The Borough of Carteret officially broke ground Friday on its long-awaited $48 million Multimodal Ferry Terminal Building at a former Dupont Brownfield site on the Arthur Kill waterfront. The ceremony, attended by Gov. Phil Murphy, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, and Mayor Daniel Reiman, celebrated the launch of one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the borough’s history.
The project signals the return of ferry service to Carteret for the first time since the 1950s, fulfilling a vision Mayor Reiman has pursued for 24 years.
“This terminal will serve as the gateway for thousands of commuters, residents, and visitors,” Reiman said. “It will provide new, convenient access to New York City and other destinations while reducing roadway congestion and opening new opportunities for job creation and economic growth here in Carteret.”
The $47,502,761 construction contract was awarded to Brockwell and Carrington Contractors of Towaco. The project involves building a four-story, 52,000-square-foot ferry hub designed to be a destination unto itself. It will encompass:
- Marina and ferry terminal operations.
- Commercial and retail space.
- Restaurants and event space, including a possible banquet hall and rooftop amenities with panoramic views of the Raritan Bay and New York City skyline.
- Leasable office space.
Murphy praised the development, stating, “I am proud to deliver the expansion of ferry service to New York City from Carteret… This new transportation hub will drive economic growth in the area.” Speaker Coughlin added that the $30 million in state investment was a testament to Mayor Reiman’s “unyielding and relentless” vision.
The entire ferry project is backed by more than $86 million in federal and state grants secured by the Reiman Administration. Recent grants include a $1.9 million award from the NJ Urban Enterprise Zone Authority toward the retail space.
The terminal’s intermodal design will allow for seamless connections, accommodating NJ TRANSIT buses, municipal jitneys, and NJ Rideshare services. The jitney will shuttle passengers throughout the borough and to nearby Rahway and Woodbridge train stations.
Construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months, with completion anticipated by December 2027. Ferry service is projected to initially offer two to three stops in Manhattan, with three or four trips daily in the morning and evening, a frequency planned to increase with ridership.
The project is the cornerstone of Mayor Reiman’s broader vision to transform Carteret’s industrial Arthur Kill waterfront into a regional destination, which already includes a public park, marina, and a soon-to-open Riverwalk.
