NJ Transit To Get $10 Million Boost

The federal government is investing $10 million in New Jersey to support transportation initiatives designed to help build a more reliable, efficient transit system and create jobs. Through the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Clean Fuels and State of Good Repair grant programs, New Jersey Transit (NJT) will receive more than $8.5 million for SmartBus and On-Board Camera projects, and an additional $1.5 million to make efficiency upgrades.

“These grants are an important step in bringing the NJ Transit experience into the 21st century,” says U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ). “One day soon, thanks to these grants, NJ Transit riders will use their smart phones to see exactly where their bus is on its route, they will be on a bus fueled by cleaner, cheaper, domestic natural gas, and they will have on-board cameras creating a more secure experience.”

The SmartBus project funds will be used to install computers on over 800 buses. This will allow these buses to have automated announcements and starting next year will allow riders with smart phones waiting for a bus to see exactly where the bus is on its route. In addition, funds will be used to install over 950 cameras on the NJ Transit bus fleet. These cameras protect drivers and riders from attack, but also allow accidents and driver performance to be evaluated by video.

Menendez says, “It’s not quite Star Wars, but it’s a good start toward modernizing public transit.”

“This federal funding will make New Jersey's buses more modern, safer for riders, and cleaner for the environment,” says U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation which funds these grants. “By making smart investments in transportation, we're creating jobs and building a safer, more efficient transit system for New Jersey commuters.”