Gov. Murphy, Speaker Coughlin & Mayor Reiman join together
to celebrate groundbreaking of multimodal ferry terminal
CARTERET, NJ – The Borough broke ground today on the long-awaited Carteret Multimodal Ferry Terminal Building at a Brownfield site formerly owned by Dupont on the Arthur Kill waterfront.
In late October, a construction contract of $47,502,761 was awarded to Brockwell and Carrington Contractors of Towaco, NJ, to construct the four-story, 52,000-square-foot ferry hub, which is designed to be a destination onto itself with retail, restaurants and recreational space.
“What began as an idea — a bold vision to reintroduce ferry service back to Carteret for the first time since the 1950s— has grown into one of the most significant infrastructure projects in our borough’s history,” Mayor Daniel J. Reiman said. “This terminal will serve as the gateway for thousands of commuters, residents, and visitors. It will provide new, convenient access to New York City and other destinations while reducing roadway congestion and opening new opportunities for job creation and economic growth here in Carteret.
“But this terminal is more than a building and for more than just commuters,” Mayor Reiman continued. “It represents progress, partnership, and a shared commitment to provide our residents with the modern transportation options they deserve. It will stand as a symbol of Carteret’s continued transformation and waterfront development — from an older industrial town to a community revitalizing its waterfront, and as a regional destination for commerce, recreation, and innovation. Much like our state-of-the-art RWJ Health Center, our URSB Performing Arts and Events Center, and our new and growing downtown mixed-use arts district, these investments are generational game changers for Carteret and its future. This building will encompass our marina and ferry terminal operations, but will also allow for commercial, retail, entertainment, event space and leasable office space.”
Speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included Gov. Phil Murphy, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, and Transportation Commissioner Francis K. O’Connor. The Governor described Mayor Reiman as one of the best mayors in the state.
“I am proud to deliver the expansion of ferry service to New York City from Carteret,” Gov. Phil Murphy said. “From the beginning of my Administration, we have invested in expanding environmentally friendly transportation infrastructure that provides commuters with more options and reduces traffic on our roads. I am grateful to Mayor Reiman and our partners in Carteret for bringing to life this new transportation hub that will drive economic growth in the area.”
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin added, “I’ve had the privilege of representing the Borough of Carteret now for what will be 16 years. During that time, I’ve come to see that the vision this community and its leaders have is truly special. With the ferry coming, it’s even a more special opportunity for the community. But what today really is a testament to is a vision that’s unyielding and relentless. A vision by Mayor Reiman that he was committed to and built partnerships around. We’ve invested $30 million in state dollars in the project because we believe in it, but more importantly because in the vision of the Council and Mayor Reiman, who is truly a visionary and has made Carteret the best it can be more than anyone who has preceded him.”
Commissioner O’Connor added, “It’s just amazing what’s going on here in Carteret. I’m proud to be here, and I’m proud of our partners, NJ Transit, the New Jersey Turnpike and the FTA (Federal Transit Administration), along with Congressman (Frank) Pallone. It’s just a great joint effort from all levels of government working with the local community and this great Mayor getting this done.”
Also attending the groundbreaking were: Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios, Middlesex County Clerk Nancy Pinkin, Council President Susan Naples, Council Members Randy Krum, Dennis DiMascio, Jorge Diaz, AJ Johal, and Vincent Bellino, Carteret-raised New Jersey Hall of Famers Jim Babjak and Dennis Diken of The Smithereens, and representatives of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.
Planned since the inception of the Reiman Administration 24 years ago, the terminal is expected to be an 18- to 24-month construction project. Completion is expected by December 2027. Each floor will be approximately 13,000 square feet, according to architect Tom Potter of Potter Architects in Union.
To pay for the overall ferry project, the Reiman Administration has secured more than $86 million in federal and state grants. The latest of the grants are:
- A $1.9 million award from the NJ Urban Enterprise Zone Authority toward the retail space
- A $5 million grant from Carteret Business Partnership, the Borough’s nonprofit economic development agency, which will be award in annual amounts of $1 million for five years
- $5.38 million grant from the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program of the state Transportation Trust Fund Authority.
Completed work on the ferry project to date includes the installation of 130 feet of steel sheet pile bulkhead along the Arthur Kill waterfront, 19,500 cubic feet of dredging of the waterside of the bulkhead to achieve sufficient depths for the ferry slips and docking area, and the in-water terminal docks and gangplanks. Construction of a 700-space parking lot and on-site work is underway.
“There will be two to three stops in Manhattan leaving about three or four times a day and arriving back to Carteret three or four times a day,” Mayor Reiman said. “Three or four times in the morning and three or four times in the evening. That’s the initial projection. We’ll increase that as ridership demands.”
The intermodal aspect of the Ferry Terminal will allow NJ TRANSIT buses, municipal jitneys, and NJ Rideshare to drop passengers off. The jitney will pick up passengers throughout the Borough, as well as at Rahway and Woodbridge train stations.
The terminal is expected to open by early 2028 or sooner, but ferry service may be provided earlier through a smartphone app on a kiosk on the dock of the ferry slips, Mayor Reiman said.
Benefits of the ferry include:
- Providing reliable, significantly quicker and more environmentally-friendly transportation service to New York City
- Reducing congestion on the New Jersey Turnpike and roads leading from the Turnpike into the Holland and Lincoln tunnels
- Reducing reliance on the automobile in a densely populated area well-suited to the development of robust public transit service
- Providing redundant transportation service in instances of an emergency or a catastrophic event
- Providing an affordable, accessible, and dynamic transportation system responsive to current and future customers
- Protection and improvement of the quality of the natural ecosystem and the human environment
- Retaining and increasing economic activity and competitiveness
- Transforming an area of environmental degradation into a catalyst for economic development
- Accommodating continued population growth in Carteret and the region.
“Carteret is quickly becoming one of the most desired locations for commuters to call home,” Mayor Reiman said. “New residential and commercial opportunities, combined with our future ferry service, newly constructed Performing Arts and Events Center, upgraded parks, and stable tax rates solidify Carteret as a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
The Carteret Multimodal Ferry Terminal Building is part of Mayor Reiman’s vision to turn Carteret’s once inaccessible, completely industrial waterfront into a popular regional destination for arts and public recreation. The waterfront now includes a fishing pier, a public park, a mini golf course, a 185-slip marina, and a soon-to-open Riverwalk, Pier Pavilion and mobile kitchen.
The seven-acre site of the ferry terminal is on a former Dupont property, the balance of which the Borough will obtain to develop a movie studio, hotel and much more.
“Like so many of these projects that we plan in Carteret, these are game changers,” Mayor Reiman said. “They create jobs, they put people to work and bring significant economic benefits to the community. They continue to change and improve the community for the future.”
Updates about the ferry terminal and other waterfront redevelopment will be available at Carteret.net, as well as on Carteret and Mayor Reiman social media.
