. The third lot is positioned behind the Hoboken-bound platform along Outwater Lane near Henrietta Road and holds 14 non-accessible spaces.
Pedestrian entry points exist from both Outwater Lane and Midland Avenue, with platforms terminating close to the original grade crossing. A single ticket vending machine is available on the Hoboken-bound side within a sheltered seating area that features local artwork. This side also benefits from an extended canopy covering a larger portion of the platform compared to the smaller shelter found on the outbound platform.