Metropark Station meets milestone (left); NJ TRANSIT’s homeless initiative; NJ affordable housing solutions; Colorado’s TOD Act; Egypt’s high-speed rail (right top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
WOODBRIDGE—Hackensack Meridian Tops Off New Headquarters, Medical Office Building at Metropark Station
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | April 7, 2025
Hackensack Meridian Health marked the topping-off of its new headquarters and medical office building, joined by NJ TRANSIT, Woodbridge Township, and state officials. The medical facility, served by NJ TRANSIT and AMTRAK, is set to open this fall with primary and specialty care services. A second phase will add 235 apartments and retail space.
NJ TOD News
JERSEY CITY—Scholar Villages Tops Out at 225 Phillip Street in Jersey City, New Jersey
Max Gillespie, New York Yimby | April 11, 2025
Alpine Residential, in partnership with the Liberty Science Center, topped out construction on Scholars Village, a development of two 12-story buildings in Jersey City. The project will offer 500 rental units and 4,000 sq. ft. of retail space, located near Liberty State Park Station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.
NEWARK—NJ TRANSIT Officials Eye New Housing as Solution to Homelessness at Newark Penn Station
Stephen Nessen, Gothamist | April 9, 2025
NJ TRANSIT officials launched “Gateway to Hope”, a new initiative to reduce the homeless population at Newark Penn Station. The transit agency has partnered with local officials to renovate 200 nearby apartments into transitional housing for the homeless, and build a drop-in center offering resting areas, showers, and food.
RED BANK—Red Bank: NJ TRANSIT Has Big Plans But Fewer Riders
Brian Donohue, Red Bank Green | April 8, 2025
NJ TRANSIT and its partners plan 400-unit mixed-use development next to the Red Bank Station. While some question the project’s value amid a 65 percent drop in weekday ridership since a 2002 peak and service challenges, advocates contend that TOD also supports walkable, vibrant communities.
IRVINGTON—Developer Lands Site Plan Approval for 156-Unit Rental Project in Irvington
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | April 7, 2025
The Irvington Planning Board approved a 156-unit mixed-use development with 10,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail by Taylor Architecture & Design. The project will support Irvington’s East Ward/East Springfield Avenue Redevelopment Plan and leverages the Township’s Transit Village designation.
Transit and Equity News
TEXAS—Transportation Panel Looks at Regional Needs as Affordability Pushes Austinites Out
Chad Swiatecki, Austin Monitor | April 10, 2025
Rising housing costs are displacing Austinites from the urban core, driving demand for regional transportation options. To address growing cross-county commutes and improve access in underserved areas, Cap Metro is expanding on-demand services, park-and-rides, and planning efforts beyond city limits, emphasizing the need for regional collaboration.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Todd Litman, Planetizen | April 7, 2025
Todd Litman of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute lays out the case for boosting public transit funding as agencies face financial stress from falling revenues and subsidies. He argues that transit deserves greater investment because it boosts economic productivity, lowers household transportation costs, and creates safer, more efficient streets.
NEW JERSEY—Here’s What We Can Do About Affordable Homes in N.J. | Opinion
Troy Singleton, NJ.com | April 6, 2025
NJ State Senator Troy Singleton calls for new policies to complement the Mount Laurel Doctrine and expand housing access. He advocates for permitting ADUs statewide, adaptive reuse of vacant offices and malls into mixed-use developments, and the expansion of the Transit Village Initiative.
NEW YORK—New $96M Affordable Housing Development Breaks Ground in Westchester
Jeff Edwards, Patch | April 4, 2025
WBP Development has started construction on Station Plaza, a 108-unit, all-affordable housing project in Ossining. The $96 million development, backed by financing from NYS Homes and Community Renewal, the NYS Housing Trust Fund, and Westchester County, is located near the Ossining Station on Metro-North’s Hudson Line.
Regional and National TOD News
ARIZONA—South Central Extension/Downtown Hub Opening
Press Release, Valley Metro | April 10, 2025
Valley Metro Rail will expand into south Phoenix with the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub light rail project, opening June 7. The 5.5-mile extension includes eight new stations, 14 new trains, a park-and-ride, and enhanced bike lanes and pedestrian pathways. Future development along the corridor will be guided by the South Central Transit-Oriented Development Community Plan.
MINNESOTA—Eden Prairie Prepares for Light-Rail Era with Millions in Infrastructure Upgrades
Mark Weber, Eden Prairie Local News | April 10, 2025
Eden Prairie has invested millions in infrastructure upgrades and transit-oriented development ahead of the Metro Green Line light rail extension, set for 2027. City projects include road improvements, new pedestrian and bicycle trails, and a TOD ordinance allowing higher density along the planned line.
NEW YORK—New Renderings Revealed for Crossroads Centre at 570 Main Street in New Rochelle, New York
Michael Young and Matt Pruznick, New York Yimby | April 9, 2025
Allstate Ventures released plans for Crossroads Centre, a proposed 28-story residential tower in New Rochelle. The development will feature 547 units and 12,050 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail near the New Rochelle Station on Metro-North’s New Haven Line. A timetable for the project has yet to be announced.
COLORADO—Uncertainty Around Implementation of House Bill 24-1313: Housing in Transit-Oriented Communities
Danielle De Santis, JD Supra | April 7, 2025
Approved in 2024, Colorado’s House Bill 24-1313 incentivizes TOD by requiring qualifying jurisdictions to increase housing density around transit corridors and providing $35 million in grants for infrastructure upgrades. While the law provides flexibility, some local governments contend the law infringes home rule authority, potentially leading to legal battles if compliance is not met.
NEW YORK—Congestion Pricing Will Live On for Several Months After Court Agreement
Stefanos Chen, The New York Times | April 7, 2025
The MTA and federal government have agreed to keep the Manhattan congestion pricing toll in place until at least mid-July, following a court ruling. The program, designed to reduce congestion and fund mass transit improvements, has already decreased traffic and boosted business but may face pressure from USDOT for an earlier end.
International TOD News
INDIA—Getting Bengaluru to Work: Transit-Oriented Development for Job Accessibility
Radha Chanchani and Shalini Singh, TheCityFix | April 9, 2025
Bengaluru faces severe traffic congestion due to limited public transport and sprawling development, affecting productivity. To address this, the Government of Karnataka has introduced TOD policies and expanded transit networks to increase job density and improve access to metro stations, with a focus on last-mile connectivity.
JAPAN and MASSACHUSETTS—Housing and Transit? In Tokyo, the Two Go Hand in Hand
Jeremy Siegel, WGBH | April 9, 2025
In Greater Boston, rising housing prices push homebuyers to suburbs, where limited transit access worsens gridlock and increases transportation costs. In comparison, Tokyo stays affordable by integrating housing and transit, creating an efficient system. Experts recommend more affordable housing near transit hubs for Boston, though zoning restrictions and car-centric development remain barriers.
EGYPT—The Incredible 1,243-Mile High Speed Train Line That Will Link 60 Cities in Africa
Jon King, Express | April 6, 2025
Siemens Mobility reports making significant progress on the first phase of Egypt’s planned 1,243-mile high-speed rail line. The Green Line, the project’s first phase, will span 410 miles and connect Ain Sokhna to Marsa Matrouh, with stations in Cairo and Alexandria, and is set to open by 2027.