FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 22, 1998
Contact: Karen Clarke
Tel.: (202) 366-0787
FTA 12-98
SLATER ANNOUNCES $87 MILLION
FOR NEW JERSEY TRANSIT PROJECTS
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater today announced $26.9 million in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds for completion of the New Jersey Transit Corporation’s Secaucus Transfer project, a new rail station that will connect New Jersey Transit's commuter rail network in the Meadowlands to Northeast Corridor trains, and $59.8 million in funds for construction of the Hudson-Bergen Waterfront light rail transit system.
"President Clinton is committed to investing in smart transit projects which strengthen the economy, protect the environment and provide accessible transportation for all," Slater said. "When President Clinton signed the historic Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) just a few weeks ago, his commitment to investing in a stronger public transportation system became a reality for the country as a whole and for the people of New Jersey."
Funds for the Secaucus project will be used to build a new platform with an elevated walkway, upgrade tracks, improve train signals and repair bridges. Commuters from the Bergen County, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis main lines will be able to transfer onto Northeast Corridor commuter trains bound for Penn Station in midtown Manhattan or Penn Station in Newark.
Funds for the Hudson-Bergen Waterfront project will be used to build a 20 mile light rail system that will run between Bayonne and the Vince Lombardi Park and Ride parking lot. This grant, which is part of a multi-year full funding grant agreement executed between New Jersey Transit and the FTA in October, 1996, represents the initial 9.6 mile operating segment of the waterfront project which will include a double track main line from 34th Street in Bayonne and Westside Avenue in Jersey City to the Hoboken Terminal. The project also features the design-build-operate-maintain approach intended to both accelerate construction and reduce overall development cost of the system.
# # #