View source for Wood-Ridge station

{{Short description|NJ Transit rail station}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Woodbridge (NJT station)|Woodbridge station]] on the North Jersey Coast Line}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox Station
 | name=Wood-Ridge
 | style=NJ Transit
 | image=Wood-Ridge station - September 2011.jpg
 | image_caption=The Wood-Ridge station in September&nbsp;2011, from the bridge above the station.
 | address=Park Place East at [[New Jersey Route 17|Route 17]] / Moonachie Avenue interchange, [[Wood-Ridge, New Jersey]]
 | coordinates={{coord|40.8437|-74.0789|type:railwaystation_region:US-NJ|display=inline,title}}
 | line=
 | other=
 | platform=1 [[side platform]]
 | tracks=1
 | parking= 20
 | accessible=No
 | bicycle=
| passengers =134 (average weekday)<ref name="ridership">{{cite report|url=https://archive.org/details/njt-boarding-data-q-1-2025-1|title=Average Weekday Rail Station Passenger Boardings History, FY 2019&ndash;2025|publisher=[[NJ Transit]]|date=2025|accessdate=June 1, 2025|via=[[Internet Archive]]|location=[[Newark, New Jersey]]}}</ref>
| pass_year = 2024
 | pass_percent=
 | pass_system=
 | opened=January&nbsp;21, 1861<ref name="1861baer">{{cite web |last=Baer |first=Christopher T. |url=http://www.prrths.com/newprr_files/Hagley/PRR1861.pdf |title=A General Chronology of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Its Predecessors and Successors and Its Historical Context: 1861 |publisher=[[Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society]] |date=April 2015 |accessdate=November 19, 2022 |quote=Jan. 21, 1861 – Hackensack & New York Railroad begins operating into the Jersey City Terminal of the New Jersey Railroad; 6'-0" gauge track extended in station.|page=6}}</ref><ref name="1861opening">{{cite journal |title=Railroad Miscellany |date=January 17, 1861 |journal=The Railroad Record |page=567 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LjenRzRaIxoC&dq=Hackensack+Railroad+January+1861&pg=PA567 |access-date=November 19, 2022 |location=[[Cincinnati, Ohio]]}}</ref>
 | closed=
 | rebuilt=1967{{sfn|Jones|1996}}
 | years1=July&nbsp;1, 1981
 | events1=Station agent eliminated<ref name="agent1981">{{cite news |title=Ticket Sales at Wood-Ridge Station to End |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44566476/woodridge_agent_april_21_1981/ |access-date=February 15, 2020 |work=The Bergen Record |date=April 21, 1981 |location=Hackensack, New Jersey |page=B4|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>
 | code=763 (Erie Railroad)<ref name="codes">{{cite web|url=http://www.jon-n-bevliles.net/RAILROAD/erie_docs/erie-losn16.html|title=List of Station Names and Numbers|date=May 1, 1916|publisher=[[Erie Railroad]]|location=[[Jersey City, New Jersey]]|access-date=November 23, 2010}}</ref>
 | former=Woodridge&ndash;Moonachie{{sfn|Yanosey|2006|p=82}}
 | owned=New Jersey Transit
 | zone=3<ref name="timetables">{{cite web|url=http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/rail/R0010.pdf|title=Pascack Valley Line Timetables|publisher=[[New Jersey Transit Rail Operations]]|access-date=November 27, 2010|date=November 7, 2010|location=Newark, New Jersey|archive-date=November 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107152439/http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/rail/R0010.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | services= {{Adjacent stations|system=NJ Transit|line=Pascack Valley|left=Teterboro|right=Secaucus Junction}}
 | other_services_header = Former services
 | other_services_collapsible = yes
 | other_services = {{Adjacent stations|system=Erie Railroad|line=New Jersey and New York Railroad|left=Hasbrouck Heights|right=Carlstadt}}
 | mapframe = yes
 | mapframe-custom = {{Infobox mapframe |shape=none |line=none |marker=rail |marker-color=#8E258D |zoom=14 }}
}}
'''Wood-Ridge''' is an active [[commuter railroad]] [[train station]] in the [[Borough (New Jersey)|borough]] of [[Wood-Ridge, New Jersey|Wood-Ridge]], [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]], [[New Jersey]]. Located next to the interchange of [[New Jersey Route 17|Route&nbsp;17]] and Moonachie ([[List of county routes in Bergen County, New Jersey#36|County Route&nbsp;36]]), the single low-level [[side platform]] station services trains of [[New Jersey Transit Rail Operations|New Jersey Transit]]'s [[Pascack Valley Line]] between [[Hoboken Terminal]] and [[Spring Valley station (New York)|Spring Valley]]. The next station to the north is [[Teterboro station|Teterboro]] and to the south is [[Secaucus Junction]]. Wood-Ridge station is not accessible to handicapped persons and contains parking along Park Place East.

Service through the Wood-Ridge section of [[Bergen Township, New Jersey (1893–1902)|Bergen Township]] began with the opening of the [[Hackensack and New York Railroad]] on January&nbsp;21, 1861 as '''Woodridge–Moonachie'''. The station contained a two-story wooden passenger station with dimensions of {{convert|39x18|ft|m}} with two freight houses, a {{convert|13x13|ft|m}} wooden structure and an old railroad car body serving as a secondary facility.{{sfn|Yanosey|2006|p=82}}{{sfn|New Jersey State Board of Taxes and Assessment|1924|p=515}} With the reconstruction of Route&nbsp;17 in 1967, the railroad received approval to demolish the depot at Woodridge–Moonachie, which would be used by new right-of-way. As a result, a new {{convert|1200|sqft|sqm}} concrete block depot would replace the wooden structure. This would also result in the elimination of stations at [[Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey|Hasbrouck Heights]] and [[Carlstadt, New Jersey|Carlstadt]].<ref name="1967bid">{{cite news |title=State Receives $2.5-Million Bid on Route 17 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-route-17el-july-28-1/44569247/ |access-date=May 22, 2023 |work=The Paterson Morning Call |date=July 26, 1987 |page=23|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>

New Jersey Transit eliminated the station agent on July&nbsp;1, 1981, closing the station depot in 1987 due to vandalism. They reversed the decision in September&nbsp;1997.<ref name="sept1997">{{cite news |last1=Gilbert |first1=Pat L. |title=Comfort Station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-woodridge-station-september/125160041/ |access-date=May 22, 2023 |work=[[The Bergen Record]] |date=September 23, 1997 |location=[[Hackensack, New Jersey]] |pages=L1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-woodridge-station-part-2-sep/125160125/ L8]|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>

==History==
On March&nbsp;20, 1967, the [[Erie Lackawanna Railroad]] and the Bergen County Board of Freeholders attended a meeting of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners. Due to upcoming roadwork in the area, the railroad wanted to abandon the two stations at [[Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey|Hasbrouck Heights]] and one at [[Carlstadt, New Jersey|Carlstadt]]. A fourth station, the Woodridge–Moonachie stop would be moved to the south. The upcoming roadwork involved the widening of [[New Jersey Route 17|Route&nbsp;17]], which results in the construction of multiple overpasses in the stretch: [[Paterson Plank Road]], Moonachie Avenue ([[List of county routes in Bergen County, New Jersey#36|County Route&nbsp;36]]), along with Williams Avenue and Franklin Avenues in Hasbrouck Heights.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flynn |first1=Edward J. |title=Station Closing Scored |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-hasbrouck-heights-station-ma/125194155/ |access-date=May 23, 2023 |work=[[The Bergen Record]] |location=[[Hackensack, New Jersey]] |page=A11|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>

The Public Utility Commissioners approved the decision to demolish the depots. As part of the station consolidation, Hasbrouck Heights and Carlstadt stops would be abandoned. Woodridge–Moonachie would be moved {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} south and a new station depot would be built. [[Teterboro station|Williams Avenue station]] in Hasbrouck Heights would be rebuilt with a new shelter and bus stop.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stations of Erie to be Merged |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-erie-consolidation-may-24-1/26464680/ |access-date=May 23, 2023 |work=[[The Bergen Record]] |date=May 24, 1967 |location=[[Hackensack, New Jersey]] |page=A19|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>

In June&nbsp;1967, the [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] announced they would open bids on reconstruction of Route&nbsp;17, including the construction of the Moonachie Avenue overpass to help eliminate the high accident rate at the Route&nbsp;17/Moonachie Avenue intersection. As part of the construction, Route&nbsp;17 would be a highway of six {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=on}} wide lanes and {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=on}} shoulders from the original pair of {{convert|10|ft|m|adj=on}} lanes with {{convert|5|ft|m|adj=on}} shoulders. The six lanes would be separated by a {{convert|32|in|cm|adj=on}} concrete [[Jersey barrier]]. Moonachie Avenue would be moved northward from its location to accommodate a new interchange. Anderson Avenue would go from a through street to a dead end and Bergen Street would be re-aligned to meet with the new Moonachie Avenue. Demolition of the Woodridge–Moonachie station and construction of its replacement. The Department of Transportation budgeted $7.25&nbsp;million for the {{convert|3.8|mi|km|adj=on}} project.<ref>{{cite news |title=Route 17 to be Reconstructed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-route-17-moonachie-jun/125195149/ |access-date=May 23, 2023 |work=The Paterson Morning Call |date=June 30, 1967 |page=9|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>

In early July&nbsp;1967, the Department of Transportation announced they would begin accepting construction bids on the project on July&nbsp;27. They also announced that the reconstruction of the Woodridge–Moonachie station depot would be done entirely on state funding.<ref>{{cite news |title=State to Get Bids July 27 on First Phase of Rt. 17 Widening Project |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-route-17-widening-july/125195589/ |access-date=May 23, 2023 |work=The Herald-News |date=July 10, 1967 |location=[[Passaic, New Jersey]] |page=18|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> The low-bid came in from George Brewster Construction and Equipment Company of [[Bogota, New Jersey|Bogota]] at $2.5&nbsp;million for the first stage of construction. The new station depot would be a {{convert|1200|sqft|sqm|adj=on}} concrete block depot with ticket and freight offices, storage, waiting and boiler rooms, along with toilet facilities. The removal of the Woodridge–Moonachie, Carlstadt and Hasbrouck Heights stations would be under other contracts.<ref name="1967bid" /> Four other bids were received, ranging between $2,726,748.57 and $3,203,980.95.<ref>{{cite news |title=State Issues Contract for Work on Route 17 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ridgewood-herald-news-route-17-widening/125196203/ |access-date=May 23, 2023 |work=The Ridgewood Herald-News |date=August 3, 1967 |page=25|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>

On September&nbsp;6, 1967, construction of the Route&nbsp;17 widening began.<ref>{{cite news |title=Route 17 Widening Job is Now Underway |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ridgewood-herald-news-route-17-widening/125197037/ |access-date=May 23, 2023 |work=The Ridgewood Herald-News |date=September 7, 1967 |page=15|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>  Demolition of buildings in the right-of-way began as well in September. A woodcraft building formerly known as Adelung's Hotel, near the station depot, would be a victim of the widening as well, much to the dismany of local residents. Demolition was underway by September&nbsp;25.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Atwater |first1=Sandra |title=Historic Buildings to Bow Out |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-woodridge-station-september/26464714/ |access-date=May 23, 2023 |work=[[The Bergen Record]] |date=September 26, 1967 |page=C1|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>

On April&nbsp;20, 1981, the borough of Wood-Ridge announced that the station agent at Wood-Ridge would be eliminated on July&nbsp;1. New Jersey Transit told the municipality that the decision was made to help the agency reduce an $80&nbsp;million deficit they were facing. The elimination would be tied with a 50&nbsp;percent raise in railroad and bus fares.<ref name="agent1981" />

In September&nbsp;1997, New Jersey Transit received $185,000 to upgrade and rehabilitate the station depot at Wood-Ridge. As part of the funding, the station would get a newly-heated waiting room with fresh benches and restrooms. The single [[side platform]] would be repaved entirely and the parking lot would receive new lighting. NJ Transit noted that the station depot had fallen into massive disrepair for the ten years it had sat unused. The roof was leaking for at least several years, the tiles were grimed over and a graffiti artist had made themselves present. A lot of stenches from water and broken toilets were present in the building. New Jersey Transit noted that Wood-Ridge station saw a drop in ridership, believed to be partly due to the closed station building.<ref name="sept1997" /> The rehabilitated station depot opened to commuters on November&nbsp;14, 1997, with local politicians on site to greet commuters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goodnight |first1=Lisa |title=Wood-Ridge Station Open |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-wood-ridge-agent-november-15/28438437/ |access-date=May 23, 2023 |work=[[The Bergen Record]] |date=November 15, 1997 |location=[[Hackensack, New Jersey]] |page=A4|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref>

Until 2016, the Wood-Ridge station was the only one to serve the town. This changed when the [[Wesmont (NJT station)|Wesmont]] station serving the [[Bergen County Line]] opened near Wood-Ridge's border with [[Wallington, New Jersey|Wallington]].

==Station layout==
The station has one track and one low-level [[side platform]].

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Wilson E.|title=The Pascack Valley Line - A History of the New Jersey and New York Railroad|publisher=Railroadians of America|location=[[East Hanover, New Jersey]]|year=1996|isbn=0-941652-14-9}}
*{{cite book|author1=New Jersey State Board of Taxes and Assessment|title=Eighth Annual Report of the New Jersey State Board of Taxes and Assessment for the Year Ending June 30, 1923|date=1924|publisher=MacCrellish & Quigley|location=[[Trenton, New Jersey]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I2VLAAAAMAAJ}}
*{{cite book|last=Yanosey|first=Robert J.|title=Erie Railroad Facilities (In Color)|publisher=Morning Sun Books Inc.|location=[[Scotch Plains, New Jersey]]|year=2006|volume=1|pages=100–101|isbn=1-58248-183-0}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wood-Ridge (NJT station)}}
{{NJT links}}
* [https://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.844322,-74.078489&spn=0.003839,0.013679&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.844322,-74.078489&panoid=ToxBl_ISkjsdjluvKtFrvA&cbp=12,32.62,,0,6.48 Station from Moonachie Avenue from Google Maps Street View]

{{NJT stations navbox}}
{{Erie Railroad New York Division stations}}

[[Category:NJ Transit Rail Operations stations]]
[[Category:Former Erie Railroad stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Bergen County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Wood-Ridge, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1861]]
[[Category:1861 establishments in New Jersey]]