What's happened
NJ Transit and Amtrak are implementing a month-long service reduction to replace the century-old Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River. The work, part of a broader infrastructure upgrade, causes significant delays and rerouting for commuters into Manhattan, with service expected to resume normal schedules by March 15, 2026.
What's behind the headline?
The ongoing replacement of the Portal Bridge highlights the persistent issues with aging infrastructure in the US, especially in densely populated regions like New Jersey and New York. The project, while disruptive in the short term, will significantly enhance rail reliability and safety. The political battles over funding reflect broader challenges in infrastructure modernization, often hampered by partisan disagreements. The temporary service reductions are a necessary inconvenience to achieve long-term benefits, including increased capacity and reduced delays. Commuters are advised to seek alternative routes or work from home, but the project’s success will likely set a precedent for future infrastructure upgrades across the country.
What the papers say
The New York Times reports that the work began on February 15, with service reductions affecting NJ Transit, Amtrak, and PATH. The articles detail the history of the Portal Bridge, its operational issues, and the political context, including opposition from federal authorities. The New York Post emphasizes the scale of the disruption, noting that 280 trains will be affected and that service into Penn Station will be limited. Dodai Stewart from The New York Times highlights the long-standing problems with the bridge and the importance of the upgrade, while Andy Newman discusses the broader challenges of NJ Transit's aging infrastructure and political hurdles. These sources collectively underscore the necessity of the project despite its short-term inconveniences.
How we got here
The Portal Bridge, built in 1908, has long been a bottleneck on the Northeast Corridor, causing frequent delays and safety concerns. Efforts to modernize this critical rail link have faced political and technical challenges, including opposition to funding and delays in project execution. The current work is part of a $1.6 billion plan to replace the aging span with a new, taller bridge that will eliminate the need to open for maritime traffic, reducing delays and improving reliability.
Go deeper
More on these topics
-
New Jersey Transit Corporation, branded as NJ Transit, and often shortened to NJT, is a state-owned public transportation system that serves the US state of New Jersey, along with portions of New York State and Pennsylvania.
-
The Portal Bridge is a two-track moveable swing-span railroad bridge over the Hackensack River in Kearny and Secaucus, New Jersey, United States, just west of Secaucus Junction.
-
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak, is a passenger railroad service that provides medium and long-distance intercity service in the contiguous United States and to nine Canadian cities.