PARKING CAPACITY TO NEARLY DOUBLE AUGUST 13 AT NORTH HACKENSACK STATION

Commuters gain 143 new spaces

August 12, 2008
NJT-08-046

NEWARK, NJ ¿ Starting tomorrow, commuters who park at North Hackensack Station on the Pascack Valley Line will have nearly twice the number of parking spaces to choose from, thanks to an expansion project recently completed by NJ TRANSIT.

NJ TRANSIT nearly doubled parking capacity at the station with construction of a new 143-space surface lot on the east side of the tracks. The second lot brings the total number of available parking spaces to 291.

"As a Bergen County resident, I know firsthand the difficulties residents face on our congested roadways," said NJ TRANSIT Board Member Susan Hayes. "The additional parking will allow more Bergen County residents to leave their cars behind and take advantage of NJ TRANSIT train service."

"The new parking lot at North Hackensack Station will make it easier for customers taking advantage of new bi-directional, midday and weekend service on the Pascack Valley Line," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Richard Sarles. "This project is a good example of the State¿s continuing investment to improving access to public transportation for residents."

Ridership on the Pascack Valley Line increased 15.7 percent in the third fiscal quarter (January-March) as compared to the same period last year.

"The expanded parking is a great benefit for our residents, especially given the high price of gas," said River Edge Mayor Margaret Falahee Watkins. "More parking capacity means that more of our residents can easily access the NJ TRANSIT system."

Tilcon New York Inc. of Wharton, NJ constructed the new parking lot under a $1.6 million contract. Construction began in September 2007.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing nearly 865,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 164 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.