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New Jersey Transit’s board in late February approved a $1.13 billion capital program for fiscal year 2002 — the largest capital plan in the statewide agency’s 20-year history.


"The fiscal-year 2002 Capital Program is part of a strategic commitment to maintain our core system while providing some much-needed relief to overcrowding on the system," said NJ Transit Executive Director Jeffrey Warsh in a prepared statement. "This capital budget allows for continued construction on a number of major projects that will open within the next two years."


Such projects include Montclair Connection, Secaucus Transfer and Penn Station New York East End Concourse. Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and Southern New Jersey Light Rail Transit System would receive funds to continue construction; Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link would have dollars to begin first-phase construction.


Funds also would be directed toward rail yard, track infrastructure, bridge and signal system improvements, as well as continued installation of automatic train control and positive train stop systems.


Rolling stock also are a budget focus with funds directed toward overhauling electric locomotives and Comet IIB rail cars, and purchasing new single-level rail cars and locomotives.


With the board’s rubber-stamp gracing it, the budget next goes to the state legislature for approval.