[9] On January 15, 1954, the Central Railroad of New Jersey announced plans to eliminate passenger service at the East 45th Street station on April 25, citing low ridership.

Adding the bus fare involved of $1.00, the writer felt that it would drive ridership to buses and using the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad.

A four-page pamphlet also came from Central Railroad officials on its train, neglected to mention any improvements in Bayonne and only communities from Elizabeth and west.

[12] The Bayonne Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously on January 20 to pass a resolution decrying the abandonment of the East 45th Street station.

Paul Lawler, a local housing commissioner, stated at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon that they would create undue hardship for riders and reduce property values in the area.

Clark told Brenner that he felt the 800 citizens of the area who East 45th Street station should not be allowed to suffer for other municipalities' sake.

This writer also stated that East 45th Street station did not need any significant structures and that shelters would be alright, but that the train stopping there was more important.

The railroad also stopped operating any trains that stopped at East 45th Street station after 6:07 p.m. and that many people coming from New York City would be unable to catch that train due to being out of work after 5:30 p.m. An anonymous resident stated that the railroad also created hazards for the riders by removing one of the stairway exists on the westbound platform and the change of location of the eastbound shelter.

With the statistics the Central Railroad gave in their pamphlet, Calhoun stated that the closure would cost commuters $0.09 extra per rider.

The Veterans of World War I Bayonne Barracks 96 added their voice to the East 45th Street station abandonment controversy on February 2.

The Mayor of Weehawken, Charles Krause, spearheaded the formation of the committee and contact other Hudson County municipalities to press for their involvement.

[24] Civic engagement on the subject continued when Commissioners George Prendeville and Thomas Domenico, along with Banner and Deputy Mayor Michael Lennon would attend the hearing on behalf of city.

Walter R. Calhoun Sr., who wrote the letter in January 1953 to Hortense Kessler, had been elected as new chair of the committee of residences and would be on the buses to Newark.

Galileo Crisonino, the chairman of the Bayonne Planning Board, todl the press that he was to speak at the hearing and also furnished maps of how much of the city actually benefits from East 45th Street station.

[27] Kessler opened the hearing by stating that she was impressed by the outpouring of support from residents of the municipality, noting this was not a common practice by others.

As part of this, the testimony by Judson McLester Jr., the railroad's legal counsel, would involve the proposed timetables and the East 45th Street station status.

At the hearing, Brenner cross-examined Earl Moore, stating that the elimination of East 45th Street would result in a save of two minutes per train.

John Saylor, the Deputy Attorney General, got the railroad to admit no one had been notified about the 28 last minute adjustments made to the April 25 timetables and that Bayonne was not invited.

[29] Calhoun testified that the Central Railroad were presenting false figures for how much it costs for their improvement program to deceive riders.

Gross, manager of the American Radiator and Standard Sanity Corporation, testified that of the 640 employees at the company, 170 were New York residents while 11 used the East 45th Street station to go the New Jersey suburbs.

With the lack of local foundry workers in Bayonne and a $70 per week salary, he would find it tough for anyone to deal with more than 14 hours a day for work.

Bailey, the general manager of the railroad, noted that the two minutes saved were his only reasons for shuttering East 45th Street station.

Under this decision, East 45th Street station would be reduced to a rush hour stop, garnering a positive response from Brenner.

[34] The Public Utilities Commission granted approval for the new station sheds at East 45th Street and Van Nostrand Place on December 28.

[37] By August, construction begun, with footings for the new bridge built next to the shelter on the westbound side of the tracks at 45th Street station.

In the Environmental Impact Statement, notes were made that the United States Government was willing to make the MOTBY land for a new parking lot.

[48] Construction of 45th Street station was under way by July 1998, when Governor Christine Todd Whitman joined officials from the state and Bayonne to speak about the project.

The officials spoke on a partially-built platform at the station near Avenue E, including Whitman talking about the gasoline tax proposal she had introduced.

At 45th Street station, Palaia etched the Newark Bay Bridge, St. Vincent's Church, a library, and the gazebo at Stephen Gregg/Bayonne County Park.

Vincent Lo Re Jr., the Council President asked the city's Department of Public Works to halt the painting in the area until they could adjust to help residents.