Hillsdale Railroad Crossings Being Repaired

Work is underway to replace the New Jersey Transit railroad crossing at Washington Avenue and Broadway in this photo, taken July 11. | Staff photo

HILLSDALE, N.J.—Crews are tearing up the railroad crossing at Washington Avenue and Broadway, and the borough says work is expected to continue at several railroad crossings throughout July.

Busses have replaced Pascack Valley Line trains due to grade crossing repairs and utility and maintenance work on weekdays from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. now through Aug. 23, NJ Transit said in a travel advisory. Busses replace all Pascack Valley Line trains on the weekends through Aug. 24, NJ Transit said. 

Grade crossing work will also be performed in Emerson, Park Ridge and at two locations in Rockland County, N.Y., during this period of substitute busing, said NJ Transit spokesperson Lisa Torbic.

Hillsdale Mayor John Ruocco had demanded action in a September 2018 letter to the state Department of Transportation commissioner. 

“For the past two years, [Hillsdale] has watched the Hillsdale Avenue railroad grade crossing fall apart in our downtown. It got to the point where the crossing was a hazard for our snowplows last winter, striking the hidden upturned rubber, and is an ongoing hazard for our emergency services personnel to traverse,” wrote Ruocco. 

The borough says the Hillsdale Avenue/Broadway crossing is expected to be closed from July 24–31. It said the Orchard Street and Parkview Drive crossings are expected to be closed July 17–24.

The current work at Washington Avenue and Broadway was expected to last until July 17, the borough said. 

Work will continue at Washington Avenue, then shift to railroad crossings at Parkview Avenue at Orchard Street, then to Hillsdale Avenue and Broadway, the borough said in an alert to residents. | Staff photo

The project is also being undertaken with NJDOT. 

Commuters seeking more information should visit http://bit.ly/pvlineadvisory.

This story was updated to include a comment from a NJ Transit spokesperson.