New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy recently announced the acquisition of a nine-mile former rail line.
The land will be converted into a new State park connecting eight Essex and Hudson County communities – Jersey City, Secaucus, Kearny, Newark, Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, and Montclair. As a result, officials say these communities will benefit from expanded access to green, open space; increased transportation and recreation opportunities; and improved air filtration and stormwater management.
New Jersey’s fiscal 2023 budget agreement includes $20 million in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to begin the remedial and structural work necessary to transform the abandoned rail line into a usable transportation corridor and recreational space. The entire line will remain closed to the public for an initial period of six-to-12 months.
After that, the line will be opened to the public segment by segment as work on individual sections is completed over the next several years.
