[Nexis4Jersey]

$55 million redesign, two-story building planned for Elizabeth NJ Transit station


Preliminary designs were unveiled Monday for a $55 million renovation of the Elizabeth NJ Transit station. From left are Mayor Chris Bollwage, City Council President Patricia Perkins Auguste, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and U.S. Sen Cory Booker. (Katie Lannan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

ELIZABETH — A total of $55 million in state and federal money will fund the construction of a new two-story building and train platforms at the city's midtown NJ Transit Station, a project officials hailed today as an economic driver.

"This project is not just about the rail, it's not just about the station," U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said during an event outside the station. "This will be an economic accelerator for the city of Elizabeth. It'll increase housing values, it'll spur business growth, it'll create jobs and expand opportunity. This is a tremendous day for the city of Elizabeth and for the region."

Booker, Sen. Robert Menendez and Rep. Albio Sires joined state, city and NJ Transit officials and Union County freeholders to unveil the designs for the new station.

"This area is going through a renaissance, and this is just going to help it," Sires said. "It's going to create jobs, people are going to move into the area because of easy access to moving back and forth, and you need a train station that's adequate."

Preliminary designs of the West Grand Street station, expected to be completed in 2018, include a two-story station building with a street-level ticket office, waiting room and vendor space.

http://www.nj.com/union/index.ssf/20...l#incart_river