Overhead view of The Embankment in Jersey City, New Jersey

Ongoing Projects
The Embankment

Why This Is A Priority

The Embankment, a six-block elevated rail corridor in the heart of Jersey City, could someday rival New York’s High Line, linking communities in northern New Jersey to nature and to each other. When complete, the Embankment will be a highlight of the East Coast Greenway route in New Jersey, forming a key segment of the transformative connection between the Garden State’s two largest cities, Newark and Jersey City.

Community Advocacy

Community members led by the Embankment Coalition began advocating for the Embankment to become a public park in 1998, with the Alliance joining as a close partner in 2003.

Recognition of Historic Status

Advocates successfully demonstrated the historic value of the structure in the late 90s and early 2000s, thereby preserving it for future use as a greenway.

Planning

Jersey City began to plan for the acquisition and redevelopment of the Embankment, adopting a redevelopment plan in 2022.

Right of Way Acquisition

Jersey City and the Embankment Coalition undertook lengthy legal negotiations to secure the property, reaching a settlement in 2025, which paved the way for property acquisition, design, and construction.

Who’s Listening

Sofia Barandiaran

New Jersey & New York Manager, East Coast Greenway Alliance

Email Contact

blocks of transformative greenway

56K+

people living within a 10-minute walk of the trail

major transit services within a 30-minute walk of the trail

About The Embankment

Built in the early 20th century as a railroad to service New Jersey and New York’s booming economies and population, the Embankment is a massive, segmented stone structure that once supported the Harsimus Branch, formerly Pennsylvania Railroad’s freightway into New York Harbor. In November 2025, Jersey City’s council unanimously voted to support a settlement agreement that will “transform the overgrown Sixth Street Embankment into a scenic haven for walking and sightseeing,” according to NJ.com. This move, which follows decades of community engagement and years of legal negotiation, will positively impact generations to come.

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