U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $76 Million To Upgrade Statewide Bus Fleet, Improve Transit Service in New Jersey

7/23/2012
Contact: Angela Gates
202-366-3669

HOBOKEN, N.J. – The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced $76 million in federal funding for New Jersey to replace aging transit buses and improve public transportation choices for commuters in one of the nation’s busiest urban corridors. The three projects selected are among 255 projects in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico selected to receive a share of $787 million in funding.

“President Obama’s support for an America built to last is putting people back to work across the country, including in New Jersey and surrounding areas, to modernize our nation’s roads, rails, bridges and public transit systems,” said Secretary LaHood. “By investing in the transit infrastructure people depend on to get where they need to go each day, we will keep our economy moving forward well into the future.”

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff was in Hoboken today to announce the funds, which New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) will use to modernize and improve public transportation services between Southern New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York City. The Administrator was joined at the event by New Jersey Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg and other state and local officials.

“These funds will help the most transit-dependent state in the nation to deliver more comfortable, convenient and efficient bus service so people can get to work on time and leave their cars at home,” said Rogoff. “A more fuel-efficient bus fleet will also provide cleaner air and reduce transit operating costs for years to come.”

A map of this year’s projects, along with a searchable table, can be found here: https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130217123818/http://www.fta.dot.gov/about/12322_14741.html

In total, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced funding to NJ Transit for three projects:

• $46.3 million to purchase new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses that will more than double NJ Transit’s CNG bus fleet. The new buses will reduce emissions and fuel costs.
• $27.2 million to purchase new hybrid cruiser buses for Southern New Jersey to New York City routes. The buses will provide a more comfortable ride for thousands of commuters, while saving on fuel and reducing emissions.
• $2.6 million to begin Bus Rapid Transit service between Camden County and Center City Philadelphia, which will result in faster commutes between major employment centers.

Generally, a transit authority with a fleet of about 20 buses that upgrades from standard diesel to hybrid-electric power can expect to save roughly $200,000 in fuel costs over a year.

Reflecting the need for infrastructure investment, demand for FTA’s FY2012 State of Good Repair and Bus Livability funds was overwhelming. FTA received 836 project applications representing $4 billion. In FY2010 and FY2011, FTA awarded a total of more than $1.8 billion in grants for hundreds of state of good repair projects, primarily involving buses and bus facilities.