Project Profiles

Location

Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey

New Jersey Transit

New Jersey Department of Transportation

Federal Transit Administration

Program Areas

Mode

Light Rail

Description

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) is a light rail transit system encompassing 24 stations. It runs north-south on the Hudson River waterfront in Hudson County, New Jersey for 20.6 miles.

The project was implemented in phases. An initial minimum operable segment (MOS-I) was a $1.0 billion, 9.5-mile operating segment opened in 2000 with 16 stations, followed by several extensions completed later that year, with the final station opening in 2002. MOS-II was a $1.2 billion, 6-mile, 7-station project that opened in phases from 2002 through 2006. The line connects terminals at Tonnelle Avenue (North Bergen), Hoboken Terminal (Hoboken), 22nd Street in Bayonne and West Side Avenue in Jersey City. MOS-III was completed at a cost of $100 million in January 2011 with an extension from the former southern terminus at 22nd street one mile to 8th Street in Bayonne.

Cost

$2.3 billion (MOS-I, II, and III)

Funding Sources

FTA New Starts Full Funding Grant Agreements

Grant Anticipation Notes (GANs) (backed by passenger fares)

State Transportation Trust Fund (motor fuel tax receipts)

Project Delivery / Contract Method

• DBOM 15-year fixed price contract in 1996 to design and construct 9.5-mile MOS-I with a guaranteed completion date, provide a fleet of light rail vehicles, and operate and maintain the system for 15 years
• Initial contract only covered the first segment; however it was later renegotiated to include subsequent extensions

Private Partner

DBOM partner: 21st Century Rail Corporation - URS Washington

Division (70%); Itochu Rail Car and Kinkisharo USA (30%)

Project Advisors

Parsons Brinckerhoff

Booz Allen Hamilton

Nossaman, Guthner, Knox & Elliott, LLP

Lenders

None

The project's initial phase opened in 2000. Seven other expansions have been completed as of January 2011 since the initial segment was opened in 2000.

Financial Status

Closed

Innovations

• Part of the FTA Turnkey Demonstration Program
• First DBOM transit application in the U.S. selected because of the estimated eight years that would be saved compared to the traditional multiple design/bid/award/construct approach.

Related Links / Articles

Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Website

Press Release - HBLR 8th St. Station Opens

Contacts

NJ TRANSIT
Office of Public Information
One Penn Plaza East
Newark, NJ 07105-2246
Tel: (973) 491-7078