Better light rail in North Jersey? Hopeful advocates have a plan.

Transit advocates in North Jersey have launched the "Better Light Rail" campaign to push for significant service and infrastructure improvements across the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system. Led by Hudson County Complete Streets, the initiative seeks to increase off-peak frequency to 10-minute intervals and advance long-stalled capital projects, including a 10-mile northern extension into Bergen County. The effort follows a successful advocacy model that recently secured expanded weekend service on the PATH system, highlighting a growing regional demand for reliable mass transit outside of traditional commuting hours.

The Better Light Rail campaign, organized by Hudson County Complete Streets, is mobilizing commuters to demand a modernization of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) network. Key objectives include reducing off-peak headways from 30 minutes or more down to 10 minutes, adding two new stations in Jersey City and Hoboken, and completing a western extension to Jersey City’s bayfront. Campaigns manager Jack McKee and Jersey City Councilmember Eleana Little emphasized that current service levels fail to meet the needs of the 40% of local households without cars, particularly for non-work trips such as medical appointments or weekend events. Volunteer Chris Capers, a construction worker with LiUNA Local 3, noted that infrequent service directly impacts employment reliability for residents who depend on the system at all hours.

NJ Transit has four major capital projects on its books for the system, which were projected to cost a combined $1.65 billion as of 2020. The most significant is the $1.18 billion northern extension into Bergen County, which currently requires a new environmental assessment after federal authorities determined the 2007 study was outdated. The agency issued a request for proposals in November for a contractor to conduct this new assessment. Other planned infrastructure improvements include a new track to bypass a critical Hoboken intersection and upgrades to the Paterson Avenue crossing on the Jersey City-Hoboken border. NJ Transit spokesperson John Chartier stated the agency is reviewing service frequencies and working with regional partners, though specific timelines for these multi-billion-dollar projects remain contingent on resources.

The push for light rail improvements is modeled after the A Better PATH campaign, which successfully pressured the Port Authority to expand weekend service earlier this year. That expansion resulted in record-breaking ridership, with June Saturday averages reaching 144,391 and Sunday averages hitting 114,146—a 25% increase over June 2025. While the PATH campaign saw rapid results, some goals remain unaddressed, such as the Newark Liberty International Airport extension, which was excluded from the Port Authority’s 2026-2035 capital plan. Instead, the agency is prioritizing a $3.5 billion AirTrain replacement and a $150 million airport rail station expansion to improve access for Newark and Elizabeth residents.