News
The first of a two-part $3.6 million renovation of the Rutherford train station is scheduled to begin this summer, according to New Jersey Transit. The first phase of the project involves renovating the exterior of the station. Once that is completed, a second phase to restore the station’s interior will begin.
The first phase is expected to cost $1.7 million all together. Of that total, a $1.4 million contract was just awarded to DMR Construction Services of Waldwick to begin work this summer. The project will involve restoration of the masonry components of the main building, the gazebo and the taxi stand. All brick, sandstone, limestone and bluestone will be cleaned or replaced depending on its condition. The steps to the basement will be replaced and repairs will be made to the adjacent walls. Workers will install new doors to the café and the rear platform as well as clean or replace the copper-clad window enclosure for the ticket office. Columns and walls are to be re-painted.
"We’ll be working to minimize any impact to commuters," said NJ Transit spokeswoman Courtney Carroll. She noted that advance notice would be posted for any days the station may have to be closed during the renovation.
"I’m pleased progress is being made and I’m looking forward to it," said Mayor John Hipp. However, he expressed some concern over varying dates he’s heard from NJ Transit regarding the project start date. Hipp said he’s heard June from some sources and July from others. NJ Transit only agreed to say "this summer" when questioned by the South Bergenite.
Hipp also said he’d like to see the project move forward quicker than the organization is currently projecting.
"I’d love to see [both the exterior and the interior] done by the end of the year," he said. "I’ll be in discussion with them trying to move this forward." NJ Transit is currently projecting that the exterior work alone won’t be done until the beginning of 2009.
The $1.9 million for the second phase to renovate the interior comes from the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), a five-year federal authorization bill totaling $244 billion in funding for surface transportation that was signed into law in August 2005. The money was secured last October by Congressman Steve Rothman, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
"I’m very familiar with this train station and with how uncomfortable it can be standing outside in the rain because the interior needs to be renovated," said Rothman in October when he presented an oversized check to former Mayor Bernadette McPherson at a press conference outside the station. Interior work will involve restoring wooden benches and trim, resealing and caulking the windows, repainting the ceilings and walls and replacing floor tiles. New switches, outlets and light fixtures will also be installed.
Planning Board member and former Rutherford Historic Commission chairman Bill Neumann commended the planning that’s gone into the project, saying that "it’s exactly the way historical preservation should work." Built in 1898, the station is both a state and nationally registered historic landmark and nearly 1,000 people use it each day, according to NJ Transit.
The first phase is expected to cost $1.7 million all together. Of that total, a $1.4 million contract was just awarded to DMR Construction Services of Waldwick to begin work this summer. The project will involve restoration of the masonry components of the main building, the gazebo and the taxi stand. All brick, sandstone, limestone and bluestone will be cleaned or replaced depending on its condition. The steps to the basement will be replaced and repairs will be made to the adjacent walls. Workers will install new doors to the café and the rear platform as well as clean or replace the copper-clad window enclosure for the ticket office. Columns and walls are to be re-painted.
"We’ll be working to minimize any impact to commuters," said NJ Transit spokeswoman Courtney Carroll. She noted that advance notice would be posted for any days the station may have to be closed during the renovation.
"I’m pleased progress is being made and I’m looking forward to it," said Mayor John Hipp. However, he expressed some concern over varying dates he’s heard from NJ Transit regarding the project start date. Hipp said he’s heard June from some sources and July from others. NJ Transit only agreed to say "this summer" when questioned by the South Bergenite.
Hipp also said he’d like to see the project move forward quicker than the organization is currently projecting.
"I’d love to see [both the exterior and the interior] done by the end of the year," he said. "I’ll be in discussion with them trying to move this forward." NJ Transit is currently projecting that the exterior work alone won’t be done until the beginning of 2009.
The $1.9 million for the second phase to renovate the interior comes from the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), a five-year federal authorization bill totaling $244 billion in funding for surface transportation that was signed into law in August 2005. The money was secured last October by Congressman Steve Rothman, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
"I’m very familiar with this train station and with how uncomfortable it can be standing outside in the rain because the interior needs to be renovated," said Rothman in October when he presented an oversized check to former Mayor Bernadette McPherson at a press conference outside the station. Interior work will involve restoring wooden benches and trim, resealing and caulking the windows, repainting the ceilings and walls and replacing floor tiles. New switches, outlets and light fixtures will also be installed.
Planning Board member and former Rutherford Historic Commission chairman Bill Neumann commended the planning that’s gone into the project, saying that "it’s exactly the way historical preservation should work." Built in 1898, the station is both a state and nationally registered historic landmark and nearly 1,000 people use it each day, according to NJ Transit.
