The area around the station has been undergoing redevelopment since the early 2000s. The first phase of a mixed-use development called Harrison Station opened in December 2011. Meanwhile, the Port Authority began reconstructing the station in 2009. The $256 million project essentially rebuilt the station because the original structures's architecture could not easily be updated. The station will feature longer and wider platforms to allow 10-car trains; street-level-to-platform elevators within the platform extensions, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and architectural modifications to its appearance. Funding for this project is provided by a portion of the March 2008 toll and fare hike, which increased the overall spending budget of the corporation. In 2011, the Port Authority began acquiring real property in preparation for construction.