FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 2, 2000
Contact: Karen Clarke
Tel.: (202) 366-4043
FTA 24-00
New Jersey Transit to Receive Grant for Hudson-Bergen Light Rail System
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Mortimer L. Downey and U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg today announced that the Clinton-Gore Administration has entered into a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) to construct the second segment of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail System.
This FFGA provides a maximum federal commitment of New Start funds in the amount of $500 million, subject to appropriation by Congress.
Under this FFGA, the New Jersey Transit Corporation will construct the second segment of the Hudson-Bergen Waterfront Light Rail Transit (LRT) System, a 6.1-mile rail line connecting cities of northern New Jersey with each other and with commuter rail service to the Manhattan central business district. This project is one of eight elements eligible for funding as part of the New Jersey Urban Core Project. The first segment of the Hudson-Bergen project currently is under construction through an FFGA with the Federal Transit Administration.
"Investment in critical mass transit projects is key to rebuilding our cities, creating livable communities and stimulating economic development," Downey said. "Transit offers people convenient access to jobs and to goods and services like no other form of transportation."
The proposed project will run north from Hoboken Terminal to the Tonelle Avenue Park-and-Ride lot in North Bergen and south from 34th street to 22nd street in Bayonne. By the year 2010, this system is expected to serve an average of 34,900 weekday riders. The full Hudson-Bergen LRT system is a 20.1-mile, 30-station at-grade LRT line from the Vince Lombardi Park-and-Ride lot in Bergen County to West Fifth Street in Bayonne in Hudson County. It will link with ferries, PATH and New Jersey Transit Commuter rail lines and is expected to carry 94,500 passengers daily when completed.
A full funding grant agreement is the federal government’s commitment to support a transit project over the course of several fiscal years, contingent upon the availability of funds. As funds are appropriated, the full funding projects receive priority consideration.
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