Garden State Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 26, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.), alongside U.S. Representatives Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.-11), Donald Payne, Jr.(D-N.J.-10), and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.-09) announced $47,000,000 million for the New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) Corporation to modernize the Hilton Bus Garage, located in Maplewood. The funding is to accommodate battery-electric buses and increase transit service to densely populated communities and frequently travelled areas through emission conscious vehicle deployment. This will include electrification equipment and a worker training program.

The funding was awarded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the FY 2023 Buses and Bus Facilities / Low or No Emission (Low-No) Grants program, a $1.22 billion competitive grant program designed to support the purchase or lease of low or no emission vehicles that use advanced technology for transit revenue operations, including related equipment or facilities. This funding is in addition to the $20 million for the Hilton Bus Garage that Sen. Menendez and Rep. Pascrell were able to help save from being rescinded in the debt limit deal.

“An increase in electric, green buses will ensure we make progress in our commitment to achieve a full clean energy economy for current and future New Jerseyans. Thanks to the FTA, commuters have an even greater incentive to leave their cars at home and rely on NJ Transit to provide safe, modern, and environmentally conscious mass transit they deserve,” said Sen. Menendez, a senior member of the Seante Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs that oversees transit policy. “Investments in greener, cleaner technology will improve the air quality in areas of our state with some of the highest populations, benefit public health and established a better quality of life for all, and strengthen our economies for the good of hard-working families in New Jersey.”

"The Hilton Garage in Maplewood plays a critical role in serving multiple counties in New Jersey,” said Sen. Booker. “That is why I am thrilled to announce this funding for the Hilton Bus Garage modernization project to support the deployment of zero-emission battery-electric buses. We must continue paving the way for a cleaner, safer transit system for all New Jerseyans."

“Commuters throughout Northern New Jersey who relied on public bus transportation for decades were greatly impacted by the closure of DeCamp Bus Lines earlier this year. Since then, I have worked tirelessly to find, advocate for, and deliver solutions to this problem. In March, we led a letter to the Department of Transportation requesting federal funding for New Jersey to make the bus infrastructure improvements we critically need. I was elated to see DOT announce today that this assistance is coming to NJ-11,” said Rep. Sherrill.

“I am extremely proud to secure this funding for the New Jersey Transit to improve bus service, provide more jobs for workers, and protect the environment for all area residents,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr.  “Transportation accounts for almost 30 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions nationwide and buses are a strong contributor to climate change.  I worked to include more than $1.6 billion for the Bus and Bus Facilities and Low or No Emission grants programs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law because it will provide better transportation options for passengers and cleaner air for our communities.  I am pleased to hear that these grants are going to put more environmentally-friendly buses on local streets.”

“America’s very future depends on our embrace of clean energy sources,” said Congressman Pascrell. “So every single project at the federal, state, and local levels has an impact on building a better world for our children and grandchildren. The gigantic federal investment our congressional delegation secured will promote fresher air for our North Jersey neighbors. The Garden State leads the way in America’s clean energy future and we prove that every day.”

“This important grant represents a significant milestone on NJ TRANSIT’s roadmap to achieving a 100 percent zero-emission bus fleet by 2040, and brings us closer to the North Jersey complement to our current South Jersey electric bus deployment in Camden,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “We are extremely grateful to the FTA for this generous award, and thank Senator Menendez, Senator Booker, and the New Jersey congressional delegation for their continued advocacy for public transit, and their hard work to help us secure this important funding.”

Earlier this month, Sen. Menendez and Congressman Pascrell, Jr. worked with New Jersey and federal agencies to avoid losing over $81 million in federal highway dollars that were subject to rescission in the Fiscal Responsibility Act which Congress passed last week to avert a catastrophic national default that would have hurt families all across New Jersey. Menendez and Pascrell’s office began coordinating with Governor Murphy’s office, NJDOT, New Jersey Transit, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), the Federal Transit Administration and U.S. Treasury Department since the House passed the bill to ensure the federal highway dollars were transferred to New Jersey Transit and not lost before President Biden signed the bill.

In January, Sens. Menendez and Booker announced a total of $11,298,010 million in federal transportation grants for two New Jersey ferry services awarded through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Passenger Ferry Grant program. NJ Transit and the NY Waterway received $7.298 million to repower the propulsion systems of four NY Waterway’s older ferry vessels to hybrid technology, and eventually, pure electric technology. Monmouth County was awarded $4 million to make critical repairs and improvements to the Belford Ferry Terminal in Middletown.

In December 2022, both New Jersey senators announced a total of $34,101,121 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to make upgrades to three NJ Transit stations to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The senators secured the funding in the bipartisan infrastructure bill that was signed into law last year.

In June 2022, Sens. Menendez and Booker, along with former Congressman Albio Sires (D-N.J.-08) and Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. (D-N.J.-10) announced NJ Transit was awarded $7,074,310 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to purchase up to eight, zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, and to build the necessary recharging, refueling, and maintenance facilities.

Original source can be found here.