Sayreville Officials Explore Transit Village Status, Route 9 Bus Rapid Transit Plans

SAYREVILLE, NJ — A vision for Sayreville connected by rapid transit and walkable development took shape at the most recent meeting of the Sayreville Economic and Redevelopment Agency (SERA). Officials heard details about the potential for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system along Route 9 and the opportunity to seek a coveted Transit Village designation from the state.

Planner Veena Sawant provided background on the project. “NJ Transit had first reached out to me for a letter of support,” Sawant explained, noting the agency’s earlier efforts to secure federal funding for the BRT initiative.

Momentum grew when federal officials awarded NJ Transit $400,000 to study the concept. “The funding was to write a report about how the Transit Village designations or creating different development opportunity districts would help the entire Route 9 corridor,” Sawant said.

The proposed BRT line would run from Howell to Old Bridge, with 17 stops planned along the route. “When it came to Old Bridge, there were three intersections,” Sawant said, adding that one of the locations could directly benefit Sayreville.

She pointed to Sayreville’s Ernston Road redevelopment area, which borders Old Bridge’s proposed transit zone. Even without a designation, she noted, “we can still use the same principles to redevelop that site.”

Sawant emphasized that the official Transit Village status could bring financial advantages. “The Transit Village designation is important because you then are eligible for a lot of funding in terms of infrastructure improvements,” she said.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation administers the Transit Village Initiative, a statewide program that encourages municipalities to create compact, mixed-use development near transit hubs. Designated towns receive priority funding and technical support for infrastructure, housing, and pedestrian projects.

Commissioners expressed support for pursuing the designation. “I think there’s nothing but upside to doing this, so I think it’s a great opportunity for Sayreville to get involved,” Commissioner Steven Grillo said.

Chairman John Zebrowski asked about transportation options beyond the main BRT line, including the possibility of “micro bus routes” to connect residents to transit hubs.

Grillo said another growing trend is micro mobility. “Part of your question also goes to what I’ve seen a lot of discussion on — the concept of micro mobility,” he said. “Shuttle buses are great, but as we see today, a lot of people can afford electric bicycles and people use those to get to their transit hub.”

He added that new infrastructure would be needed to support these changes. “We need to make sure we’re planning for adequate bicycle storage, adequate bike lanes or pedestrian lanes, and even the fire safety challenges of lithium batteries in electric bikes,” Grillo said.