The board of commissioners of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, a state agency in charge of managing the development of the sprawling Meadowlands region of North Jersey, has approved a general redevelopment plan for a blighted 231-acre former industrial site surrounding the new Secaucus Junction rail station. The station, which opened last fall on the Northeast corridor mainline about halfway between Newark and Manhattan, links 10 of New Jersey's 11 commuter rail lines, including Amtrak service.

The redevelopment plan for Secaucus Transit Village calls for a total of up to 1,850 residential units in what NJMC officials term "a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use complex." The project would include an unspecified amount of retail space and other uses.

"The entire redevelopment area would be within a 10-minute walk of the station, as well as the Hackensack River," according to a commission spokesman. "The river would be further accessed by boat or canoes linked to a new canoe trail. Bike lanes and trails, as well as walking trails, would connect to the rail station."

"We are committed to improving the Meadowlands economy in a way that preserves our urban wilderness," says Susan Bass Levin, an NJMC commissioner who also heads the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

A key element that had been holding up the plan until now is access to the new rail station from the New Jersey Turnpike, which runs directly past it. Construction began on a new interchange earlier this year, with completion anticipated for about a year from now. Construction had been delayed for more than a year by the excavation and relocation of a local burying ground.

The project does have a way to go, according to officials. A private sector developer will be selected through a competitive bidding process, slated to be kicked off shortly. The site will also require some remediation in the wake of its previous industrial use.

To answer concerns of local residents regarding an influx of traffic, the NJMC has also authorized a payout of $200,000 to defray the costs of a transportation study that will be undertaken by the City of Secaucus. A separate $100,000 study to be conducted by Meadowlink Commuter Services, a local nonprofit organization, will look into the feasibility of a ride-share program for residents of the new community.

No timetable for construction of the Secaucus Transit Village has been released.

Instant Insights /

1,850-Unit 'Transit Village' Slated for Commuter Rail Terminal

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