Middlesex County Will Manage Design and Construction of New Brunswick Train Station Renovations, Focus on Customer Experience Improvements

NEW BRUNSWICK – Governor Phil Murphy today highlighted critical infrastructure improvements at the New Brunswick Train Station as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) budget agreement. Located at a critical point on NJ TRANSIT’s Northeast Corridor rail line, the station will benefit from a $49 million investment toward extending and replacing passenger platforms, rehabilitating escalators and elevators, installing energy-efficient lighting, and upgrading heating and air-conditioning systems, in addition to other internal and external projects. This significant investment in local economic development and passenger experience is just one piece of the $814 million the FY2023 budget agreement is dedicating to rail station improvements through the Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund. 

The Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA) will project manage the renovations of the station on behalf of the County and NJ TRANSIT, inclusive of design and construction. NJ TRANSIT will provide technical assistance, procure and manage an engineering and design firm, retain construction services, and have review and approval rights throughout the project. MCIA is currently in the process of preparing the scope for the project, which will focus on enhancements to the station and customer experience.

“Our fiscally responsible and forward-looking investments will further solidify the city’s reputation as a pivotal crossroads, not just as a geographic center point in the heart of New Jersey, but as a place where residents, students, medical professionals, and internationally renowned companies continue to congregate for generations to come,” said Governor Murphy. “Officials at all levels of New Jersey government are working in lockstep to help the Hub City achieve its full potential as an economic powerhouse and destination. Just as importantly, our efforts are expanding access to affordable and attractive public transportation alternatives for all New Jerseyans, regardless of income or zip code.”

“I’m proud to join Governor Murphy today to celebrate the important improvements that are coming to the New Brunswick Train Station,” said Congressman Frank Pallone. “These upgrades to the station’s infrastructure will help make it safer and more accessible for commuters who rely on public transit. When we invest in our public transit system, we ensure that everyone has access to opportunities in our state. I look forward to seeing these upgrades move forward.”

“Modernizing our infrastructure and keeping it in a state of good repair is critical to providing a world class transit experience that New Jersey deserves,” said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. “The upgraded and enhanced New Brunswick station will be pivotal in amplifying economic activity here in the heart of New Jersey.”

“NJ TRANSIT, along with our partners at the Middlesex County Improvement Authority, will be moving forward with a series of significant improvements at our New Brunswick Station thanks to Governor Murphy's significant funding commitment,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “This revitalized station will enhance accessibility, mobility, and the customer experience for thousands of Middlesex County residents who use this station every day.”

“This $49 million budget investment marks more than just a continuation of the state’s commitment to a robust, reliable, and accessible transportation network in the Garden State,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “It is an investment that is the product of decades of good local leadership under Mayor Cahill, leadership that with wide spanning partnerships is ushering in a resurgence of the city and empowering New Brunswick to see its full potential realized as a home for innovation.” 

“I am excited to share that the improvements to the station from design to construction will be a project managed by the County through the Middlesex County Improvement Authority.  This is a familiar role for the County, as it is the same process currently taking place with the North Brunswick Train Station a few miles down the track,” said Middlesex County Board of County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “Today, the announcement that the MCIA will play a similar role for the station in New Brunswick is a testament to the constructive collaboration between NJTRANSIT and the MCIA. This is all made possible due to our partners at the state, in particular Governor Murphy, Speaker Craig Coughlin, and the 17th Legislative District, through the allocation of $49 million for these renovations.”

“This train station is a daily reminder of our long and rich history as a transit hub,” said New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill. “These upgrades being announced today will ensure that New Brunswick will continue to be recognized as a critical component in statewide and regional transportation and will serve as the perfect complement to our world-class facilities like the Jack and Cheryl Morris Cancer Pavilion and the New Jersey Innovation and Technology Hub.”

“Modernization of the New Brunswick Train Station will energize the transformative development taking place directly adjacent to the Northeast Corridor, making the NJ Innovation HUB and Rutgers Cancer Institute accessible to researchers, patients, employees and visitors from Boston to Washington D.C.,” said New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO) President Christopher Paladino.