Fall Semester Update

Throughout the fall semester, significant progress was made in data collection, site analysis, and the development of design solutions for Hoboken Terminal. Three alternative designs were proposed to enhance multimodal accessibility and alleviate congestion in the area.

An image of the existing site layout is displayed. The New Jersey Transit Bus Terminal is located in the middle of the site. There are two New Jersey Transit employee parking lots, one on each side of the Bus Terminal.
Existing Site Layout

Each alternative aimed to optimize car parking, improve multimodal traffic flow, and incorporate a pedestrian plaza to replace underutilized space currently occupied by the NJ Transit Bus Terminal. The proposed plazas prioritize sustainability, enhance pedestrian accessibility in and around the terminal, and maintain the site’s historic character. The first two alternatives involve rerouting vehicular traffic around a smaller pedestrian plaza and redesigning key intersections, effectively reducing vehicular presence near the terminal entrance by restricting traffic on select streets. For the first alternative, traffic flows in the counterclockwise direction along the Observer Highway and Hudson Place route. A geometric change for the intersection of Observer Highway and Hudson Street is proposed along with a change to the existing signal timing at the intersection of Hudson Street and Hudson Place. These changes are proposed to alleviate vehicular congestion and accommodate pedestrian accessibility in the area.

The first alternative design is displayed. This design proposes to redevelop unused space next to the Bus terminal into a pedestrian plaza. Traffic is routed in a counter-clockwise direction around the terminal for a smoother traffic flow. At the beginning of the new corridor there is a roundabout to slow traffic. Also at the intersection of River Street and Hudson Place there is a chicane also to slow traffic since River Street is proposed to be pedestrian only. The existing employee parking lot to the left of the Bus Terminal is proposed as green space and existing parking lot to the right of the bus terminal will be redeveloped into an elevated parking lot.
Alternative Design 1

For the second design alternative, traffic flow runs in the clockwise direction along the Hudson Place and Observer Highway route. A roundabout for the intersection at Observer Highway and Hudson Street and Observer Highway and the adjacent intersection to the west is proposed along with a change to the existing signal timing at the intersection of Hudson Street and Hudson Place. These changes are proposed to similarly alleviate vehicular congestion in the area and provide accommodation to pedestrian accessibility.

The second alternative design is displayed. This design proposed to redevelop the unused space next to the bus terminal into a pedestrian plaza. Traffic is routed in a clockwise direction around the terminal. Two roundabouts are shown for traffic calming measures. River Street and Hudson street are shown as pedestrian only. The existing employee parking lot to the left of the Bus Terminal is proposed as green space and existing parking lot to the right of the bus terminal will be redeveloped into an elevated parking lot.
Alternative Design 2

The third alternative eliminates vehicular traffic near the terminal entirely, replacing it with an expansive pedestrian plaza which serves as a dedicated path for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel to the terminal. The bus terminal is relocated to the region just south of Observer Highway. Changes to the existing geometry at the intersections of Hudson Street and Observer Highway and the adjacent intersection to the north are proposed to alleviate congestion and accommodate the changes to traffic flow for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

The third alternative design is displayed. The New Jersey Bus Terminal is shown in a new location and the current location is shown as a much larger pedestrian plaza. Traffic is shown traveling in one direction on the left side of the plaza. There are 2 roundabouts proposed for traffic calming measures. River Street anf Hudson Place are shown as pedestrian only. The existing employee parking lot to the left of the Bus Terminal is proposed as green space and existing parking lot to the right of the bus terminal will be redeveloped into an elevated parking lot.
Alternative Design 3

Traffic counts conducted during a site visit revealed an average hourly volume of 265 vehicles, 1,862 pedestrians, and 22 bicyclists. Based on this data, the third Alternative Design 3 was selected as the final design, since it prioritizes traffic reduction, sustainability, and pedestrian accessibility the most out of each alternative.

For stormwater management design alternatives, watershed analyses of the Hudson River and Hoboken Terminal watersheds were conducted to inform design requirements for site improvements. Hydrologic modeling using HEC-HMS, based on a 24-hour, 100-year storm event, estimated a direct runoff volume of 44.2 acre-feet and a peak discharge of 180.5 cubic feet per second. Hydraulic modeling of the Hudson River in HEC-RAS was used to determine that the river overtops at roughly 5.74 ft. during a 24-hour 100-year storm event. These analyses informed the decision to include a floodwall to manage flooding due to the overtopping of the Hudson River and to redesign the existing stormwater pipe network to more adequately handle flooding due to excess rainfall runoff. An image with a sample geometry for the stormwater design alternatives is provided. A sample floodwall is shown in purple with the inclusion of a gate to allow for the free travel of ferries during operation hours. Additionally, a sample geometry for the stormwater pipe system is displayed in red.

An image of the selected alternatives to manage flooding at the Hoboken Terminal site is displayed. A sample geometry for a floodwall surrounds the station and is located to the east in the Hudson River. A sample gate system is shown directly across from the docking station at the east end to provide access for ferries. At the north end of the image, a sample geometry for the redesigned piping system is shown. The piping system connects to the existing outfall structure, which is located to the north where the river meets the city limits.
Stormwater Design Alternatives

The team concluded the semester with a final fall presentation of engineering services, which can be accessed through the link below.

Improvements to Hoboken Terminal Corridor Final Fall Presentation