Hackensack Meridian Health has opened what it calls the nation’s first comprehensive health and wellness center located at a major transit hub, bringing a wide range of medical services directly to commuters and nearby residents at Metropark Station in Woodbridge.
ROI-NJ was on site as health system leaders, local officials and transit stakeholders marked the opening of the more than 200,000-square-foot facility, designed to improve access to care by meeting patients where they are.
Bringing care closer to patients
The center, built alongside one of New Jersey Transit’s busiest rail stations, is designed to make accessing care more convenient for patients who often delay routine appointments due to time constraints.
The facility offers services including advanced imaging, urgent care, primary care, surgical and medical specialties, a retail pharmacy, physical and occupational therapy, rehabilitation and laboratory services.
Mark Sparta, president and chief operating officer of Hackensack Meridian Health, said the project addresses long-standing access challenges.
“Health care access in New Jersey has historically been around hospital-based settings, and access is a huge problem,” Sparta said. “To improve access for the community, we needed to bring the care to the community.”
Located at a major transit hub used by thousands of daily commuters, the center allows patients to schedule appointments before or after work, or while traveling.
“There’s no better place to allow people to access care than to bring the care to them,” Sparta said.
Investment and economic impact
Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert Garrett called the opening “a historic day” for both the health system and the state, highlighting the project’s economic and workforce impact.
“We’re investing $200 million here at Metropark to open up this health and wellness center, creating 1,000 new jobs,” Garrett said. “This is going to give patients and providers unprecedented access to health care.”
Officials said the transit-oriented location enables convenient access for patients and employees traveling from major metropolitan areas.
“Think about patients coming from Midtown Manhattan or downtown Philadelphia and being able to arrive here in 30 or 35 minutes,” Garrett said.
Part of a broader redevelopment vision
The center is part of a larger redevelopment plan for the Metropark area that includes housing, office and retail space, transforming the site into a mixed-use destination.
State and local leaders said the project represents a new model for delivering health care while maximizing underutilized land near major transit infrastructure.
“This is an innovative idea, one that is now a reality thanks to the strong partnership between Hackensack Meridian Health and New Jersey Transit,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald Rios.
Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, who initially expressed skepticism about the project, said the final result exceeded expectations.
“It became absolutely fantastic for Woodbridge Township,” McCormac said.
A model for future health care delivery
Hackensack Meridian Health is also relocating its headquarters to the upper floors of the building, consolidating employees from multiple locations to improve collaboration.
Leaders said the Metropark facility could serve as a model for similar developments nationwide as health systems look to expand care beyond traditional hospital settings.