News
Menendez Pushes to Expand and Modernize the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
Congressman Rob Menendez is pushing state leaders to expand and modernize the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, the rail line that carries tens of thousands of Hudson County residents each day.
In a letter to Gov. Mikie Sherrill, NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri, and state Transportation Commissioner Priya Jain, Menendez urged the state to prioritize upgrades and service expansions for the light rail, which he said has not been expanded since 2011.
The line serves more than 55,000 riders each weekday across one of the state’s most densely populated regions, where roughly one in three Hudson County households does not have access to a car.
“Investing in public transit directly improves daily quality of life for New Jersey families,” Menendez said. “Modernizing the HBLR means faster, more reliable commutes and better access to jobs and economic opportunity across our region.”
Menendez, who partnered with the group Hudson County Complete Streets and local transit advocates on the effort, laid out several priorities. They include more frequent off-peak service, with trains every 10 minutes; infrastructure repairs to reduce delays; and service expansions, including extending the line across Route 440 in Jersey City, into Bergen County, and toward Newark. He also called for better real-time train tracking and possible new local stops in Jersey City and Hoboken.
“The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail does more than simply move 55 thousand daily riders to their destinations, it supports economic growth, connects communities, and creates opportunity,” said Jack McKee, campaigns manager for Hudson County Complete Streets.
Menendez asked the state for written responses to his questions by October 30, 2026, including a cost estimate for 10-minute off-peak service and a timeline for the Route 440 extension.
