Glen Ridge station

Glen Ridge station is a commuter rail station located in the borough of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, served by New Jersey Transit's Montclair-Boonton Line. The station features two side platforms adjacent to the line's two tracks, situated just east of the grade crossing at Bloomfield Avenue. It serves residents of the surrounding Essex County communities, providing direct rail service to New York Penn Station via Secaucus Junction.

History

The station was originally constructed by the Erie Railroad in 1873, coinciding with the development of Glen Ridge as a commuter town for New York City. The line through Glen Ridge was part of the Erie's main line to Jersey City and its Pavonia Terminal. In 1960, the station and the line became part of the Erie Lackawanna Railway following the merger of the Erie Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. With the formation of Conrail in 1976, commuter operations were subsidized by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The station, along with the entire Boonton Line, was transferred to New Jersey Transit in 1983. A major station rehabilitation project was completed in 2003, which included new platforms, canopies, lighting, and signage.

Station layout

The station has two low-level side platforms, each approximately 300 feet long, serving the two tracks of the Montclair-Boonton Line. The inbound platform, for trains traveling toward Hoboken Terminal and New York Penn Station, is located on the south side of the tracks. The outbound platform, for trains toward Montclair State University, Dover, and Hackettstown, is on the north side. A pedestrian grade crossing at the west end of the platforms connects the two sides. The station house, a small brick building, is located on the inbound side and contains a waiting area. Parking lots are available on both the north and south sides of the tracks, accessible from Ridgewood Avenue.

Services

Glen Ridge is served by New Jersey Transit trains on the Montclair-Boonton Line (train numbers 30-49, 60-69). On weekdays, there is bidirectional service throughout the day, with peak direction service concentrated during the morning and evening rush hours. Direct destinations include New York Penn Station (via Secaucus Junction), Hoboken Terminal, Bay Street, Montclair State University, and Dover. Weekend service typically operates between Hoboken Terminal and Dover. The station is located in New Jersey Transit fare zone 5. Connections are available to several NJ Transit Bus Operations routes, including the 11, 13, and 28, along Bloomfield Avenue.

Ridership

According to New Jersey Transit statistics, Glen Ridge station had an average weekday ridership of 1,008 passengers in 2018. Ridership patterns are characteristic of a suburban commuter station, with highest boardings on weekday mornings for travel toward New York City and highest alightings on weekday evenings. The station's ridership is influenced by its location in a densely populated residential area of Essex County and its proximity to Bloomfield and Montclair. Historical ridership figures have been affected by service changes on the Montclair-Boonton Line, including the opening of the Montclair Connection in 2002 and the completion of Secaucus Junction in 2003.

Accidents and incidents

On October 4, 2012, a New Jersey Transit train struck a vehicle at the Bloomfield Avenue grade crossing just west of the station. The accident, which occurred during the evening rush hour, resulted in minor injuries to the vehicle's driver and delayed service on the Montclair-Boonton Line for several hours. An investigation by the New Jersey Transit Police Department determined the vehicle had driven around lowered crossing gates. In a separate incident in 1998, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a train near the station, leading to increased safety signage and public awareness campaigns by Operation Lifesaver and New Jersey Transit regarding railroad right-of-way trespassing.

Category:Railway stations in Essex County, New Jersey Category:New Jersey Transit stations Category:Railway stations opened in 1873