Metropark (NJT station)
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| Metropark | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 View from southbound platform, facing south. Station was renovated after this picture was taken. |
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| Station statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Address | 100 Middlesex-Essex Turnpike Iselin, NJ 08830 |
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| Coordinates | 40°34′05″N 74°19′47″W / 40.56808°N 74.329795°WCoordinates: 40°34′05″N 74°19′47″W / 40.56808°N 74.329795°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lines | Amtrak:
Acela Express Keystone Service Northeast Regional New Jersey Transit: Northeast Corridor Line |
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| Connections | NJT Bus:801-805 (Metropark loops) |
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| Platforms | 2 side platforms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking | 3,615 spaces[citation needed] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1972 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 2007-2010 (refurbishment) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessible |  |
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| Code | MET | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fare zone | 10 (New Jersey Transit) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traffic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers (2007) | 1.981 million ▲ 7% (NJT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers (2008) | 406,287 ▲ 7% (Amtrak) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Metropark is the name of a train station in Woodbridge 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.
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[edit] Station layout and location
The station lies within the Iselin section of Woodbridge Township, close to the border with Edison, 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. Deck is 7 foot clearance.
[edit] History
Metropark was first proposed in late 1968, under a plan introduced by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT).[1] The plan was part of the larger Metroliner Service being rolled out by the Penn Central Railroad and 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.[2] Commuter trains began stopping at Metropark in 1972, and two nearby stations, Iselin and Colonia, were closed. In a similar move suburban ring stations were opened at New Carrollton, MD near Washington DC and Route 128 near Boston, MA about the same time.
[edit] 2007-2010 renovation
In January 2007, NJ Transit announced a nearly $30 million renovation plan for the station, to be completed by 2010.[3] On May 23, 2008 the renovated northbound platform was officially opened and the previous platform was immediately closed. The gap has been reduced and currently the southbound platform is being renovated.
[edit] Available service
The Metropark station is served by these Amtrak routes:
The station is also served by New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor commuter rail line, as well as connecting bus services.
[edit] Ridership
[edit] Amtrak
In 2004, Metropark was the twenty-fifth-busiest Amtrak station by annual boardings, with 178,972 that year[4]. While Amtrak trains skip many stations between Trenton and Newark Penn Station, most Amtrak trains stop at Metropark.
[edit] New Jersey Transit
Metropark is the busiest New Jersey Transit station apart from the city terminals; it has held this distinction since 2001.[5] Along with Princeton Junction in 2006, Metropark was the first non-terminal station to have over 7,000 weekday boardings.[5]
[edit] Parking
Metropark has a multi-story[6] 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 ($65.00 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.
[edit] References
- ^ "Commuter Rail Station in Jersey to Have Parking for 776 Cars", The New York Times, December 29, 1968. p. 54
- ^ "Park-and-Ride Rail Station Is Dedicated in Jersey", The New York Times, November 12, 1971. p. 49
- ^ Metropark to get $30 million makeover, Edison-Metuchen Sentinel, January 4, 2007.
- ^ TABLE 1-8 Top 50 Amtrak Stations by Number of Boardings: Fiscal Year 2004, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, accessed June 1, 2006
- ^ a b New Jersey Transit rail boarding numbers 2007-1999 Berkeley Retrieved 2008-06-28
- ^ Metropark parking Metropark Parking Retrieved 2008-06-28
[edit] Sources
- New Jersey Transit's Capital Improvement Program: Metropark Platform Rehabilitation
- PRR Chronology, late 1970 and 1971
- PRR Chronology, 1972
