.gif)
Metropark (NJT station)
Encyclopedia
Metropark Station is the name of a train station
in Edison Township, Middlesex County
, New Jersey
, which is served by Amtrak
and New Jersey Transit
trains on the Northeast Corridor Line
. Metropark Station takes its name from a nearby office park in Iselin
, a neighborhood in Woodbridge Township.
section of Woodbridge Township
, north of the intersection of Thornall Street and Wood Avenue. It is accessible via Exits 130, 131, 131A, or 131B of the Garden State Parkway
.
(NJDOT). The plan was part of the larger Metroliner Service being rolled out by the Penn Central Railroad and (later) Amtrak. As businesses and people fled the urban cores
the Metropark station was conceived to serve this new suburban market. The location was right off of the Garden State Parkway
to allow for easy access by automobile and a large business park
was constructed adjacent to the station to further induce demand for rail services.
The Metropark station was dedicated on November 11, 1971 by Amtrak. Commuter trains began stopping at Metropark in 1972 and the nearby Iselin station was closed (and, a few years later, Colonia
). In a similar move suburban ring stations were opened at New Carrollton, Maryland
near Washington, DC and Route 128
near Boston
, Massachusetts about the same time.
The station is also served by New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor
commuter rail line, as well as NJ Transit Bus Number 62 http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0062.pdf.
and Newark Penn Station
, most Amtrak trains stop at Metropark, despite having to switch to the outside (local) tracks in order to do so. Two switching points (interlockings MENLO and ISELIN) before and after the station make this task more convenient than at the other NJ stations.
Of the six New Jersey stations served by Amtrak, Metropark was the third-busiest in FY2010, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 1050 passengers daily.
in 2006, Metropark was the first non-terminal station to have over 7,000 weekday boardings.
Perth Amboy
garage.
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
in Edison Township, Middlesex County
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, which is served by Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
and New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
trains on the Northeast Corridor Line
Northeast Corridor Line
The Northeast Corridor Line is a commuter rail operation run by New Jersey Transit along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. It is the successor to commuter services provided by the Pennsylvania Railroad along the section between Trenton, New Jersey and New York Penn Station...
. Metropark Station takes its name from a nearby office park in Iselin
Iselin, New Jersey
Iselin is a census-designated place and unincorporated area within Woodbridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 16,698.-Geography:...
, a neighborhood in Woodbridge Township.
Station layout and location
The station lies near IselinIselin, New Jersey
Iselin is a census-designated place and unincorporated area within Woodbridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 16,698.-Geography:...
section of Woodbridge Township
Woodbridge Township, New Jersey
-Communities:Many distinct communities exist within Woodbridge Township. Several of these communities have their own ZIP codes, and many are listed by the United States Census Bureau as census-designated places, but they are all unincorporated areas and neighborhoods within the Township that,...
, north of the intersection of Thornall Street and Wood Avenue. It is accessible via Exits 130, 131, 131A, or 131B of the Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
.
History
Metropark was first proposed in late 1968, under a plan introduced by the New Jersey Department of TransportationNew Jersey Department of Transportation
The New Jersey Department of Transportation is the agency responsible for transportation issues and policy in New Jersey. It is headed by the Commissioner of Transportation...
(NJDOT). The plan was part of the larger Metroliner Service being rolled out by the Penn Central Railroad and (later) Amtrak. As businesses and people fled the urban cores
Suburbanization
Suburbanization a term used to describe the growth of areas on the fringes of major cities. It is one of the many causes of the increase in urban sprawl. Many residents of metropolitan regions work within the central urban area, choosing instead to live in satellite communities called suburbs...
the Metropark station was conceived to serve this new suburban market. The location was right off of the Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
to allow for easy access by automobile and a large business park
Business park
A business park or office park is an area of land in which many office buildings are grouped together. All of the work that goes on is commercial, not industrial or residential....
was constructed adjacent to the station to further induce demand for rail services.
The Metropark station was dedicated on November 11, 1971 by Amtrak. Commuter trains began stopping at Metropark in 1972 and the nearby Iselin station was closed (and, a few years later, Colonia
Colonia, New Jersey
Colonia Colonia Colonia (is a census-designated place and unincorporated area within Woodbridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 17,811....
). In a similar move suburban ring stations were opened at New Carrollton, Maryland
New Carrollton (Washington Metro)
New Carrollton rail station is a joint Washington Metro, MARC, and Amtrak station in New Carrollton, Prince George's County, Maryland at the eastern end of the Orange Line and planned Purple Line, and adjacent to the Capital Beltway. The Amtrak waiting room is located beneath the Metro station...
near Washington, DC and Route 128
Route 128 (MBTA station)
Route 128 is a station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Providence/Stoughton MBTA Commuter Rail line, with inbound service to Back Bay and South Station in Boston and outbound service towards either Stoughton or TF Green Airport. It is also known as "University Park" station...
near Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts about the same time.
Renovation
In January 2007, NJ Transit announced a nearly $30 million renovation plan for the station, to be completed by 2010. Reconstruction was completed in summer 2009, and cost $47 million. Climate-controlled shelters and LCD train information system were installed, platforms and canopies were lengthened and the station building was enlarged as part of the project. As part of the renovation new signage has been installed; all of the new signs refer to the station by its full name of "Metropark Station".Available service
The Metropark station is served by these Amtrak routes: on weekends onlyThe station is also served by New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
commuter rail line, as well as NJ Transit Bus Number 62 http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/bus/T0062.pdf.
Amtrak
While Amtrak trains skip many stations between TrentonTrenton Rail Station (New Jersey)
Trenton Transit Center, formerly known as Trenton Rail Station, is the main passenger train station in Trenton, New Jersey. It is the southernmost stop in New Jersey on the Northeast Corridor...
and Newark Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (Newark)
Pennsylvania Station is a major transportation hub in Newark, New Jersey. Located at Raymond Plaza, between Market Street and Raymond Boulevard, Newark Penn Station is served by the Newark Light Rail, New Jersey Transit commuter rail, Amtrak long distance trains, the PATH rapid transit system, and...
, most Amtrak trains stop at Metropark, despite having to switch to the outside (local) tracks in order to do so. Two switching points (interlockings MENLO and ISELIN) before and after the station make this task more convenient than at the other NJ stations.
Of the six New Jersey stations served by Amtrak, Metropark was the third-busiest in FY2010, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 1050 passengers daily.
New Jersey Transit
Metropark is the busiest New Jersey Transit station apart from the city terminals; it has held this distinction since 2001. Along with Princeton JunctionPrinceton Junction (NJT station)
Princeton Junction Station at West Windsor is a New Jersey Transit and Amtrak rail station on the Northeast Corridor located in Princeton Junction, an area within West Windsor Township in New Jersey, USA...
in 2006, Metropark was the first non-terminal station to have over 7,000 weekday boardings.
Metropark Loops
These rush hour loops servicing office parks around Metropark are operated from Academy Express LLC'sAcademy Bus
Academy Bus Lines is a bus company in New Jersey providing local bus service in northern New Jersey, line run service to/from New York City from points in central New Jersey, and contract and charter service in the northeastern United States from Boston to Northern Virginia.-Under contract to NJ...
Perth Amboy
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Perth Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The City of Perth Amboy is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 50,814. Perth Amboy is known as the "City by the Bay", referring to Raritan Bay.-Name:The Lenape...
garage.
| Route | Serving | Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| 801 | Lincoln Highway Oak Tree Road |
Edison Edison, New Jersey Edison Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. What is now Edison Township was originally incorporated as Raritan Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1870, from portions of both Piscataway Township and Woodbridge Township... JFK Hospital |
| 802 | Green Street Gill Lane |
Woodbridge Woodbridge Corporate Park |
| 803 | Gill Lane Woodbridge Center Drive |
Woodbridge Woodbridge Center OR Woodbridge Railroad Station Woodbridge (NJT station) Woodbridge Station is a train station in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, United States. It is one of three NJT stations in Woodbridge Township, the others being Avenel and Metropark in the Iselin section of the township. The station was built in 1939 as a Depression-era public works project... |
| 804 | Wood Avenue | Edison Wood Ave/Inman Ave. |
| 805 | Thornall Street Ford Avenue |
Edison Menlo Park Mall Menlo Park Mall Menlo Park Mall is a two-level super regional shopping mall, located on U.S. Route 1 and Parsonage Road in Edison, New Jersey, United States. The mall has a gross leasable area of 1,232,000 ft² . Menlo Park Mall is currently owned by the Simon Property Group.-History:Menlo Park Shopping Center... OR Ford Ave/Main St. |
Parking
Metropark has a multi-story parking facility that is open at all times. The parking fee is $5 for up to 12 hours, $7 for up to 16 hours, and $9 for up to 24 hours. Annual, semi-annual, and quarterly parking permits are available for discounted rates ($70.00 per month). Drivers may park in either of the two multi-level parking decks using their proximity card for entry and exit. Daily parking users take a ticket upon entry, which must be paid for before exiting the facility. Several self-service kiosks within the garages allow users to pay their daily parking fee before returning to their vehicle.Sources
- New Jersey Transit's Capital Improvement Program: Metropark Platform Rehabilitation
- PRR Chronology, late 1970 and 1971
- PRR Chronology, 1972