The Perth Amboy Train Station took a step closer to being turned into a modern, customer-focused and fully-accessible facility on Thursday.
Gov. Phil Murphy, New Jersey Transit CEO and President Kevin Corbett and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Woodbridge), along with other state and local officials, celebrated the groundbreaking for major renovations that will include the construction of two new high-level platforms, four new elevators and additional ramps and stairs.
The Perth Amboy renovations are expected to be completed by the first half of 2024.
“The renovations to this historical train station represent my administration’s ongoing commitment to investing in our public transportation infrastructure,” Murphy said. “As commuters once again return to the trains they relied upon pre-pandemic to get to work or school, they must have confidence in the safety, comfort, and reliability of NJ Transit. Enhancing accessibility and transforming the experience of commuters through innovative improvements will benefit countless commuters who rely on NJ Transit, both here in Perth Amboy and throughout our state.”
“The groundbreaking we celebrate today will significantly improve the customer experience for the hundreds of customers who depend on this station every day,” Corbett said. “Most importantly, aligned with one of the five overarching goals in our 10-Year Strategic Plan, NJT2030, to power a stronger and fairer New Jersey for all communities, Perth Amboy Station will be fully accessible for customers with mobility impairments when construction is complete.”
In November 2021, NJ Transit was awarded $45.5 million, funded with a combination of federal and state monies, for a construction contract for Perth Amboy Station to upgrade and make the historic facility fully accessible. Prior to the pandemic, the station served an average of 874 weekday customer trips. Upon completion of the project, the station will meet accessibility requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
“As construction commences for renovations to the Perth Amboy Train Station, the facilities that will stand here promise to be a boon for the city and its surrounding communities,” Coughlin said. “With repairs intending to preserve the station’s distinctive style, we’re looking forward to bolstering Perth Amboy’s historical identity and the city’s economy with accessible and upgraded local transportation infrastructure.”
Additional improvements to the station will include renovated restrooms, the installation of upgraded security cameras and repairs to the pedestrian bridge as well as the eastbound and westbound buildings.
The station’s distinctive design elements, built in the Renaissance Revival architectural style when it was constructed in 1927, will be preserved in the new station.
