Wayne Route 23 Transit Center
| Company type | Transit center |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | January 2008 |
| Headquarters | Wayne, New Jersey , United States |
Area served | Wayne, New Jersey and surrounding areas |
| Products | Bus and train transit services |
The Wayne Route 23 Transit Center situated in Wayne, New Jersey functions as a significant NJ Transit interchange, integrating both a bus terminal and a train platform on the Montclair–Boonton Line. It provides bus routes to prominent locations such as the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Newark Penn Station, while train services connect passengers to Hoboken Terminal, New York Penn Station, and various stops between Montclair State University and Hackettstown. Positioned adjacent to the southbound lanes of New Jersey Route 23, near the junction with I-80 and US 46 and directly across from Willowbrook Mall, this facility commenced operations in January 2008, featuring parking capacity for 1,000 vehicles.
Conceived as an "interceptor station," its primary objective is to ease traffic congestion at the West Belt Road Interchange where three major highways intersect. Additionally, it addresses previous limitations in parking availability and capacity encountered at the former Route 23 Park & Ride (currently known as Mother's Park & Ride) and Willowbrook Mall Park & Ride sites.
History
According to a November 2005 project outline by New Jersey Transit, plans were set to issue a construction contract for "off-site road improvements" beginning in March 2006, with preliminary activities scheduled for July and August 2006.
On September 13, 2006, the Board of New Jersey Transit approved the contract for constructing the transit center. Building work commenced in the fall of 2006 and reached completion in early 2008.
It was announced in December 2007 that bus operations at the station would start on January 12, 2008, followed by rail services launching on January 14, 2008.
By March 2008, parking fees were introduced at Wayne Route 23 along with nearby park-and-ride locations including Willowbrook Mall, Mother's Park & Ride, and Allwood Road Park & Ride in Clifton. Parking permits are available via ticket vending machines located on the platforms, offering both daily and monthly options. The Wayne bus garage is situated across Route 23. There are plans under consideration to construct a parking structure accommodating an additional 1,000 vehicles and to develop surrounding station property.
Station layout and services
In addition to serving trains on the Montclair-Boonton Line, the Transit Center accommodates several New Jersey Transit bus routes:
- 194 providing service to Port Authority Bus Terminal and Butler/Newfoundland
- 198 connecting Port Authority Bus Terminal and William Paterson University
- 324 operating to/from Port Authority Bus Terminal with this station as its origin and terminus
- 748 running between Willowbrook Mall and Paterson