Hackensack Meridian Health innovates with new healthcare facility at Metropark Station

Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), New Jersey’s most extensive and comprehensive health network, has initiated a project for a pioneering healthcare facility located at Metropark Station in Woodbridge, New Jersey. This facility is a significant milestone in healthcare accessibility, offering comprehensive care steps away from a major transit hub, and is set to open in 2025.

Governor Phil Murphy highlighted the importance of this development, emphasizing New Jersey’s role in pioneering new models for supporting communities through improved access to healthcare services. This initiative is part of a broader vision to integrate transportation and community health, making healthcare more accessible to New Jersey, New York, and Northeast residents who pass through the transit hub daily.

The Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center will occupy over 60,000 square feet, providing a wide range of healthcare services including primary and specialized care, advanced imaging, rehabilitation services, and an urgent care center, among others. This facility is a testament to HMH’s commitment to revolutionizing healthcare by meeting patients where they are, significantly enhancing access to quality care.

Hackensack Meridian Health Breaks Ground on Innovative Healthcare Facility at Metropark Station. Photo courtesy of PRNewswire/Hackensack Meridian Health.

The health facility is a component of the larger development of Metropark Station by DOR, a consortium led by Russo Development, which received a $110 million tax credit grant. This development is inspired by Governor Murphy’s initiative to modernize transportation hubs into multi-use locations, fostering a live, work, and play ecosystem.

The project aligns with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s ASPIRE program, aiming to connect people to healthcare efficiently, stimulate mass transit use, and include low-income housing. Robert C. Garrett, CEO of HMH, emphasized the facility’s role in addressing health equity by making best-in-class care accessible to all, especially those relying on mass transit.

The facility is part of “Metropark at Woodbridge,” a project that includes plans for a residential building with retail spaces and about 230 residential units, reflecting the growing need for accessible healthcare in the area. This development is expected to generate 1,000 jobs, enriching the local economy and enhancing the community’s quality of life.

New Jersey State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios expressed strong support for the project, recognizing its potential to modernize infrastructure, enhance healthcare accessibility, and drive economic growth in Woodbridge and beyond.

The Hackensack Meridian Health facility at Metropark represents a groundbreaking approach to healthcare delivery, emphasizing accessibility and community health. By integrating healthcare services within a transit hub, HMH sets a new standard for healthcare accessibility, potentially serving as a model for other health systems nationwide. This innovative project underscores the importance of holistic planning in urban development, where healthcare accessibility and transportation infrastructure go hand in hand to improve community well-being.