Officials Check Out Improvements To Long Branch Train Station

LONG BRANCH, NJ – The head of the state’s Department of Transportation (NJDOT) visited the Long Branch train station today to meet with city officials and Congressman Frank Pallone to check out improvements made to the train station.

NJDOT Commissioner and NJ Transit Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti noted that last summer, NJ Transit made major improvements to the station itself, including resurfacing the parking lot, repairing deteriorating concrete, repainting the station platform, and replacing the lighting and fixtures in the station’s pedestrian tunnel.

"Thanks to significant grant funding from the state, the City embarked on improvements to the streets, sidewalks, and landscaping along Third Avenue on both sides of Morris Ave to Lowden Ct," Commissioner Gutierrez-Scaccetti said in a press release.

"While not yet complete, it includes brick pavers along the sidewalks, old-fashioned street lamps, new trees, seagrass, and potted plants."

In April, Long Branch officials announced plans for a pedestrian bridge over the train station platform to reconnect the east and west sides of the railroad station, separated when the platform was built over Morris Avenue in 1988.

"On behalf of the City of Long Branch, I want to thank the DOT Commissioner for all she has done to improve the Long Branch train station and the area surrounding it. We also appreciate her plans in the future working with the state and federal government for additional funds to make the station intermodal and build a pedestrian bridge to unite the business communities on both sides of the station," Mayor Pallone said.

These improvements are part of a larger plan to turn the train station and the surrounding area into a “transit village,” where public transit modes of all types are easily accessible.

"We want to promote as many transit options as possible at the Long Branch train station. It will become intermodal because it will accommodate buses, trolleys, taxis, and Ubers. Newer electric vehicles will have electric charging stations available as well," Council President Mario Vieira said.

According to Congressman Pallone, the hope is to secure federal funding from a proposed infrastructure bill by President Joe Biden.

"The idea is to get federal funds with a state match by promoting the Long Branch station as an innovative transportation facility," Congressman Pallone stated.