unpublished, May 4, 2004

Dear Mayor Roberts:

During the past few years NJ TRANSIT has made a considerable investment in the west side of Hoboken via the extension of the Hudson Bergen Light Rail Line and the construction of two light rail stations at 2nd Street and 9th Street. The 9th Street Station also includes the construction of a stair and elevator tower allowing station access from the top of the Palisades in Jersey City. The west alignment was endorsed by Hoboken and accepted by NJ TRANSIT due to its potential to encourage the economic expansion of Hoboken westward to the base of the Palisades. In order to encourage utilization of the facility and thereby continued economic expansion, it is critical that the station be perceived as safe and secure.

Unfortunately, the proposal at 800 Jackson Street threatens to visually and physically isolate the new station. Our Law Enforcement and Planning staff has visited the site and has expressed concerns related to the proposed height, but perhaps even more critical, to the building's proximity to the station platforms.

The plan as submitted depicts a three-story parking deck located at the property line of the railroad right-of-way. This deck is nearly thirty feet in height and approximately 220 feet in length. It is essentially an inactive solid wall with ventilation openings.

The total building height, including parking deck and residences, is 140 feet, and threatens to block all public visibility of the elevator and stair tower. This not only diminishes the stair tower as visual indicator of the station, but removes all passive security for users of the stairs and escalators.

From a security perspective, the location of the proposed building wall at the property line and its close proximity to the platforms impacts law enforcement's ability to monitor the platforms. Consideration of active and passive security, as well as access to the platforms, is essential in the event of an emergency. Lines of sight must be maintained from public areas to the elevator tower and the entire length of the station platforms.

From a planning perspective, we believe that this proposal unnecessarily crowds and hides the station. In July 2002, we worked with the City of Hoboken as part of our Transit-Friendly Communities for New Jersey project. Nothing of this scale and proximity was contemplated at that time.

Thank you for the opportunity to express our concerns related to this project. Please let me know if we can be of any assistance, and please also keep me apprised of any changes in the status of this proposal.

George D. Warrington
NJ Transit Executive Director