Essex-Hudson a “game-changer” for East Coast Greenway

BLOOMFIELD, New Jersey – The 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway is poised for unprecedented growth in metro New York City and northern New Jersey following Friday’s announcement by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy that the state will fund the purchase of nine miles of abandoned NJ Transit rail line in Essex and Hudson counties.  

The Essex-Hudson Greenway will create nine miles of car-free pathways for cyclists, runners and walkers and connect eight communities from Montclair to Jersey City. Historically, the East Coast Greenway route through the area connects Jersey City to Newark via roadways and sidewalks along heavily trafficked U.S. Route 1/9.

"It will allow us to rethink mobility throughout the region," said Murphy at a Friday morning news conference, according to NBC New York. 

“The Essex-Hudson Greenway will be a game-changer for the East Coast Greenway and equitable transportation in northern New Jersey. Its development will greatly improve one of the most treacherous stretches of our Maine-to-Florida route,” said East Coast Greenway Alliance Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano. “This new greenway will provide an equitable and safe path for commuters and recreational use, as well as countless economic, environmental and health benefits for the region. We are so grateful for the hard work of our many partners in the region, including the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, Open Space Institute and the September 11 National Memorial Trail, for making this project a reality.”

The Essex-Hudson Greenway was one of the shovel-ready projects originally elevated in the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s Greenway Stimulus effort, which gained momentum at the federal level last week with the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

The proposed Bergen Arches and 6th Street Embankment projects in New Jersey will connect the Essex-Hudson Greenway to the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, further enhancing the off-road East Coast Greenway route in the region. When complete, the Essex-Hudson Greenway also will connect with the September 11 National Memorial Trail.

Last year, supporters of the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s work in the region raised over $300,000 via the inaugural New York City-to-Philadelphia Greenway Ride, a 2-day, 125-mile fundraising event. Registration for the second annual ride, set for May 14-15, 2022, is open now at greenway.org/nyctophilly.