NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NJ Transit Fixed Guideway Projects

RACM Analysis

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. Page 1

Control Measure:

Encourage the use of transit through the completion of significant fixed 

guideway/rail projects.

Description:

New Jersey Transit is in the process of completing a number of fixed 

guideway/rail projects, each having a significant impact on ridership and air 

quality. For the purposes of this investigation, five major projects were identified 

for analysis:

1) The Hudson-Bergen LRT (HBLRT) “MOS-II” extension

This project is an extension of the existing HBLRT system to 

Weehawken/Port Imperial and Tonnelle Avenue

2) Pascack Valley Line Sidings

The addition of new sidings on the Pascack Valley line will allow for 

more off-peak and weekend service and shorter service headways

3) Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link (NERL) Phase 1

The first phase of a new LRT line connecting Newark Penn Station 

to the City of Elizabeth

4) Broad Street Newark Station Platform Project

The rehabilitation of the existing station platforms and the addition 

of a new platform serving the third active track

5) Meadowlands Sports Complex Spur

The building of a spur line and station to serve the Meadowlands 

sports complex and the subsequent development scheduled for the 

site

Methodology:

All projects in this analysis have previously been studied by NJ Transit and the 

traffic (VMT/VT) impacts already calculated. A summary of the transportation 

impacts of each project are provided in Tables 1a, b and c, and the total overall 

impact shown in table 1d. These VT and VMT impacts were used as inputs into 

the “emissions only” analysis in the NJ-AQONE software in order to calculate the 

air quality benefits for each project. A summary of the Air Quality analysis is 

provided below:
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NJ Transit Fixed Guideway Projects

RACM Analysis

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. Page 2

Results: Statewide Summer Day/Annual Benefits

Total VT Reduced = 20,319 trips/day Statewide

Total VMT Reduced = 239,373 miles/day Statewide

Emission Reductions (Statewide):

Pollutant

Type

Analysis Year 2009

Tons/Day Tons/Year

VOC 0.12 -

NOx 0.12 30.29

PM2.5 - 0.94

SO2 - 0.57

Ozone Analysis – Daily Benefits in New Jersey

Benefits 

(Reductions)

Ozone Non-Attainment Area

New York-N. New 

Jersey-Long Island,

NY-NJ-CT

PhiladelphiaWilmington-Atlantic City

PA-NJ-MD-DE

VT 20,528 16

VMT 219,502 2,248

VOC (Tons/Day) 0.12 0.0009

NOx (Tons/Day) 0.12 0.0011

PM2.5 Analysis – Annual Benefits in New Jersey

Benefits 

(Reductions)

PM2.5 Non-Attainment Area

New York-N. New 

Jersey-Long Island,

NY-NJ-CT

PhiladelphiaWilmington

PA-NJ-DE

VT 5,117,000 2,000

VMT 54,167,000 284,500

NOx (Tons/Year) 30.15 0.1400

PM2.5 (Tons/Year) 0.94 0.0036

SO2 (Tons/Year) 0.57 0.0021
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NJ Transit Fixed Guideway Projects

RACM Analysis

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. Page 3

Cost/Benefit Analysis

Total Capital costs were provided directly by NJ Transit or from values listed in 

the NJTPA Transportation Improvement Plan:

HBLRT MOS-II: $1.1 Billion

Pascack Valley Sidings: $25 Million

NERL Phase 1: $210 Million

Broad Street Platforms: $72.8 Million

Meadowlands Spur: $350 Million

Total: $1.76 Billion

Over a 30 year lifespan, the annual capital costs of these projects would be 

$58,593,333/Year

Unfortunately, operating costs for these projects were unavailable and are not 

included in the cost/benefit analysis. Were these costs to be included, the cost 

per ton would be significantly higher that reported what is reported here.

Cost/Benefit Results

Pollutant

Cost/Benefit for Each Pollutant

Ozone* PM 2.5

NY-NJ-CT PA-NJ-DEMD NY-NJ-CT PA-NJ-DE

VOC ($/Ton/Day) $1,953,111 NA** - -

NOx ($/Ton/Day) $1,953,111 NA** - -

NOx ($/Ton/Year) - - $1,943,394 NA**

PM2.5 ($/Ton/Year) - - $62,333,333 NA**

SO2 ($/Ton/Year) - - $102,795,321 NA**

*Daily Costs used in calculation of cost/benefit ratio are Annual costs divided by 250

** No projects are actually being built in the southern non-attainment areas and the benefits to 

these regions minor; therefore no cost/benefit ratio was calculated