The basics:

• NJ Transit, NJEDA issue transit-oriented development solicitations
• Projects target mixed-income housing in Bayonne, Linden
• Affordable housing required at Bayonne site
• Initiative advances Sherrill housing affordability agenda

Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Tuesday announced two new transit-oriented development solicitations to expand mixed-income housing on state-owned land in Bayonne and Linden. The call marks one of the first major housing initiatives launched under Executive Order No. 17, before reports required by the EO come due later this fall.

Led by NJ Transit and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the projects seek private partners to redevelop land adjacent to transit stations into mixed-use communities featuring housing, retail and public amenities.

“From Day One, I have been relentlessly focused on making New Jersey more affordable for working people,” Sherrill said. “New Jersey has not built enough housing to keep pace with the needs of our growing state, and families are paying the price. If we are serious about making New Jersey more affordable, we have to be serious about building more housing.”

Bayonne

In Bayonne, NJ Transit issued a Request for Qualifications and Proposals for a 4.3-acre site adjacent to the Bayonne-34th Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station. The work would redevelop two surface parking lots into a transit-oriented community.

Plans call for the apartments to serve a mix of incomes, with at least 20% of units reserved as affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents. They also include ground-floor retail, public open space, commuter parking, bus connections, bicycle infrastructure, micro-mobility improvements and accessibility upgrades.

“Transit-oriented development is critical to creating economically robust, vibrant communities in New Jersey while at the same time providing an important source of non-farebox revenue to NJ Transit,” said NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri.

The Bayonne project is among the first major solicitations advancing NJ Transit’s LAND Plan (Leveraging Assets for Non-farebox Dollars), unveiled in October 2025.

As previously reported by NJBIZ, the initiative seeks to generate up to $1.9 billion in non-fare revenue over 30 years by leveraging portions of the agency’s 8,000-acre real estate portfolio for TOD and other uses. By transforming underutilized station properties into mixed-use, transit-oriented communities the plan projects creating:

• Up to 20,000 residential units
• 50,000 jobs
• $14 billion in statewide economic impact
• $1.6 billion in municipal revenues

Bayonne Mayor Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski welcomed the effort, saying, “The City of Bayonne appreciates NJ Transit’s interest in developing a portion of the 34th Street Light Rail Station property. We look forward to seeing the results from the upcoming request-for-proposals process.”

The station serves approximately 1,484 weekday riders.

Linden

The NJEDA separately issued a RFQP to redevelop a commuter parking lot at 101 W. Elizabeth Ave. in Linden. The site adjacent to the city’s NJ Transit station would house a mixed-income, transit-oriented residential development.

The NJEDA acquired the property from NJ Transit. It sits between two active mixed-use developments and is served by the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast rail lines.

The solicitation calls for proposals that include transit-oriented housing, resident and commuter parking, energy-efficient design and pedestrian connectivity. NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Evan Weiss said the project aligns with the administration’s housing affordability goals.

“The NJEDA’s purchase and Request for Proposals for redevelopment of the Linden site will deliver mixed-income, transit-oriented housing in the city’s downtown,” said Weiss. “I look forward to continuing to work alongside Gov. Sherrill, NJ Transit, and local officials to redevelop underutilized properties, expand housing, strengthen the local property tax base, and attract private investment.”

Linden Mayor Derek Armstead said the city expects the project to build on recent downtown redevelopment efforts.

“We are excited to see the NJEDA move forward with this important redevelopment opportunity,” Armstead said. “As One West approaches completion, we look forward to another exceptional project that complements our downtown, enhances the area surrounding the train station, and continues to attract residents, businesses, and visitors to Linden.”

Senate President Nick Scutari, D-22nd District, said the projects illustrate how state agencies, municipalities and lawmakers can work together.

“Meeting New Jersey’s housing needs will require collaboration, innovation and a commitment to making the most of our public assets,” said Scutari. “Projects like these demonstrate how … to expand housing opportunities, encourage economic growth, and make better use of the transportation infrastructure that already connects our communities.”

Sherrill said the RFQPs reflect a broader, whole-of-government approach to by reducing barriers to development and accelerating housing production.

“Today’s announcements show that my administration is not waiting around for a report to take action,” Sherrill said. “Before the ink is even dry on responses to my housing executive order, I am pleased to see agencies taking clear and decisive steps toward building more housing.”

More information on the NJ Transit TOD program is available here. The RFQP and complete list of eligibility requirements is available here.