The NJ Transit plans on studying ways to help alleviate congestion on I-78 in Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

Drivers say the morning and evening commutes are nightmares on I-78. Many blame the ever-expanding populations in the counties for the congested stretch of highway.

Now, NJ Transit is searching for a partial solution. It will be looking at traffic in the area and building on a study already done by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.

Recommendations from that study include creating or expanding transit hubs with more park-and-ride parking spaces, new bus service from the area to major employment destinations along Route 22 and extending the Raritan Valley Line to Phillipsburg.

NJ Transit?s study is expected to be finished by 2008.