It’s called the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, but more than 25 years after the system began operating, it still does not have a single station in Bergen County. Now, a renewed campaign is pushing for the long-discussed expansion to finally become a reality.
More than two decades after the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail began carrying passengers, one part of its name still raises an obvious question: Where is Bergen? The system currently operates entirely within Hudson County, but a long-discussed extension into Bergen County is once again moving through the planning process.
For residents of eastern Bergen County, the idea of finally bringing the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail north is hardly new. Plans to extend the system beyond its current northern terminus at Tonnelle Avenue have been discussed for years, while communities such as Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia and Englewood continue to rely heavily on buses and cars for trips toward Hudson County and New York City.
Today, despite its name, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail still does not have a single station in Bergen County. NJ TRANSIT’s current system information shows the light rail connecting communities including Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken,
Union City and North Bergen — all in Hudson County.
A 10-Mile Extension Could Finally Change That
The proposed Northern Branch Corridor Project would extend the existing light rail approximately 10 miles north and add seven new stations across five municipalities.
Under the current proposal, trains would travel from North Bergen along an existing railroad right-of-way and eventually terminate near Englewood Hospital.
New stations are planned in North Bergen, Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia and Englewood, according to NJ TRANSIT.
For Bergen County commuters, that could create an entirely new public transportation connection to Hudson County, where riders could continue toward Hoboken, Jersey City and other major transit connections.
The project could be particularly significant for southeastern Bergen County, an area where many residents currently depend on buses or cars to reach employment centers and connections to New York City.
Why Has It Taken So Long?
The extension has a history stretching back more than two decades.
Plans for what became known as the Northern Branch project have gone through environmental studies, public hearings, revisions and changes in federal requirements.
One earlier proposal considered extending the line as far north as the Tenafly-Cresskill border. Following public comments and further review, the proposed northern terminus was changed to Englewood Hospital.
The project then encountered another major setback when the Federal Transit Administration determined that changing conditions required the environmental review process to be reconsidered.
But the proposal did not disappear.
In November 2025, NJ TRANSIT announced that it was moving forward with a new Environmental Impact Statement, an important step required before the project can advance toward construction.
Bergen County Has Been Waiting
The irony surrounding the project’s name has become increasingly difficult to ignore.
The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail began operating in 2000. More than 25 years later, Bergen County residents are still waiting for the “Bergen” portion of the system to become reality.
There is still no guarantee that construction will begin soon. Environmental review, design, funding and federal approvals remain significant steps before passengers could actually board a light rail train in Bergen County.
But the renewed planning process means the decades-old proposal is still alive.
And if the Northern Branch extension is eventually built, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail may finally live up to its name.
Sources: NJ TRANSIT — Northern Branch Corridor Project; NJ TRANSIT — November 2025 Northern Branch Environmental Impact Statement announcement.