Metropark station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Metropark
Metropark station from the parking deck, April 2015
Location	100 Middlesex–Essex Turnpike Iselin, Woodbridge Township, New Jersey United States
Coordinates	40°34′05″N 74°19′47″W / 40.5681°N 74.3298°W / 40.5681; -74.3298
Owned by	New Jersey Transit
Line(s)	Amtrak Northeast Corridor
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	4
Connections	NJ Transit Bus: 48, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805
Construction
Parking	3,615 spaces
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Other information
Station code	Amtrak: MET
IATA code	ZME
Fare zone	10 (NJT)
History
Opened	November 14, 1971
Rebuilt	2007–2010 (refurbishment)
Traffic
Passengers (2012)	7,447 (average weekday) (NJT)
Passengers (FY2019)	380,914 annually (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Philadelphia toward Washington, D.C. Acela Newark Penn toward Boston South Trenton One-way operation Crescent Newark Penn toward New York Trenton toward Savannah Palmetto New Brunswick toward Harrisburg Keystone Service Newark Airport toward New York New Brunswick toward Norfolk, Newport News or Roanoke Northeast Regional Newark Airport toward Boston South or Springfield Trenton toward Washington, D.C. Vermonter weekends Newark Penn toward St. Albans      Cardinal does not stop here      Carolinian does not stop here      Pennsylvanian does not stop here      Silver Meteor does not stop here      Silver Star does not stop here Preceding station NJ Transit Following station Metuchen toward Trenton Northeast Corridor Line Rahway toward New York Penn Station
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Trenton toward Washington, D.C. Metroliner Until 2005 Newark Penn toward New York

Metropark station is a busy transportation spot in Iselin. This area is part of Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It's about 24.6 miles southwest of New York Penn Station. The station is owned and run by NJ Transit. It serves both Amtrak and NJ Transit trains on the Northeast Corridor.

The station is easy to get to, located near Route 27 and the Garden State Parkway. It has a large parking garage that is always open. NJ Transit also runs special "loop" buses during busy times. These buses connect the station to nearby offices and homes.

Metropark station was built by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the United States Department of Transportation. It first opened on November 14, 1971. Back then, it was called Garden State Metropark. It was designed as a "park-and-ride" station. This meant people could drive their cars there, park, and then take the new Metroliners high-speed trains.

Station History

Amtrak train at Metropark, January 1976

Metropark was one of two new stations planned in the 1960s. These stations were meant for the fast Metroliner trains. The other station was Capital Beltway in Maryland. Both were designed as "park-and-ride" spots. This allowed people to drive to the station and then take the train.

In late 1968, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) helped pay for the station. It was expected to cost about $1.4 million.

Opening Day

Amtrak train service started at Metropark on November 14, 1971. The station ended up costing $2.6 million. This cost was shared by NJDOT and the United States Department of Transportation. The station had two long platforms, each 850 feet long. It also had 820 parking spaces.

Its location next to the Garden State Parkway made it easy for cars to get there. Soon, a big business area grew around the station. This area became known as an "Edge City." This means it was a city-like area that grew outside the main city.

For a while, the station was called Harrison A. Williams Metropark Station. This was to honor Senator Williams. However, his name was later removed. In November 1986, new ramps were added to the Garden State Parkway. This made it even easier to reach the station.

Station Upgrades

Signage after renovation

In January 2007, NJ Transit announced a big plan to upgrade the station. This project cost nearly $30 million. The work was finished by the summer of 2009 and cost $47 million.

Many improvements were made during this time. New shelters with climate control were added. These shelters keep passengers comfortable in any weather. New LCD screens were installed to show train information. The platforms were made longer so they could hold 12-car trains. The station building was also made bigger.

In April 2023, one of the two staircases between the underpass and the southbound platform was closed.

How Many People Use It?

Since 2001, Metropark has been one of the busiest NJ Transit stations. It's only less busy than the main city stations. Many people from the South Shore of Staten Island use Metropark. They take the train from here to get to Manhattan for work. In 2006, Metropark was one of the first non-terminal stations to have over 7,000 people boarding trains on a weekday.

Station Layout and Services

An NJ Transit train at Metropark

Metropark station has two platforms. These are called "side platforms." They are next to the four tracks of the Northeast Corridor. Most of Amtrak's long-distance trains and some Keystone Service trains do not stop here. They use the inner tracks to go past the station quickly. Some NJ Transit express trains also pass through without stopping.

Even though many Amtrak trains skip other stations, many still stop at Metropark. To do this, they have to switch to the outer tracks. Special crossovers were added around 1986 to make this easier. These crossovers allow trains to switch tracks smoothly.

NJ Transit also runs five "Metropark Loop" bus routes. These are bus routes 801 to 805. They connect the station to nearby office parks and neighborhoods. This helps people get to and from the station easily.