Mount Arlington station

Mount Arlington was the site of a former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad station, that replaced the old Drakesville station in modern-day Ledgewood that opened on January 16, 1854.{{cite web |last1=Davis |first1=J.M. |title=Letter to the New York Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society |url=http://ppolinks.com/hoboken32340/2014.013.0114_DL&W_excursion_package_1938.pdf |publisher=The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company |access-date=April 7, 2020 |page=8}}{{sfn|New Jersey Comptroller of the Treasury|1856|p=31}} That station burned on February 19, 1867.{{cite news |title=Railroad Depot Burned |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76986445/drakesville-burns-february-20-1867/ |access-date=May 3, 2021 |work=The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser |date=February 20, 1867 |page=3|via=Newspapers.com}} The railroad closed Drakesville station in 1891 when they built the new station at Mount Arlington, {{convert|0.5|mi|km}} to the east.{{harvnb|Taber|Taber|1981|p=736}} New ownership took the abandoned Drakesville station and converted it into a residence.{{cite news |title=On The Busy Railroads |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/passaic-daily-news/130817415/ |access-date=December 6, 2024 |work=Passaic Daily News |date=August 7, 1902 |page=4|via=Newspapers.com}} Mount Arlington station consisted of a {{convert|20x74|ft|m|adj=on}} passenger station, a {{convert|15x40|ft|m|adj=on}} freight station and a bunk house. There was also contained a {{convert|386|ft|m|adj=on}} long siding.{{sfn|New Jersey State Legislature|1913|p=533}}

The Mount Arlington station itself closed on November 8, 1942.{{cite web |title=Lackawanna Railroad Timetables |url=http://www.jon-n-bevliles.net/RAILROAD/PTTs/dlw080142.pdf1043.pdf |publisher=Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad |access-date=April 28, 2020 |location=New York, New York |page=14|date=August 1, 1942}}{{cite web |title=Lackawanna Railroad Timetables |url=http://www.jon-n-bevliles.net/RAILROAD/PTTs/dlw110842.pdf|publisher=Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad |access-date=April 28, 2020 |location=New York, New York |page=14|date=November 8, 1942}}

NJ Transit looked at building a new train station in Mount Arlington as early as the autumn of 1997. After dismissing it, the proposal returned in February 1998, with officials from NJ Transit stating they were designing a new train station and park and ride at the Howard Boulevard interchange on Interstate 80. The station would be an approach to reducing traffic ad congestion on Interstate 80.{{cite news |title=A Rail Good Idea |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-mt-arlington-february-24/160553266/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=Daily Record |date=February 24, 1998 |location=Morristown, New Jersey |page=A12|via=Newspapers.com}} After receiving federal funding through the Transportation Efficiency Act in May 1998, the state began full design work in October 1998. The New Jersey Department of Transportation proposed a $4.5 million station, included with two park and ride lots. One lot would cost $1.5 million and contain 250 lots. The second lot, with no official cost, would add 500 parking spots and located near the future train platform. Speculation was that construction of the new station platform could begin in the Spring of 2001.{{cite news |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Joseph |title=Planning Begins for Train Platform, Parking Lots |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-mt-arlington-october-18-1/160553715/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=Daily Record |date=October 18, 1998 |location=Morristown, New Jersey |page=A20|via=Newspapers.com}}

By July 2001, congestion on Interstate 80 became worse, even after a widening project. NJ Transit stated that the new station would could cost $7 million or more while the smaller lot cost $2.3 million. NJ Transit speculated that the park and ride could begin construction later in 2001 and be finished by 2002. The new train station would begin construction in 2003.{{cite news |last1=Daigle |first1=Michael |title=Rail Village Plans May Lift Downtowns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-mt-arlington-july-10-2001/160554063/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=Daily Record |date=July 10, 2001 |location=Morristown, New Jersey |pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-mount-arlington-part-2-jul/160553993/ A6]|via=Newspapers.com}} Construction of the park and ride lot began in September 2001 under the work of Tilcon Inc., a general contractor with a December completion date.{{cite news |last1=Mansur |first1=Jean |title=Lot on Route 80 Due by December |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-howard-blvd-pr-septemb/160554367/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=The Star-Ledger |date=September 16, 2001 |location=Newark, New Jersey |page=19|via=Newspapers.com}} However, the work would be delayed due to the drainage system requiring approvals. Work on the drainage system was underway by February 2002 and the new speculation is the 235-space, {{convert|3|acre|ha|adj=on}} lot would be opened by April 1.{{cite news |last1=Mansur |first1=Jean |title=Rt. 80 Park-and-Ride Awaits April Opening |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-mt-arlington-park-and-ri/160554664/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=The Star-Ledger |date=February 27, 2002 |location=Newark, New Jersey |pages=A53, A55|via=Newspapers.com}} State officials held an unveiling ceremony of the Howard Boulevard Park and Ride on June 25, 2002. The new park and ride would begin having service from the Lakeland Bus Lines when it opened on July 1 with 35 buses from Mount Arlington to places in Manhattan, including Port Authority Bus Terminal. The officials noted that construction of the train station would begin in 2004 at an estimated $8 million.{{cite news |last1=Jennings |first1=Rob |title=Park and Ride to Open Monday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-mount-arlington-june-26-2/160555878/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=Daily Record |date=June 26, 2004 |location=Morristown, New Jersey |page=A14|via=Newspapers.com}}

A bill passed in the United States Senate helped give $11 million to Morris County, of which $2.2 million would be assigned to the new station at Mount Arlington. The state hoped the rest of the funding would come in the next session.{{cite news |last1=Ragonese |first1=Lawrence |title=Funds Are Approved for Poconos Rail Line |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-mt-arlington-january-23/160556529/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=The Star-Ledger |date=January 23, 2004 |location=Newark, New Jersey |page=44|via=Newspapers.com}} NJ Transit announced on December 8, 2004 that construction would begin at the park and ride of the new train station. The $7 million project would be entirely funded by the federal government with money obtained by United States Representative Rodney P. Frelinghuysen. The construction would expand the parking lot to 305 spaces and be open during 2007. There was local speculation that the station's construction would result in the closure of the Lake Hopatcong station in Roxbury Township. However, NJ Transit confirmed that the Lake Hopatcong station would not be closed.{{cite news |last1=Ragonese |first1=Lawrence |title=NJ Transit Plans Mount Arlington Rail Station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-mt-arlington-station-de/160556755/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=The Star-Ledger |date=December 9, 2004 |location=Newark, New Jersey |pages=21–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-mount-arlington-station/160556803/ 22]|via=Newspapers.com}}

NJ Transit's Board of Directors approved a new $12.1 million project on April 12, 2006.{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Tom |title=NJ Transit's Plan Advances for New Hudson Tunnel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-mt-arlington-april-13-2006/160557082/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=The Record |date=April 13, 2006 |location=Hackensack, New Jersey |page=A3|via=Newspapers.com}} NJ Transit, state, federal and local officials held a groundbreaking for the new station on June 12, 2006. The new Mount Arlington station would be made of artificial stone with a clock tower and have pictures of local history, including the Morris Canal, Bertrand Island Amusement Park and Lake Hopatcong. However, the new parking lot expansion would only go to 285 spaces rather than 307. Construction would begin on June 19 with a speculated completion in November 2007.{{cite news |last1=Johnston |first1=Laura |title=Ground is Broken for Mount Arlington Train Station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-mount-arlington-station/160557429/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=The Star-Ledger |date=June 13, 2006 |location=Newark, New Jersey |page=34|via=Newspapers.com}} Each platform would be {{convert|285|ft|m}} long.{{cite news |last1=Jennings |first1=Rob |title=Mt. Arlington Station Ahead of Schedule |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-mount-arlington-december-2/160557610/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=Daily Record |date=December 28, 2006 |location=Morristown, New Jersey |page=A1|via=Newspapers.com}}

Crews installed the new under-track tunnel by the end of December 2006. In October 2007, the station had its clock tower, lighting and railings added. Illumination of the station soon followed. By November, the station would be 95 percent complete. On December 19, 2007, NJ Transit announced that they would open the new station at Mount Arlington on January 21, 2008. The Mayor of Mount Arlington, Art Ondish, stated that an opening ceremony would occur on January 20 and stated that NJ Transit would call it "Mount Arlington station" instead of a previous proposed name of "Route 80/Howard Boulevard Intermodal Terminal".{{cite news |last1=Jennings |first1=Rob |title=Mount Arlington Train Station Opens Doors Next Month |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-mount-arlington-station-de/160557800/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=Daily Record |date=December 20, 2007 |location=Morristown, New Jersey |pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-mt-arlington-part-2-decemb/160557940/ A7]|via=Newspapers.com}}

Over 300 people attending the opening ceremony on January 20, 2008, resulting in the entire lot being filled and several people needing to use a shuttle bus from a local hotel lot. Frelinghuysen, Ondish and other officials attended the ceremony. Ondish added that the borough of Mount Arlington was considering a new local jitney service to help people get to the station.{{cite news |last1=Jennings |first1=Rob |title=300 Welcome Mt. Arlington Train Station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-mount-arlington-station-ja/160558280/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=Daily Record |date=January 21, 2008 |location=Morristown, New Jersey |page=A3|via=Newspapers.com}}

File:Mt Arlington NJT dark from I-80 jeh.jpg

Located at Howard Boulevard (County Route 615) and Interstate 80 exit 30, Mount Arlington station contains two high-level side platforms, connected by an under track plaza. The station's plaza contains the single ticket vending machine. Elevators are available to reach the platform. Mount Arlington station has a single parking lot off Howard Boulevard, maintained by NJ Transit for free, containing 281 spaces, seven of which are accessible to handicapped people.{{cite web |title=Mount Arlington Station |url=https://www.njtransit.com/station/mount-arlington-station |website=njtransit.com |publisher=NJ Transit |access-date=December 6, 2024|location=Newark, New Jersey}} The station also provides access to Lakeland Bus Lines's 46 and 80 routes.{{cite web |title=Montclair-Boonton Line Timetable - as of 11/10/2024 |url=https://content.njtransit.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/rail/2024/11/100003/bntn.pdf |website=njtransit.com |publisher=NJ Transit |access-date=December 6, 2024 |location=Newark, New Jersey |date=November 10, 2024}}

Mount Arlington station only contains weekday service, with no service operated on the weekends except during holidays.

• {{cite book|author1=New Jersey Comptroller of the Treasury |title=Annual Statements of the Railroad and Canal Companies of the State of New Jersey |date=1856 |publisher=Office of "True American" |location=Trenton, New Jersey |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101066784990&view=1up&seq=35 |access-date=April 7, 2020}}
• {{cite book |author=New Jersey State Legislature|title=Documents of the One Hundred and Thirty-Seventh Legislature of the State of New Jersey and the Sixty-Ninth Under the New Constitution Vol. II Documents 5 to 16 Inclusive |date=1913 |publisher=State Gazette Publishing Company |location=Trenton, New Jersey |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Documents_of_the_Legislature_of_the_Stat/A3BMAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1}}
• {{Taber-DLW-20th-2}}

{{reflist}}

{{NJT links}}

{{Commons category-inline|Mount Arlington (NJT station)}}

• [https://www.njtransit.com/station/mount-arlington-station Official station information page]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090522222812/http://www.njtransit.com/an_cp_project068.shtml Project planning page]
• [https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.8967,-74.6328&q=loc:40.8967,-74.6328&hl=en&t=h&z=15 View from Interstate 80 (Google Maps)]

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Category:Railway stations in Morris County, New Jersey

Category:NJ Transit Rail Operations stations

Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1854

Category:1854 establishments in New Jersey

Category:Former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad stations