NJ TRANSIT APPROVES WORK TO RESTORE MORRISTOWN STATION

Project will continue restoration of historic station complex

October 14, 2009
NJT-09-010

NEWARK, NJ — The NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors today approved work to restore the interior and exterior of the historic Morristown Station on the Morris & Essex Lines—a project that will preserve the building as both a transit facility and community landmark.

“The improvements to Morristown Station will restore and preserve one of New Jersey’s historic assets, while ensuring the useful life of the station for residents and riders,” said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman Stephen Dilts.

The Board authorized a $2.5 million contract with John O’Hara Company of East Orange, to restore the interior and exterior of the main station building and surrounding areas.  The restoration project complements transit-oriented development recently completed next to the train station.  The Highlands at Morristown Station, completed under the state’s Transit Village program, marked its grand opening in September 2009.

“The restoration of Morristown Station demonstrates our commitment to maintaining safe and comfortable transit facilities for our customers that make it easy for them to choose NJ TRANSIT as their preferred travel mode,” said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Richard Sarles.

The project will also include restoration of exterior windows and door frames of the outbound shelter building, concrete platform and pedestrian tunnel repairs, painting of steel canopies, installation of historic-style light fixtures and an upgrade to the drainage system.

Listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, Morristown Station was constructed in 1914 and serves approximately 2,200 customers on a typical weekday.

In 2003, NJ TRANSIT performed accessibility improvements at Morristown Station that included construction of mini-high level platforms with canopies and lighting, elevators, and upgrades to the main station building restrooms to make them ADA-accessible.  In addition, NJ TRANSIT restored the roof systems on both the main station building and the outbound shelter building in 2006.

Construction for the new restoration work is expected to begin by the end of this year, with completion anticipated in spring 2011.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 895,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 12 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 165 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.