Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), the largest and most comprehensive health network in New Jersey, is starting construction on a unique healthcare facility at a mass transit hub. The groundbreaking ceremony took place today at Metropark Station in Woodbridge, New Jersey, and will provide convenient access to comprehensive care for thousands of residents from New Jersey, New York, and the Northeast region each day.
“Once again, New Jersey is pioneering a new model for supporting our families and communities as we break ground on the first ever comprehensive health care facility located at a major transit hub,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This new Hackensack Meridian Health facility marks a major milestone both for the larger redevelopment of Metropark Station as well as in realizing our Administration’s broader vision for the future of transportation and community health. I am pleased to join Hackensack Meridian Health today and applaud their continued work to provide vital health care to the people of New Jersey.”
The Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center, which is part of the larger development of Metropark Station by DOR, is set to open next year. The development was awarded a $110 million tax credit grant and was initiated by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s efforts to modernize transportation hubs throughout the state. The aim is to create multi-use locations that combine residential, office space, retail, and restaurants, allowing people to live, work, and play in a single location.
The Health and Wellness Center will offer more than 60,000 square feet of healthcare services, located just a few steps away from the mass transit hub. The services provided will include primary care, surgical specialties, medical specialties, rehabilitation services, advanced imaging, phlebotomy, a sports and spine center of excellence, occupational health services, a retail pharmacy, and urgent care.
“Hackensack Meridian Health is committed to expanding access to quality healthcare, meeting patients where they are,” said Robert C. Garrett, chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health. “60,000 people travel through Metropark Station each month as a hub for New Jersey Transit and Amtrak, soon these passengers will have access to quality care steps from their commute. The expanded, easy access is one of the major ways Hackensack Meridian Health is revolutionizing healthcare.”
This project qualifies for the multi-use platform under the ASPIRE program of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The program supports development projects that have a transformative impact and bring benefits to the community. This development aims to improve access to healthcare, encourage the use of mass transit, and provide at least 20% low-income housing.
“Convenient access to a wide array of medical services at a mass transit hub complements Hackensack Meridian Health’s efforts to address how social determinants of health are impacting health equity,” Garrett said. “This location will bring Hackensack Meridian’s best in class doctors and care to a location accessible to all, including those whose primary form of transportation is mass transit.”
The importance of a model like this is most evident in suburban areas where access to healthcare is primarily limited to car owners. Hackensack Meridian, as the first health system to offer comprehensive outpatient services directly at a transit hub, is setting a new standard for other health systems to follow. This initiative will improve access to healthcare and address social determinants of health.
“The Aspire Program focuses on supporting Governor Murphy’s vision to expand transit-oriented development and revitalize communities across the state,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “This Aspire award will support the ‘Metropark at Woodbridge’ development, which will include Hackensack Meridian Health’s world class health care facility that will lead to new jobs, spurred economic activity, and greater access to health care services for local residents.”
Upon completion of the HMH Metropark building, a new residential structure will be erected. This new building will have retail outlets on the lower level and approximately 230 residential units. The residential growth in the immediate vicinity of Metropark and its neighboring communities has created a greater need for accessible healthcare. The Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center is designed to meet this growing demand for world-class quality care in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, and the surrounding areas of New Jersey that utilize the Metropark Station. Additionally, it will provide convenient medical care for those traveling across the entire Northeast, including New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington D.C., along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
“We are proud to join Hackensack Meridian Health to celebrate the commencement of construction of their new healthcare facility. This facility is part of a broader Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) project anchored by Metropark Station – one of the busiest rail stations in our system,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “In addition to providing unparalleled access to a wide spectrum of health services, this project is a perfect example of our broader TOD strategy in both generating additional non-farebox revenues as well as driving sustainable growth through enhanced public transportation access throughout New Jersey.”
“Woodbridge has been an incredible collaborator on our past projects, and it along with NJ Transit created the opportunity for a creative redevelopment at Metropark,” said Ed Russo, president of Russo Development. “But the true turning point came when Hackensack Meridian expressed an interest in the site – they transformed it from an ambitious project to a historic one. We are excited to be a small part of this amazing project.”
The Health & Wellness Center at Metropark is a part of Hackensack Meridian Health‘s initiative to enhance patient care. It aims to unite essential network physicians and ambulatory services in easily accessible areas. In recent years, Hackensack Meridian Health has established outpatient care center locations across the state, including Eatontown, Clark, and Paramus.
The network is investing a significant amount of money into the $200 million project, contributing to their recent efforts to expand healthcare access. The project is estimated to generate 1,000 jobs in the Woodbridge area, both short-term and long-term, excluding the indirect jobs created as a result of consolidating and growing our ambulatory assets in the region.
“Hackensack Meridian Health is making a major investment in Woodbridge Township,” said Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac. “In doing so, it is bringing hundreds of high paying jobs to our economy while delivering a shot in the arm to the MetroPark train station and improving our local traffic flow throughout the area.”
“By turning Metropark Station into a modern hub for transit, residence, retail, and business, we are creating an economic driver for Woodbridge, Middlesex County and the state,” said New Jersey State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. “By including Hackensack Meridian’s Health and Wellness Center at the transit hub, residents will be able to receive comprehensive healthcare, creating an example of accessibility others across the country will follow. On a personal level, my constituents will benefit with access to world-class healthcare professionals and facilities and the project gives the Metropark office park community a well-timed jolt.”
“We are modernizing and reimagining our infrastructure in every corner in this County,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “My colleagues and I on the Board of County Commissioners know that these upgrades will not only enhance accessibility of healthcare for everyone, but also enable our regional economy to grow and thrive. This is yet another example of how our County, with its partners, continues to innovate to meet the current and future needs of our community.”
Hackensack Meridian Health will also consolidate its corporate offices in Edison within the new Metropark facility. With sustainability being a top priority at HMH, the company is ensuring the building is constructed in a way that is not only aesthetically pleasing but will also qualify for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
“Metropark offers Hackensack Meridian Health the amazing opportunity to expand access to quality care by meeting patients in a convenient location they pass through daily,” said Jose Lozano, executive vice president and chief growth officer for Hackensack Meridian Health. “It also allows HMH to offer an energetic, sustainable and accessible workspace for our team members in a great location, complete with mass transit, retail and health care, allowing HMH to continue to attract top talent from across the Northeast. We are thrilled to partner with JLL and DOR on this innovative project.”
“From the outset, the DOR team and the Hackensack Meridian Health team recognized the tremendous opportunity to create a new future for the Metropark Station,” said Dan Loughlin, vice chairman of Jones Lang Lasalle. “This might have been New Jersey’s most complex recent development, but it will also be the most rewarding.”
The Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center at Metropark is scheduled to open in 2025.
