Hudson-Bergen Light Rail: The Spine of the West Side

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is one of the defining transit lines of the Jersey City commute, even though it never leaves New Jersey. Operated by NJ Transit, the system runs from Bayonne north through Jersey City and Hoboken to Weehawken, with branches that serve the west side of Jersey City and the waterfront. Its trains are a familiar sight gliding at street level through neighborhoods and along the old rail corridors.

In Jersey City, the line functions as a spine for areas that PATH does not reach directly. Stations serve Liberty State Park, Jersey Avenue, Garfield Avenue, Martin Luther King Drive, West Side Avenue and other points, connecting riders to PATH at Exchange Place, Newport and Hoboken Terminal for the trip into Manhattan. For many west side residents, the light rail is the first leg of every commute.

The system's design reflects its era. It opened in stages beginning in 2000, reusing rail rights-of-way and adding modern stations, and it helped spur development around several stops. Riders value its level boarding, its integration with bus routes and its usefulness for trips within Hudson County that would otherwise require a car, from medical appointments to classes at local colleges.

Using it well takes a little planning. Trains share portions of their route with street traffic in some areas, so schedules are a guide rather than a guarantee at busy times. Riders must buy and validate tickets or use the NJ Transit mobile app before boarding, since fares are checked on a proof-of-payment basis and riding without a valid ticket can result in a fine.

As Jersey City continues to grow on its west side and along its waterfront, the light rail's role keeps expanding from commuter feeder to neighborhood transit. If you have only ever taken it to reach PATH, try it for a trip within the city itself. It shows you a Jersey City that the tunnels and highways pass over without ever quite revealing.