What’s Next for NJ Transit’s World Cup Transitway? $100 Million Project Set to Support Future Travel Across North Jersey

NJ Transit’s temporary transportation upgrades for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may have been designed for one of the biggest sporting events in history, but one of its most significant investments is expected to continue serving New Jersey long after the tournament has ended.

The agency’s $100 million Transitway, a dedicated bus rapid transit corridor connecting Secaucus Junction and MetLife Stadium, is expected to remain part of New Jersey’s transportation network for future large-scale events while also laying the foundation for expanded public transit projects across North Jersey.

The Transitway played a major role during the World Cup by helping NJ Transit transport thousands of fans between train services and MetLife Stadium. Instead of relying entirely on cars, many visitors were able to reach the stadium using a combination of rail and dedicated bus service, reducing traffic congestion around one of the busiest entertainment venues in the state.

The seven-mile Transitway was built with support from a $100 million grant provided through the Federal Transit Administration. The project introduced New Jersey’s first true bus rapid transit-style corridor, giving buses priority at traffic signals and allowing them to travel more efficiently between Secaucus Junction and MetLife Stadium. Unlike traditional bus routes that operate in regular traffic, the Transitway was designed to move large crowds quickly with fewer delays.

Although the World Cup has concluded, transportation officials say the infrastructure will not sit unused. According to NJ Transit, the Transitway will remain available whenever major attendance levels require additional transit service. During future events, buses will once again operate between Secaucus Junction and MetLife Stadium using traffic signal priority to maintain smooth travel times.

Officials believe the Transitway offers flexibility that will benefit concerts, NFL games, international sporting events, and other high-capacity gatherings at MetLife Stadium. While the transportation demands during the World Cup were unique, the agency says the system can still improve passenger movement whenever attendance exceeds the capacity of existing rail services.

During the World Cup, NJ Transit was expected to transport approximately 40,000 passengers for each match after FIFA took control of many of the stadium’s parking areas. That extraordinary level of demand required transportation plans unlike those used during regular stadium events.

Transportation officials now expect future events at MetLife Stadium to return to a more familiar pattern, with a larger percentage of visitors arriving by personal vehicles. The stadium, located in East Rutherford, offers around 28,000 parking spaces, while additional parking is available nearby at the American Dream complex. Because of this existing parking capacity, officials do not anticipate needing to move World Cup-level passenger volumes on a regular basis.

Even so, NJ Transit says the Transitway provides valuable backup capacity that complements the existing Meadowlands Rail Line. The rail service can already transport roughly 10,000 passengers per hour, while the Transitway has the potential to move another 10,000 riders by operating approximately 100 articulated buses capable of carrying about 100 passengers each.

Keeping the Transitway available gives transportation planners more flexibility during sold-out events and helps reduce the risk of severe traffic congestion when attendance is exceptionally high.

Not every component of the World Cup transportation system will remain permanently in place. The temporary modular bus terminal that was installed at MetLife Stadium specifically for FIFA operations is currently being dismantled and stored. However, NJ Transit says the structure has been preserved so it can be redeployed if another international event requires similar transportation operations in the future.

The investment in the Transitway also supports a much broader vision for public transportation across North Jersey. Even before the World Cup concluded, NJ Transit had already begun planning the next phase of the project.

In late 2025, the agency approved additional funding to continue designing an expanded bus rapid transit corridor that would connect Secaucus with Jersey City. Transportation planners believe this future extension could create a new public transit option through one of the state’s busiest and most densely populated regions by making use of existing NJ Transit-owned rights-of-way.

Officials have also discussed longer-term concepts that could eventually extend rapid bus service to other communities, including possible future connections involving Newark and Montclair. While those proposals remain in the planning stages, they reflect the agency’s goal of building a larger regional transit network rather than limiting the Transitway to stadium operations alone.

NJ Transit leadership has repeatedly stated that investments made for the World Cup were intended to provide lasting value for residents. Instead of creating infrastructure designed for a single event, the agency focused on improvements that could continue supporting commuters and major public gatherings for years to come.

Transportation experts say projects like dedicated bus corridors can improve reliability without requiring the much higher costs associated with constructing new rail lines. By giving buses priority through intersections and dedicated travel paths where possible, agencies can move more passengers using existing road infrastructure.

As North Jersey continues to experience population growth and increasing transportation demand, projects like the Transitway could become an important part of future mobility planning. Whether supporting packed stadium events or expanding everyday transit connections between communities, the investment is expected to play a continuing role in strengthening the region’s public transportation system.

With future expansion plans already under development and the existing corridor remaining available for high-attendance events, NJ Transit’s World Cup Transitway appears set to become much more than a temporary solution. Instead, it may represent the beginning of a broader effort to modernize bus transportation and improve travel throughout North Jersey.

Sources

• Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
• NJ Transit
• New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)
• New Jersey Turnpike Authority