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That would be, at least first glance, possible engineering wise. Getting it paid for or getting two government run agencies to agree to it... That would be the hard part.

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Portal Bridge is being replaced. Why not add a cantilevered walkway along the north side? They could easily connect it on both sides using existing pathways.

Norfolk Southern?s petition noted that there has been no rail traffic on the old Boonton Line in more than a decade and claimed that ?there is simply no traffic, or the potential for new traffic, on the line.


That may change. The line is adjacent the now defunct Hudson generating station and ties into right of ways that could bring rail to the Kopper's Coke redevelopment zone in Kearny).

I read the old Hudson Generating property has been sold as is going to be redeveloped into an industrial park. There is also been years of (unsuccessful) attempts to spur industrial and heavy commercial development on the Kopper's Coke site.

Norfolk Southern previously talked of re-activating the line for freight if there were new clients that needed rail service. Whatever future entity that takes over the right of way may find it more advantageous to tie rail service in with the redevelopment of these two sizable plots of land.

One big issue with the trail is the swing bridge (mentioned in the article) over the river. That bridge is deteriorating and is abandoned in the open position. The trail would require at a minimum that the bridge be put back into operation, with all the maintenance and crew costs that come with it.

This creates an amazing opportunity to go beyond a park for downtown. With the Boonton line being abandoned, we could create a Greenway from the Jersey City Waterfront, over the Embankment, through the Bergen Arches, and eventually reaching Montclair. All while part of the East Coast Greenway connecting Maine to Florida.

https://jerseydigs.com/land-sale-could ... hWPmn37Cd6qTZCjMRO-EcU8uY