An artist rendering of approved concept design; subject to change upon completion of the final design. (Rendering courtesy of Middlesex County NJ)
A major endeavor that will bring a new transit stop to a growing community in New Jersey is moving forward as the firm behind North Brunswick's new train station has unveiled the hub's initial design.
Officials from the Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA) recently revealed the aesthetic of what will become the North Brunswick stop along the Northeast Corridor line. The New Jersey State Legislature distributed $50 million for the project through the state's transportation trust fund back in 2017.
Jersey Digs reported March 6 that the plan will use existing rail along NJ Transit's busiest commuter line, which also hosts trains run by Amtrak. The future station is slated to be situated across from North Brunswick's Main Street in a mixed-use development that includes Costco and Target stores alongside a Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, and 100 townhome residences dubbed The Heights at Main Street.
Designed by New York City-based WSP USA, work on the North Brunswick Train Station will consist of three phases of engineering work plus the eventual construction of the facility. NJ Transit approved 10 percent of the conceptual design in February.
"Our residents have been anxiously awaiting the new train station," said North Brunswick Mayor Francis Womack after the reveal. "As the project progresses, it's important to be as transparent as possible and keep the public engaged and informed."
The complete realization of the North Brunswick Train Station is still a way off for now, according to Jersey Digs. The online publication noted that MCIA Executive Director James Polos recently said that the project is expected to go out to bid for construction by the end of 2025.
The train station will not only be a new Middlesex County stop along the Northeast Corridor but will provide substantial relief to one of New Jersey's busiest rail lines as well as reduce traffic along U.S. Highway 1 — a major thoroughfare — and attract new revenue to the region, the county noted on its website.
New Station Has Been Discussed for Years
The North Brunswick Train Station project was proposed as far back as 15 years ago. After its planning and discussion progressed, the state legislature allocated funds totaling $50 million for its construction through the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund (NJTTF) in 2017, allowing the effort to move ahead.
In late 2019, the MCIA was tasked with managing the project — a first-of-its-kind partnership between NJ Transit and a county. Through a memorandum of understanding, MCIA is permitted to serve as the project manager overseeing the design and construction of the train station. In addition, the agreement states that MCIA will coordinate input from NJ Transit, AMTRAK, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), the North Brunswick Township developer, and Middlesex County.
Approval of the initial funding agreement with NJ Transit in October 2020 enabled MCIA to access the project funding, begin active management of the project, and start the process of hiring a design and engineering firm; WSP USA's brought its expertise to the project a year later, according to Middlesex County.
The conceptual location and configuration of the station platform was agreed upon by MCIA and NJ Transit in early 2022, and last summer the county's improvement authority finalized and submitted the 10 percent conceptual design to NJ Transit, which gave its stamp of approval in February.
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